Getting My First Snake - Lots of Questions!

[ILoveAnimals]

Hello!

I am planning on getting my first snake, a corn snake, at the White Plains reptile expo on September 10th.

I have quite a few questions...feel free to only answer a few if answering them all is too time consuming!

1. Will there be many corn snakes available at this expo? I assumed so because they are one of the most common pet snakes, but I have been watching videos of the expo and I see mostly BPs and Leopard Geckos. Should I be concerned?

2. Will small (under 15 grams, only eating one pinky a week) hatchlings be available? I am looking to get as young of a snake as possible, assuming it has had a few meals and good sheds.

3. Will they be sexed? I would much prefer a female over a male, simply for the size difference.

4. I have heard that I should stock up on mice at the expo. How many should I get? How many of one size will I need before I move up a size?

5. I would love to spend the whole day at the expo so I have a chance to look at everything. But should I get the snake first, and carry her around all day? That seems cruel.

6. Should I take a quick look at all available and then decide, or should I grab the first one I like? How quickly do they go?

7. Is it alright to start her in a ten gallon for a few months? Or should I start her in a 20?

8. Is a 40g a good size for an adult?

9. I am planning on following the Munson feeding plan. Is this a good idea?

Please forgive me for my ignorance...Although I have kept and worked with many many animals, including snakes, I have never had a snake of my own!