Baby Snake

[Luthien]

Ok guys so I'm setting up to get my first corn snake! I have a home made enclosure that I'm fixing up, it's 37" L, 24" W, 24" H perfect for a full grown corn snake with lots of stuff to climb and hide in.

My only issue is I think it would be to big for a baby corn! So any suggestions out there of a not to expensive something I can use to house a baby corn till it gets big enough that I can use the big enclosure?

[Minkness]

I may get kicked for saying this...but a 10 gallon fish tank with a screen lid and a UTH should be fine for a while. If the humidity doesn't get high enough, just put some rubber shelving liner over the screen with some space at one end for air flow.

You can get one cheep on Craigslist or even from a regular pet store.

Congrats and good luck =)

[reptiledude987]

I wouldn't worry about the large setup as long as you have plenty of hides it will be fine.

[Luthien]

Lol my biggest worry is not being able to find the little thing

[reptiledude987]

Oh is it one of those 10 gram or so babies? If so I understand that and it may be a bit hard to find in there. In that case id 2nd what minkness said grab a cheap 10 gal till it gets big enough to find in the one you made.

[Luthien]

Ok sounds good. Can you give me a rough size estimate the snake should be before I put it in the large enclosure? I want to do this right!

[Tsubaki]

Size doesn't really matter, as long as you're confident it can't escape! As long as it has enough hides, you can move it whenever you feel like it. Meaning, whenever you are confident the snake has reached a size, that you'll still be able to find the little shoelace :D

[wrecker45]

I would buy a young adult or juvenile cornsnake.

[Luthien]

"The little shoelace" that's awesome!

Thanks for the advice wrecker, the only reason I want a baby is because of the bond you can create. Where I live I have to ship in a snake (no one sells them around here) so I can't hold/catch to see how tame it is. I figure if I get a baby it can grow with me and I can tame it that way.

[Luthien]

One more quick question, has anyone ordered from either LLLReptiles or BHBReptiles?

I've heard some good things about them so I'm just looking for personal experience with those companies.

[reptiledude987]

Shoot aaron a pm as he may have info on those breeders. Ive heard the names but couldn't tell you anything about either of them

[IW17]

I may get kicked for saying this...but a 10 gallon fish tank with a screen lid and a UTH should be fine for a while. If the humidity doesn't get high enough, just put some rubber shelving liner over the screen with some space at one end for air flow.

You can get one cheep on Craigslist or even from a regular pet store.

Congrats and good luck =)

Cornsnakes are one species that can truly thrive in a glass tank with little or no modification. One reason they are such a n awesomebbeginner snake. Husbandry is very easy and forgiving.

[Luthien]

Thanks for the help! I brought my baby home yesterday! She's 5 1/2 months and huge for her age! Lol

[jjhill001]

That's awesome. Good looking snake.

[Luthien]

Thank you!

[dave himself]

Nice little corn congratulations :)

[Luthien]

Thanks! She's a little sweetheart!

[Luthien]

Yay I think Eve is starting to settle into her new home now! She's peaking out of her hide regularly and last night she came out and laid in the open watching me.

On Tuesday I'm going to try feeding her. So here is a question for you guys.
Should I feed her in her viv the first few times where she's comfortable and feels safe? Or should I put her in the separate viv I'm going to use for feeding?

If I feed her in her viv do I have to worry about the aspen substrate?

[reptiledude987]

Personally I see no need to ever remove to feed (this has been debated at great length on other threads). Id start by dangling the mouse with tongs if she dosent take it just set it on a piece of paper towel and let her do her thing. just make sure the mouse is warm when offered.

[SnoopySnake]

There's no need to take her out for feeding, its just more work and may be stressful for her. The aspen will be fine if your temps and humidity are right.

[Luthien]

Ok I've just heard that they are more likely to strike at you thinking it's food if their hungry and feeding out of the viv stops that because then they know they don't get food in the viv.

Thanks! I'll feed in the viv

[Jacktar]

Personally I see no need to ever remove to feed (this has been debated at great length on other threads). Id start by dangling the mouse with tongs if she dosent take it just set it on a piece of paper towel and let her do her thing. just make sure the mouse is warm when offered.

