just got a corn

[superchole]

i just got a corn snake from a rep show the other day and im j/w a few things first whats the eastest way to get him to eat, second hes been hiding alot and im wondering if this is normal or do i need to do something fro him, and third whats the best substrate for corns i heard pine chips r good and there fairly cheap but should i use something else? thanks for the help

heres some pics i took real quick
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/superchole/snakes/snake3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/superchole/snakes/snake2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/superchole/snakes/snake1.jpg

[Linds]

Pine is a no-no. It contains a low level of phenol which can be harmful to reptiles, and other animals.

My personal favourite is Carefresh. It is absorbent, holds burrows, can be safely ingested and passed in small quantities because it is soft and non-toxic (unlike aspen, mulch, etc. that have fixed shape, often pointy as well), contains no inks, dyes, or other processing chemicals, is environmentally friendly (no trees were cut down specifically for making this product), is flushable and biodegradable, and looks ok. The only downfall is the price, but it isn't bad since it lasts forever. Apparently some Wal Marts have a similar product for half the price, but I don't think it's made it up my way yet. Some other substrates include cypress mulch, paper towels, newspaper, and aspen.

Try dangling a f/t or prekilled mouse or rat from tongs. If that doesn't work you can try leaving it with your snake overnight. If that fails, you can use a small opaque feeding container and try leaving your snake and prey in it overnight. There are some other tricks for more troublesome feeders, such as braining, but the above is usually sufficient.

BTW,
congrats on the new addition, he's a little cutie! Corns are a lot of fun :cool:

[superchole]

ok thanks for the help and ill try some of those feeding tricks

[seann]

superchole the easyiest way to get a baby corn to eat is to get a lil feeding container, small enuff that the corn smells it and sees it. give him alone time and it will be gone, Corns are eating monsters, if this does fail which it should not. give it a live pinkie in the same lil container then a week later give it a ft and it will take it no prob!

[Colonel_SB]

Cute little guy :) what ya gonna name it?

[Kevin McRae]

Pine is an ok substrate IMO, I have used for my snakes before with no problems, but if you don't feel comftorable with it, change to aspen,papertowel or carefresh.

He will either eat in his cage he is in right now, either by you dangling his pinkie by tongs or leaving it infront of his nose. And if that doesn't work put him in a small sandwich container or deli cup with a newspaper ball(a piece of paper crumbled up into a ball)and leave him in there with the pinkie over night or till a little while after he is done eating.

You might want to add a small water dish to his deli cup if you leave him in it over night.

Nice corn, and good luck with him, be sure to post more pics:)

[Invictus]

Pine is ok as long as it doesn't have a strong smell. Many of the big breeders in the states use it, I have many friends who have been in the hobby for decades who use it, but I don't personally use it. Pine has an undue bad reputation, which is based about 10% on fact. But, I wouldn't risk it if you can find aspen or just use paper towel. Better safe than sorry.

Nice corn!

[superchole]

thanks for all the helpful info and its been two weeks and he/she still hasnt eatten i just put him in a contanier with a pinkie ill see if he takes it. i named it hank for now but if its a girl ill change it.

[superchole]

ok i left the pinky with him over night in a conatianer but he still didnt take it. should i try giving him a live pinky and how long should i wait till i try feeding again.

[Siretsap]

you can try to open the head of the pinkie, often it works
also cutting the pinkie in half works quite well for cornsnakes who don't feed early when they are born. Make sure it's warm and not too cold. You can try feeding him the next day or 2.

If not, you can try a live one.

[Linds]

Originally posted by Invictus
Pine has an undue bad reputation, which is based about 10% on fact.

Little more than 10% fact. Even if no immediate results are seen, it can have long-term effects on the livers of animals, and this has been proven with tests. I've read numerous results of necropsies and tests relevant to such. People used to use pine routinely for rodents, and 4 years was considered a good life for a rat. Animals are outliving the 'norm' now that people are becoming more aware of its problems. The animal may live it's life relatively free of symptoms, but its life may be years shorter than it would've been.

[Queensnake29]

I used a few but found my snakes love...and I also prefer what is called LIZARD LITTER that can be bought at PETCO (it's for snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, and arachnid).

It is an ultra-absorbant, bateria and parasite-free terrarium ground cover for use in desert, forest, and tropical habitats (it covers all bases). It is derived from the kenaf plant and it contains no bar or wood making it one of the safest. It is 200% more absorbent than mulch or sawdust. It is ideal too for animals that are susceptible to respiratory and bacterial infections caused by laying on damp substrates. It also is easily digestible, nontoxic....my snakes love burrowing in it and hiding in it and it is really easy to clean too!!