Hi there!

[Newsnakemomma]

Hey guys! I'm new to the forum today, although I've been reading/researching stuff posted here for months and months. I just recently just purchased my very first snake, about two weeks ago. She's a 6 month old Snow Corn Snake (with possible Opal). All you experience snake parents will have to be patient with terms and such that may be wrong, I'm still learning correct lingo, and whatnot.
I love my little girl, so much. I have wanted a snake for years, and now I have her. She's about 20in or so in length, and I'm assuming that's about perfect for her age.
Currently, everything with her is lovely and wonderful and I just love watching her. The next big thing coming up should be her first shed, at home. So I've been trying to pay attention for signs and changes that she herself will go through right before her shed, so that I can see those signs in later sheds.

I've been reading and reading and reading so I "know" a lot of stuff (and by "know" I mean, I read it somewhere). But, if there was only 1 thing to tell a new [corn] snake parent, what would it be?

Thanks so much!
Rosies Momma

[dave himself]

Hi and welcome. Slow down, take it easy and don't over complicate things to much :)

[Newsnakemomma]

I'm trying.. but I'm so excited about her. I know that I forget to calm down. thanks ;)

[StevenL]

Welcome aboard

[EL Ziggy]

Welcome and best wishes NSM. How are you heating your enclosure and is your heat source controlled with a thermostat? That's probably the biggest error I see with new keepers. Make sure your husbandry is on point and the rest is a breeze. Enjoy your new addiction, I mean addition. :)

[Scubadiver59]

Welcome to sSNAKESs!! :)

[craigafrechette]

Hi and welcome to the wonderful world of snake keeping. Congrats on your first snake.

Ziggy mentioned one of two major points I was gonna make. A thermostat is probably the most important thing you can buy for your snake.

Secondly, make sure your enclosure is 100% escape proof. Corns are tiny and fit through the tiniest holes you can imagine. And if they can find their way out of the enclosure when they're that small, they can easily find their way out of the house. I learned this one the hard way.

Good luck and feel free to ask questions.

Oh, and as far as signs of an upcoming shed, with your corn her colors will probably start to dull before you notice anything else. After that her eyes will turn a cloudy blue.

[Newsnakemomma]

Welcome and best wishes NSM. How are you heating your enclosure and is your heat source controlled with a thermostat? That's probably the biggest error I see with new keepers. Make sure your husbandry is on point and the rest is a breeze. Enjoy your new addiction, I mean addition. :)

She does have a heat pad (the reptile kind ;)) on the "warm" side but it's isn't controlled with a thermostat, but it doesn't seem to get too hot. Her enclosure stays right around 70-75. The reptile shop that I bought her from, told me that as long as long as the enclosure doesn't drop below 65, she'll be ok. If I do notice that her temp is falling I do have a light that I use to warm it up a little.

As I live in Minnesota, and we are in the midst of our winter season, I am a little nervous about it getting too cold, but she seems to be really happy. I'm still learning her, but I think I'm doing good. I got to see her drink last night. It was incredible.

[Newsnakemomma]

Rosie will not be able to get out of that little home of hers. I haven't seen her even interested in the top of her enclosure since the day I brought her home. However, I do have two steel slates on the top of her screen which weigh about 5 pounds a piece. I'm not scared, but my partner is :D

[EL Ziggy]

Thermostats are a vital piece of equipment when keeping most snakes. If unregulated they can get over 120F. I'd invest in a reliable thermostat and a temp gun as soon as possible.