I second this

[reptiledude987]

Ok I've just heard that they are more likely to strike at you thinking it's food if their hungry and feeding out of the viv stops that because then they know they don't get food in the viv.

Thanks! I'll feed in the viv
Thats the other side of the argument but from personal expierence if they dont smell food they dont strike when i stick my hand in. Aside from my bredli male who strikes at everything including water while filling the water dish (he just has a general attitude problem lol).

[Luthien]

Lol. Sounds good! Thanks! I can't wait till she's all settled in and I can hold her!

[SnoopySnake]

Ok I've just heard that they are more likely to strike at you thinking it's food if their hungry and feeding out of the viv stops that because then they know they don't get food in the viv.

Thanks! I'll feed in the viv

By this logic they'll learn that being taken out means getting food and will be more likely to strike. ;) Out of the two boa constrictors I had the one that was fed out of the tank was actually more snappy. Not saying that's because he wasn't fed in the viv, though.

[Luthien]

With the proper heat temps do I need to worry about her swallowing any cedar shavings with the mouse?

Yup concerned new momma here! Lol

[SnoopySnake]

With the proper heat temps do I need to worry about her swallowing any cedar shavings with the mouse?

Yup concerned new momma here! Lol

No, if your husbandry is correct she'll be fine. :)

[Luthien]

Awesome! Now just to get her to eat!

[sunkissedpython]

I've fed both out of tank and in tank and honestly I just feed out of tank now. I've had a few crappy occurrences when I fed in tank…The worst was my ball python struck for the mouse and missed, and ending up getting a piece of aspen lodged into his mouth. You can only guess what that means :/ I had to reach in (and of course he's going to think I'm a mouse) and he went for my hand. He's also not to much of baby at this point anymore mind you, he started constricting me so while this was all happening I had to use my other hand to pull out the aspen and then uncoil him. It was really terrible experience and thankfully he never bit me again or anything but he wasn't going to be able to get the aspen out by himself, I waited a second to give him a chance. So you really never know with your substrate, I had actually started getting different aspen to so that wasn't as likely to happen, and it still did.
Another thing is and by no means do I think this is scientifically proven or affects every snake, but one of my ball pythons did become a lot more aggressive when I started feeding him in his terrarium. He started acting like he was constantly waiting for my hand to give him food, then he started striking at the tank any time I walked by a few days after I would feed him. Any time I tried to take him out he would strike at me and it just became a really sketch, unbearable situation.
Again, not saying this is going to happen or it's best to feed out of cage-but these are just my experiences.
Your baby is looking so cute!

[Luthien]

I totally hear you those were my concerns, the aspen and biting thinking I'm food but a couple of my friends also have corn snakes and feed in the viv, what they have done is trained their snakes that a knock on the glass means food time, now when they hear that knock they come out and look for the food. So I'm going to try that but so far we've had 2 successful feelings and she hasn't even looked like she wants to bite me!

As for the bedding I've been feeding her by her "open hide" so what I do before feeding is lay a piece of paper towel down on top of the bedding and feed on there removing it as soon as the mouse is down, she doesn't seem to mind and eases my mind about the bedding

The photo is her color now, she just had her first shed with me! :D

[Ballchris]

beautiful snake love corn's

[jjhill001]

I've fed both out of tank and in tank and honestly I just feed out of tank now. I've had a few crappy occurrences when I fed in tank…The worst was my ball python struck for the mouse and missed, and ending up getting a piece of aspen lodged into his mouth. You can only guess what that means :/ I had to reach in (and of course he's going to think I'm a mouse) and he went for my hand. He's also not to much of baby at this point anymore mind you, he started constricting me so while this was all happening I had to use my other hand to pull out the aspen and then uncoil him. It was really terrible experience and thankfully he never bit me again or anything but he wasn't going to be able to get the aspen out by himself, I waited a second to give him a chance. So you really never know with your substrate, I had actually started getting different aspen to so that wasn't as likely to happen, and it still did.
Another thing is and by no means do I think this is scientifically proven or affects every snake, but one of my ball pythons did become a lot more aggressive when I started feeding him in his terrarium. He started acting like he was constantly waiting for my hand to give him food, then he started striking at the tank any time I walked by a few days after I would feed him. Any time I tried to take him out he would strike at me and it just became a really sketch, unbearable situation.
Again, not saying this is going to happen or it's best to feed out of cage-but these are just my experiences.
Your baby is looking so cute!

