Found a corn snake

[scaredofsnakes]

Well, my daughter found a corn (red rat?) snake in my back yard. I personally hate snakes, but the kids want to keep it. I have it in a plastic storage box in the backyard. Can anybody here convince a life long scaredycat of snakes why I should keep it? And if I do, what I am getting into? Can I pick it up? What kind of care do I need to provide? If I didn't mention it already, I AM SCARED OF SNAKES AND I HATE SNAKES!!! But I would do anything for my kids...

Help Me, scaredofsnakes

P.S. The snake does look cute.

[BoidKeeper]

You shouldn't keep it. It should be returned to the wild were it came from. Wild caught snakes harbour paracites both in and out and make terrible pets. They are stressed out and often refuse to eat and die. If you kids want a pet snake have them buy one that is captive bred clean and safe.
Trevor

[Invictus]

No animal should be kept by owners who don't love and cherish the animal. I say return it to the wild, and if one day you decide to let your kids have a snake, get a captive one. Corns are a handful at the best of times, but a wild one is even more of a handful.

[Frankie]

Hi I have to agree with Invictus and BoidKeeper it'S wild and should stay as such. If you really want your kids to have a corn snake you have one of the best breeders in the bussiness right there in Florida. Her name is Kathy Love. You can do a search and find some good care sheets. As to being scaredofsnakes you might try finding some body in your area that owns snakes and go hold one of theirs or maybe a pet shop they're really not that bad. You might find you don't hate them your just scared of them.

[Pixie]

Corn snakes are one of the best breed of snakes to have as a pet and I would definitely suggest it for beginners. I second every one else's advice on returning the one you found to the wild and look into getting one born in captivity.

I think it's great that you are willing to get past your fear of snakes and allow your children to discover the joys of owning a pet snake.

Corns are completely harmless and very rarely bite (mine only have as little babies if they did and outgrew it very quickly, it is also painless, just a bit of a surprise). They are very easy to care for and have quirky personalities that I think make them very endearing :) One of the best things about corns is that they are available in a large amount of colours and patterns. (see http://www.corn-utopia.com section "My Snake Breeding Colony" and others for pictures). Easy to care for, they eat about once a week as juveniles and once every two weeks as adults. Other than that you make sure their water dish is full and clean.

Visiting a shop or breeder in your area to handle them a bit first and get used to them more is a great idea. Preparing for a new pet snake can be a fun project! From choosing which color, preparing it's home and decorating it, learning about it and then bringing one home could be a fun process, IMO more fun that trying to work with the one you found that would be difficult on many levels.

Don't be shy to ask more questions :)

Pixie

P.S. For more precise information on their care and needs you can type "corn snake care sheet" in any seach engine and read a few. "The Corn Snake Manual" is a great inexpensive book that covers everything.

[Zoe]

Yep, agreed. Let it go. Get used to snake pictures and others' snakes beforehand, then you'll be okay with your own snake, and you'll lvoe it and be sure to care for it.

Also, you definitely don't need to keep a wild caught corn. It's a mess you don't need. It'll have mites, parasites, may not acclimate well, will stress, etc etc etc. You'd be way better off buying a nice snake that you like and that is CB and healthy.

Zoe

[blito]

IS it wild?

if my kids caught a corn then around here it`d be an escaped pet and it would need a home before it died of hunger and/or cold

but you realy need to think quick.. can you overcome your fear of snakes? if you cant do that NOW then the snake is not for you.. if the kids want one then be prepared to work on your fear - get advice , get a good setup, get a baby corn (smaller so less intinidating although actually more likely to nip and bite than an adult!)

if that creature is wild then i`d say let it go.. if an escaped pet i`d call the RSPCA or whatever you have to look after stray pets in your area...

your kids caught it though so i gues sits your call.....

[jwsporty]

Scaredofsnakes,

I definitely agree with all that is said. Doing this for the kids is great, like any good parent would, but do it for yourself as well. Let the little guy go and try to put him back in the same place where the kids picked him up. Phobia of snakes can be overcome, with a little effort. Snakes make absolutely wonderful pets, , it can be a very educational experience, and you have landed at the best website on the net to help you out. My wife likewise showed some apprehension when the first one was brought home, but her fears quickly went away after she held the little guy. 22 snakes later, the thrill, enjoyment and educational process has not stopped. This is a hobby that can be around for a long time, with the right encouragement. Just make sure the kids really want one and that they are prepared to get involved in all the aspects of keeping snakes. Then take a trip to the local pet stores to view and handle some different species. Corns are a great starter snake but then so are many others.

If you are not sure, just ask a question here on Ssnakess, there are many great people always willing to help you out.

Likewise a young lady who works in the store next to me had a deathly fear of snakes to the point of getting light headed, dizzy and hyperventilating just from looking at a snake. She had just- cause as she is from South Africa, where the local wildlife can kill you. I brought in my calmest Ball Pythons for her to view and touch and now she wants to know when the next time I am bringing one into the store. A little education goes a long way to overcome fear. ;)

Look at it this way, keeping a snake will keep your kids so busy, they won't have time to get into trouble. ;)

good luck with your decision

Jim

[blito]

Very good post the JWsporty :)

couldn`t have worded it better..........

[snkmn]

if you dont like it you shouldnt keep it

[Smilts]

If you decide to keep it. Go pick up a 55 Lt sterilite tub. drill or punch small holes on one side of the lid and do the same for the corner on the opposite side an inch or so from the bottom of the tub. To start out you can pick up a square of indoor outdoor carpet for the flooring or news paper. A box with a whole cut in it for it to hide in on one side, and a water bowl. I use spring water. depending on the size you can feed it pinkies, fuzzys, or mice. it is better to kill the rodent or buy them frozen and unthaw them. I use a heating pad under the side of the tub with the holes in the lid to keep the temp at around 86 degrees. The other side with the holes n the wall of the tub I try to keep around 76 degrees. this isnt perfect for caring for the snake but will maybe get you started

[ultimatecorns]

Go ahead and keep it for 1 week if it doesnt eat release it. My first corn way back, was a wild caught and is now one of my tamest snakes. But be warned, Cornsnakes ARE like tattoos, you can't just stop with one. Don't worry about the parasites, you can treat it very cheaply, just go ask you local vet. It's your decision not mine.

[lordkovacs]

i would say, let the snake go. Reason being, it has been in the wild and is probably very nervous being locked up as it is now. You said you have kids...well...it seems dangerous to me to have the kids around a wild animal. It would seem too unpredictable. I realize corns bites are by no means severe, to us, but to a child might be traumatic. Just a thought. Either way, it's your call. If you do keep it, take precautions. See ya...
MIKE

[dylanb]

I would put it back where you found it. Then do some research on corn snakes ( i reccommend the corn snake manual by kathy love) and if you do decide to get one buy a captive bred snake. good luck.