View Full Version : New to Snakes
A family friend gave us their snake a couple months ago.
I don't know a lot about snakes, and I appreciate that a forum such as this exists for people like myself. Especially when it has been an adjustment period trying to identify the emotional needs of our new family member.
welcome to the community. You'll find a LOT of great advice and support on this site. Tell us a little more about your new friend...what is he/she? How are you keeping it?
other Roy
CDN-Cresties
02-11-05, 05:37 PM
Welcome to the site. Im sure it will help you find any answers you are seeking.
Believed to be a he
I was told it was a corn snake, however, the coloring is different from everything I have heard and read about corn snakes to this point. He is brown with cream markings along its back and darker brown stripes down its sides. It is between 3-5 years old. He had a previous owner prior to our family friend. We keep him in a 20 gallon tank with 70 degrees cool end and 80-84 in the warm end. We have a 75 watt flood light on for about 8-10 hours per day that directs heat towards his rock and tree branch and swimming pool. We have another dish that is smaller and it sits just below his fake vine outside of his hideout, which is in the cooler end. The contents of his house rest on 3 sheets of paper towel. The 80-84 degree end is heated by a heat pad underneath the tank. He was on one hopper, however, with the transition we have move it back to 1 fuzzie about every 10 days.
Any feedback on his arrangements - I would post a picture, however, I am not sure yet how it can be done.
Asian Jon
02-12-05, 02:25 AM
Hey Smog welcome to the site. To post a pic you can click here (http://ssnakess.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=63) and look at the 'how to upload to the gallery' and 'how to post a picture from the gallery' threads.
I have attached a picture of SMOG. I don't think he is a corn.
HumphreyBoagart
02-13-05, 12:04 AM
I don't know a whole lot about corns, but he looks like a corn to me. Possibly an eastern milksnake.
lolaophidia
02-13-05, 07:18 AM
Looks like a Texas Rat snake (related to Corn snakes) and their care is basically the same as Corns. The set up sounds fine as far as temperatures and hiding places, though the tank looks a little small (a 40 gallon breeder will provide more floor space). Texas Rats get a bit bigger than the typical Corn snake- often between 5 and 6 feet. If it's 3-5 years old, it should be eating adult mice or small adult rats rather than fuzzies or hoppers. I understand that you are trying to get it settled in and feeding it a smaller prey item, but I've got a feeling that a fuzzy mouse won't even be an appetizer for that snake.
We appreciate the feedback. We have been looking into getting a larger tank for him, however, we were only looking in 30 range, now I think we will be looking in the 40+ range.
Thank you once again
lolaophidia
02-13-05, 11:56 AM
I tend to err on the side of more room for adult snakes, if you have that option. I'm not sure what the measurements are for a 30 (what ever the tank is that isn't long or high) but for a 5-6 foot snake, you are looking at at least 2/3 the length of the snake stretched out as a minimum of the length on the tank (so by my mathmatically challenged estimate, 3 feet long) to give them some room to stretch out.
Just checked measurements on 40 breeders, they are 36" x 18" x 16" which would give your snake plenty of room to stretch out and roam. A 30 in its various incarnations is... 36" x 13" x 16" (show) or 24" x 13" x 24" (high). If you went for the "show" version that would be adequate space for your snake.
I've kept Texas rat snakes before and I will say that mine were somewhat on the tempermental side. Usually defensive when I went to remove them from the cage, but their bites are minor so I didn't worry too much about it. Temperament varies from snake to snake, and I've had some people tell me that their Texans were very calm. They are neat snakes, fiesty sometimes, but easy to care for and of a managable size.
ATBlover
02-13-05, 01:33 PM
yea i would say a 40 gallon minumum for that snake...3-5 years???...feeding him hoppers?...you should feed him a large mouse or maybe a small rat.....Connor
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