Lol, an aggressive ball python? Sounds more fun than the typical BP stories haha.

[sunkissedpython]

I totally hear you those were my concerns, the aspen and biting thinking I'm food but a couple of my friends also have corn snakes and feed in the viv, what they have done is trained their snakes that a knock on the glass means food time, now when they hear that knock they come out and look for the food. So I'm going to try that but so far we've had 2 successful feelings and she hasn't even looked like she wants to bite me!

As for the bedding I've been feeding her by her "open hide" so what I do before feeding is lay a piece of paper towel down on top of the bedding and feed on there removing it as soon as the mouse is down, she doesn't seem to mind and eases my mind about the bedding

The photo is her color now, she just had her first shed with me! :D
The knocking is a good idea! I never thought of that :p I've heard of a few tricks like only using a snake hook for feeding time and gently tapping them on the body, etc. But the tapping on the glass sounds like a really good indicator of food time!
Also, I think your idea with a paper towel over the aspen is perfect! No complaints on my part :p are you feeding f/t or live? If your feeding live just keep a close eye on the mouse and make sure it doesn't wander off the paper towel lol!
He looks absolutely gorgeous! I can't wait until my female ball python sheds, she's been growing so much the past month, it's crazy! You're also really making me miss my corns >.< hehe maybe when I go to the next expo...

[sunkissedpython]

Lol, an aggressive ball python? Sounds more fun than the typical BP stories haha.
Yeah…it would have been more fun if it wasn't a rescue snake and already adult size. First time I ever get a little sketch with a ball python. And it just kept getting worse :( Ended up handing her over to a friend who wanted another display snake for an empty tank. And now I have a super docile, sweet female so I guess its a win/win for everyone.

[Luthien]

The knocking is a good idea! I never thought of that :p I've heard of a few tricks like only using a snake hook for feeding time and gently tapping them on the body, etc. But the tapping on the glass sounds like a really good indicator of food time!
Also, I think your idea with a paper towel over the aspen is perfect! No complaints on my part :p are you feeding f/t or live? If your feeding live just keep a close eye on the mouse and make sure it doesn't wander off the paper towel lol!
He looks absolutely gorgeous! I can't wait until my female ball python sheds, she's been growing so much the past month, it's crazy! You're also really making me miss my corns >.< hehe maybe when I go to the next expo...

I feed f/t so no chance of the mouse running off :p
The tapping is actually working great! I tapped the first time I fed her and then took her out to her "open hide" to feed, then the second time I tapped again and she actually stuck her head out of the hide to look lol

[sunkissedpython]

I feed f/t so no chance of the mouse running off :p
The tapping is actually working great! I tapped the first time I fed her and then took her out to her "open hide" to feed, then the second time I tapped again and she actually stuck her head out of the hide to look lol
Sounds like everything is going good :)

[Derek1]

Great looking Corn! Do you have more pics of your homemade enclosure?

[Luthien]

Yup we're doing really good so far!

Here are some pictures of the enclosure, right now it's housing a sick/dying Bearded Dragon but after I will be renovating it for my corn!

Postimage.org / gallery - image, image, image, image (http://postimg.org/gallery/2c9sy6yuc/)

[sunkissedpython]

What does the enclosure you have him in right now look like?

[Luthien]

Just plain

http://s5.postimg.org/l5ygw180n/image.jpg

[Aaron_S]

Yeah…it would have been more fun if it wasn't a rescue snake and already adult size. First time I ever get a little sketch with a ball python. And it just kept getting worse :( Ended up handing her over to a friend who wanted another display snake for an empty tank. And now I have a super docile, sweet female so I guess its a win/win for everyone.

