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View Full Version : In at the deep end!!


Jacq & Billy
03-20-12, 08:54 PM
My other half arrived home today with a snake in a box! He spotted it in some bushes in the middle of town, and realising it would not survive the Scottish climate for long, brought it home.
We don't know the first thing about this snake or how to care for it!!! After some searching online we think what we have is a young corn snake. Absolutely any advice from experienced keepers would be welcome at this stage, I have always liked the idea of keeping a snake, and am not completely new to reptiles (have a blue tongue skink). We have put our snake into a small fish tank with a dish of water, some substrate and hidey-places, and put a spare heatpad underneath half the tank space. We have put a little cat food in, simply because we have no idea when the animal last ate and don't even know what best to feed it with!!
We are currently trying to decide whether or not to try tracing the owner (who must be very upset about losing his pet. I would hate to think this snake was unwanted and that anyone could release the creature to die from exposure) or buy another vivarium. We are pushed for space in a 1 bedroom flat, but reckon we could fit another viv on top of the 4 foot one we already have for our skink?
For a start, we have no idea if our snake is fully grown or how big he (she?) will get and will need to find out these things before we decide whether or not we will be able to care for the snake. I have grown really fond of it, it is a beautiful animal and we would like to keep it.
In the meantime, what can we do to make sure the snake is looked after till we can get it a proper home?

infernalis
03-20-12, 08:57 PM
we need a picture..

Corn snakes are a north American species, so it seems either unlikely, or you have found an escaped or released pet.

The only two snakes I am aware of in Scotland are Natrix and adders.

Get rid of the cat food, as soon as I can see a picture and ID the snake, I can tell you what it eats.

Trollbie
03-20-12, 09:08 PM
I hope you keep it!


Lol I know what snakes eat, but I always have the urge to give her treats. And it makes me sad that I can't!


Anyway, good luck with the snakie!!!

Lankyrob
03-21-12, 05:52 AM
Take the cat food out, it wont eat it. It needs a mouse or small rat.

A picture would be great to help identify the snake and then we can recommend temperatures etc :)

Swany
03-21-12, 06:01 AM
Hi and welcome to the madhouse ;-). Where in Scotland are you ?

Will0W783
03-21-12, 06:37 AM
Hello and welcome. It sounds like you have a decent setup for a corn snake, but we would need to see some pictures of your new scaly friend to positively identify it.

UwabamiReptiles
03-21-12, 07:47 AM
Welcome to the forum!

Trent
03-21-12, 08:45 AM
Hi and welcome!

Jacq & Billy
03-22-12, 04:43 PM
Hi,
Thanks for all the replies! We found the snake's owner. I took it to my local pet shop and it is a young corn snake. It was under-weight and dehydrated. It's owner said it escaped in January! He really wanted it back coz that was his breeding male. But he very kindly gave me a young female. I'm happy coz now I know I've got a healthy snake to start off with. The pet shop I went to specialises in exotics and they were able to give me advice, and a supply of mice. Having the lizard meant I already got a lot of the stuff already that I will need

Norm66
03-22-12, 05:51 PM
I love happy endings and this is a double. :)

Swany
03-22-12, 06:05 PM
What a result ;-) Feel free to post pics. We're all picture junkies lol