New snake owner in the UK!

[Thnaky Laydee!]

Hello, I'll be 40 soon :eek: and my daughters surprised me with the one thing I've wanted for as long as I can remember.... a snake!

So, our newest family member is a corn snake!

We have him in a plastic box, sold by the retailer, with a heatpad under one end, some substrate, waterbowl, some special wood blocks (we've creatively made a cave out of!)

He's about 12" long. He seems very fit & well. Active and bright eyed.

But two things concern me, 1. We didn't get a thermometer thingy to stick on the box, and 2. The heat pad doesn't seem to warm enough, should I put it against the side (it says you can do so on the heat pad info). Where snake is situated is on my desk, and we have an poiseangle lamp ~ can I direct that close to it to add heat during the day?

Any advice gladly taken. I've been reading books & looking at websites all afternoon, and I'm more confused now then ever ~ and these are meant to be the easiest to keep!

TYIA x:)

[PDXErik]

UTH (under tank heaters) are pretty good. Not so much on plastic, however. If you're really cool, you'll get a 20 gallon long tank (longer than taller). It'll cost about $50 (us) new, a decent thermometer (spend about $5-10 us on it). A water bowl, a small rubbermaid, pint or so, will cost less than one from the pet store. A heat lamp, shouldn't cost more than $10 (us), and a timer for it, your desk lamp may be enough. Right up against the screen top that the tank will come with.

The heat pad won't feel warm to the touch for some time, 10 minutes or so, through the plastic (preferrably glass), even longer.

Make sure it has something to climb around on, doesn't need to be much, but it will use it to shed on as well.

Snakes are ultra cool. Happy birthday, huh? :D

[Thnaky Laydee!]

Thanks for the advice.

Got a thermometer today, and that's all good.
Have put anglepoise lamp right over, and he likes his little basking spot, and then off to his cave. He has a waterbowl, with Evian in it!

As for being cool, and getting a 20 Gallon tank... Hmm, not quite yet!

Also, and this is going to sound stoopid ~ what's a rubbermaid?

Lastly, will his wood blocks be enough for him, or should I get him a plastic branch ~ only the retailer told me, if I put one in there I would make him territorial and vicious :Wow:

Oh, and really lastly, how often and for how long can he come out for? Thanks x

[chu'si]

Hello, I'll be 40 soon :eek: and my daughters surprised me with the one thing I've wanted for as long as I can remember.... a snake!

So, our newest family member is a corn snake!

We have him in a plastic box, sold by the retailer, with a heatpad under one end, some substrate, waterbowl, some special wood blocks (we've creatively made a cave out of!)

He's about 12" long. He seems very fit & well. Active and bright eyed.

But two things concern me, 1. We didn't get a thermometer thingy to stick on the box, and 2. The heat pad doesn't seem to warm enough, should I put it against the side (it says you can do so on the heat pad info). Where snake is situated is on my desk, and we have an poiseangle lamp ~ can I direct that close to it to add heat during the day?

Any advice gladly taken. I've been reading books & looking at websites all afternoon, and I'm more confused now then ever ~ and these are meant to be the easiest to keep!

TYIA x:)
hi there fellow corn owner take a peep at my threds ull see my set up plus this is a fab care sheet http://members.aol.com/Kathandcam/Hawkherp/care.html wot colour is ur corn mines a ghost n 1 more thing weres the pic of ur baby:)

[Thnaky Laydee!]

Aw, thank you for the care sheet, have printed that off.

Still don't know what a rubbermaid is! :confused:

Not sure what colouring he is, splodges (!) of conker coloured brown?
Photo's will be here, when hubby (who knows nothing of him yet!) returns home from his fishing trip with the digital camera! :no:

[chu'si]

Aw, thank you for the care sheet, have printed that off.

Still don't know what a rubbermaid is! :confused:

Not sure what colouring he is, splodges (!) of conker coloured brown?
Photo's will be here, when hubby (who knows nothing of him yet!) returns home from his fishing trip with the digital camera! :no:
here a link o dif colourings u may find urs there :: Ians Vivarium - Corn Snake Colour and Pattern Morphs :: (http://www.iansvivarium.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/cornmorphs.html) a rubbermade is a tub i think for keepin live animals in or reptiles and ur welcome hope the care sheet helps if ya need bargins for ur snakes encloser try ebay :)

[PDXErik]

I use rubbermaid bowls for soaking and stuff. They're great as they are dishwasher safe and there is a million different sizes.

You can see one at Space saving storage boxes (http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/product/category.jhtml?cat=HPCat100196)

Some of those look pretty big, but I'm sure there is something out there. Look in the housewares section of your supermarket.

As far as having your guy out, as long as it doesn't look stressed, it's probably ok. If it starts getting kind of "freaked out" or acting funny, he may be uncomfortable and it's time to go back.

I've never heard of a climby-stick making a snake territorial, and I've never seen a vicious corn.

[Thnaky Laydee!]

Thanks for all your advice. Off to see Steve's colouration.

I was a bit unsure of the territorial/vicious thing myself, well seeing as the retailers assistant selling him to us, looked about 12!

x

[Aaron_S]

I've never heard of a climby-stick making a snake territorial, and I've never seen a vicious corn.


First, I agree with the statement that a stick won't make the snake territorial. It doesn't care. Secondly, you obviously haven't seen enough cornsnakes then.

I wouldn't always trust everything a sales associate tells you about reptiles. Sometimes they aren't always right and don't know everything. Good thing you found the forum and there's lots of information out there. I hope you now know what a rubbermaid is!

[PDXErik]

Well, I've been bitten by many snakes of similar stature, all the corns I've ever come in contact with have been sweethearts. But even the bites, perhaps vicious to the snake, were hardly vicious. No knock on the corn, don't get me wrong.

[Aaron_S]

I just bugging you. Don't worry about it.

[Thnaky Laydee!]

Thanks everyone for your help,

Found out what a rubbermaid is! Got few of those, just have to take out the kids packed lunches, and hey presto!

What do I have to soak though Erik?
As to being vicious? The salesboy (!) was nervous of handling him, and he was all coiled up ready to strike, so I let him come to me, and he's been fine. Apparently, he'd not been handled in 4 weeks as this guy is nervous of them!
He looks like a Carolina Corn. Beautiful conker colouration.

Can't wait to show off "Mummy's ickle Boy!"
Sorry... :no: :yes:

[chu'si]

on a snake forum ull find our snakes are our babys and our pride and joy:yes:

[Greenlover]

ya cornsnakes are awesome and if there not handled enough they can get like that im so happy mines never tried to strike.. lol like a lil baby corn snake could do any damage... but habbit like biting is one to break when there small...

[Meltos]

I Have Pm'd You Tiya :]
I Think We're the only british folk still here :P Haha.

Welcome to the hobby anyway. It's wayyy addictive :]