I'm glad everything worked out in the end. However, the 'aggressiveness' never had anything to do with feeding in the tank. Your snake was extremely defensive. It didn't feel secure in your home for whatever reason. Something you probably just overlooked but no big deal.

I am not trying to be harsh I want to dispel the myth of an aggressive snake (they aren't. Defensive or feeding are the only two reasons they strike) as well as feeding in the enclosure.

Your substrate incident happens. Snakes pass that stuff all the time without issue. I've had slivers of aspen in the lip of one snake and I just held it behind the head to remove it. I do have hooks though so I don't get bit going in.

[Luthien]

Who doesn't love pictures??? More on Eve, she's doing really well and has settled quite nicely! So gentle and calm yet active I couldn't ask for better first snake!

Postimage.org / Eve (http://postimg.org/gallery/2w2pz2ytg/)

[sunkissedpython]

I'm glad everything worked out in the end. However, the 'aggressiveness' never had anything to do with feeding in the tank. Your snake was extremely defensive. It didn't feel secure in your home for whatever reason. Something you probably just overlooked but no big deal.

I am not trying to be harsh I want to dispel the myth of an aggressive snake (they aren't. Defensive or feeding are the only two reasons they strike) as well as feeding in the enclosure.

Your substrate incident happens. Snakes pass that stuff all the time without issue. I've had slivers of aspen in the lip of one snake and I just held it behind the head to remove it. I do have hooks though so I don't get bit going in.
This didn't start until 4-6 months after I had her. No changes were made either, I didn't move her into a different enclosure, changed hides, etc. Sure maybe a snake isn't typical to have an 'aggressive' self, but defensively aggressive if you will then. Which became my normal like I said after sometime with her. First months of having her I was able to take her out, handle her, walk by her cage all without issue, then it was almost a constant aggressive attitude out of her. I figure to a certain degree snakes should be able to pass through quite a bit of substrate without issue, but when a piece of substrate gets lodged into the mouth-I think theres an issue. Looking back a snake hook would have probably saved me a bite but I didn't have a snake hook at the time :p
But enough of about me and my snake experience, I'm taking away from Eve's stardom on this thread:bouncy: Enclosure looks like a good start! Those fake leaves or a branch or two for him to climb on would make Eve really happy, my corn would climb all the time back when I had him.

[Aaron_S]

This didn't start until 4-6 months after I had her. No changes were made either, I didn't move her into a different enclosure, changed hides, etc. Sure maybe a snake isn't typical to have an 'aggressive' self, but defensively aggressive if you will then. Which became my normal like I said after sometime with her. First months of having her I was able to take her out, handle her, walk by her cage all without issue, then it was almost a constant aggressive attitude out of her. I figure to a certain degree snakes should be able to pass through quite a bit of substrate without issue, but when a piece of substrate gets lodged into the mouth-I think theres an issue. Looking back a snake hook would have probably saved me a bite but I didn't have a snake hook at the time :p
But enough of about me and my snake experience, I'm taking away from Eve's stardom on this thread:bouncy: Enclosure looks like a good start! Those fake leaves or a branch or two for him to climb on would make Eve really happy, my corn would climb all the time back when I had him.

I'm not trying to derail a thread. I call these moments "teachable moments" when there's a good opportunity to dispel a myth or educate on a certain topic. I like to put information out there for everyone to read. There's many people who read the forums but don't post who may want the information.

I'm going to say something happened with your snake and it became defensive. It's possible as it grew it became more confident and was defensive towards you because it thought you were a predator. As you grew fearful the snake knew what it had to do to get the predator to back off saving it's life. All natural instinct.

[Luthien]

But enough of about me and my snake experience, I'm taking away from Eve's stardom on this thread:bouncy: Enclosure looks like a good start! Those fake leaves or a branch or two for him to climb on would make Eve really happy, my corn would climb all the time back when I had him.

No worries learning is a good experience no matter where we do it.

The viv you see in her pictures is a temp viv, I'm making another bigger one with climbing stuff and hides and it will be great!

[CKC44]

Congratulations! :)