A Few Question About My Snakes - Page 2

Kingsnakechris · 11-07-13, 10:32 PM

Be sure to let us know when your kingsnake eats the cornsnake. Or let them go or sepperate them!

hutt132 · 11-07-13, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingsnakechris

Be sure to let us know when your kingsnake eats the cornsnake. Or let them go or sepperate them!

I got another terrarium today for the king snake. Also, the king snake is way too small now to eat the corn snake.

reptocarl · 11-07-13, 11:23 PM

I think you should release them and get a captive bred. Snakes are too valuable to the environment to remove from the wild. If you do keep them they need to be housed seperately and fed frozen/thawed pinkie mice. Dont feed them live because rodents know what a snake is and what the snake is going to do and they may try to defend themselves. I wouldnt risk my pets getting bit.

hutt132 · 11-09-13, 06:02 PM

Here's a picture with a quarter, king snake, and smallest pinkies they had at the store. You guys still sure it can eat it without me having to cut it up or something?

The corn snake ate it without a problem, though.

drumcrush · 11-09-13, 06:47 PM

Yeah, that is too big. Try cutting it up then

mistersprinkles · 11-10-13, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

release them and buy captive bred,
King Snakes eat snakes! the corn is in mortal peril.

Agreed. These snakes are wild animals and deserve to be in the wild. Imagine being born outdoors and only knowing the outdoors all your life, and suddenly being locked in an apartment. You'd go nuts because it was alien to you.

Buy a snake that was born in a captive environment. It'll eat better, wont be likely to harbor internal parasites, will have better temperment, and you can feel better about the whole situation.

As far as the kingsnake eating the cornsnake, that's a very real possibility. You'd be surprised at the size of prey that some snakes TRY to take down. Even if it was unsuccessful at swallowing the corn, the King could TRY, and kill the corn in the process. And then we get into the morality of having caused the snake's death and things get worse.

drumcrush · 11-10-13, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistersprinkles

Agreed. These snakes are wild animals and deserve to be in the wild. Imagine being born outdoors and only knowing the outdoors all your life, and suddenly being locked in an apartment. You'd go nuts because it was alien to you

I do agree with you, as well as everyone else about releasing them however, they're babies. They havent been out their "all their lives," so its not as bad keeping them as it would be for a sub adult or an adult even. This is just my opinion, no bashing would be nice.

hutt132 · 11-11-13, 12:27 AM

The kingsnake is very little (about the size of a worm), so I think it will be fine keeping it since it hatched recently.
The snakes have been separated in different terrariums for a couple days now. I fed the corn snake a whole pinkie and it gobbled it down without a problem. I tried feeding the kingsnake the head of a pinkie today and it was still too big. It gave up trying to eat it after an hour. I'll have to cut off another piece of the pinkie tomorrow for it to try again.

As for internal parasites, why is this a bad thing? How common are they in young, wild snakes? If it bit me, would I get badly ill?

formica · 11-11-13, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hutt132

The kingsnake is very little (about the size of a worm), so I think it will be fine keeping it since it hatched recently.
The snakes have been separated in different terrariums for a couple days now. I fed the corn snake a whole pinkie and it gobbled it down without a problem. I tried feeding the kingsnake the head of a pinkie today and it was still too big. It gave up trying to eat it after an hour. I'll have to cut off another piece of the pinkie tomorrow for it to try again.

As for internal parasites, why is this a bad thing? How common are they in young, wild snakes? If it bit me, would I get badly ill?

it is exactly because it is recently hatched, that it is not good for you to keep it, it requires experience to look after hatchlings, which you do not have....every day that it does not eat, is a day closer to its death.

KORBIN5895 · 11-11-13, 06:18 AM

Congratulations on following some of the more pertinent advice given. While it may be more natural to release these two I wouldn't try and say that it is better for them. I believe you can do a fine job raising these things.

Make sure you do a lot of research on the proper husbandry requirements for both snakes and that your enclosures are completely escape proof as snakes are amazing escape artists and can go out extremely tiny holes.

One snake has eaten and the other has tried so I say your battle is already won. Next time you feed the king try cutting the pinky in half from nose to tail. That will cut the diameter in half and it should take it just fine.

I can tell you are really new to this but if you are willing to learn I think you will truly enjoy them. Make sure you ask any question you can think of and pm me any time.

KORBIN5895 · 11-11-13, 06:22 AM

Three things that seriously need addressed because they are completely out of context or just plain fear mongering.

First the death of a snake isn't a morality issue.

Secondly baby pinkies will not bite your snake so they are a completely safe live food source ( I still don't recommend live feeding).

Finally regardless of if this baby eats or not everyday is a day closer to death.

mistersprinkles · 11-18-13, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Finally regardless of if this baby eats or not everyday is a day closer to death.

Okay

mistersprinkles · 11-18-13, 06:25 PM

Why is every day a day closer to death? Isn't that a terribly pessimistic way of looking at an animal's life? How is every day a day closer to death if the snake is eating and properly cared for? ( Technically, yes, every day is a day closer to death for any organism) but in the greater sense of things, I mean, isn't that terribly pessimistic?

StudentoReptile · 11-18-13, 06:54 PM

I know a friend who works with scarlet kings. They are VERY difficult to convert to mice, and generally prefer their natural diet of lizards. Have fun catching anoles, skinks and geckos.

As others suggested, I recommend releasing them back into the wild. Judging by the questions you have asked, I assume you are a novice. The scarlet kingsnake is not a beginner species and a WC cornsnake can problematic as well. A captivebred cornsnake from a breeder or a petstore would a much easier and satisfying experience for you.

drumcrush · 11-18-13, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

I know a friend who works with scarlet kings. They are VERY difficult to convert to mice, and generally prefer their natural diet of lizards. Have fun catching anoles, skinks and geckos.

As others suggested, I recommend releasing them back into the wild. Judging by the questions you have asked, I assume you are a novice. The scarlet kingsnake is not a beginner species and a WC cornsnake can problematic as well. A captivebred cornsnake from a breeder or a petstore would a much easier and satisfying experience for you.

You can buy feeder lizards, I even have a link Feeder Lizards for Sale as of yes, a scarlet kingsnake is more challenging snake but I think he can do it. As far as the cornsnake, he can definitely do it. As long as humidity and temps are correct.

OP if you can, try purchasing some feeder anoles and lizards, if you want it to eat pinkies, maybe you can try scenting them. You can also try feeding nightcrawlers, dusted with a calcium powder(available at petsmart, Petco, etc)