My first snake ever, a few ?s - Page 2

jjnnbns · 01-14-04, 12:47 AM

Thanks for the great answers.

I cant stop asking!!!

Would it be fine to have some sort of small rubbermaid to put him in for feeding? I cant get live food to kill and freeze, so I get it already frozen. Do i just lay it in there or move it around? Also, the said he was feed recently but I dont see a lump, should i wait for him to "go" before I feed him? THanks again for all of your help

chamitch · 01-14-04, 12:50 AM

remember to thaw teh mice before u feed. and for teh first feeding might be a good idea just to feed him in th cage using some forceps to move it around

marisa · 01-14-04, 12:50 AM

You shoudl give him a few days to relax without handling, then make a feeding attempt.

Feeding outside the enclosure is fine. What I would do is at night time place him in the smaller rubbermaid you have for feeding, then just place the prey item inside. Check on him. If he doesn't take it by the next morning, then give him a few days and try again but this time try wiggling it.

The first time he should take the prey just laying there though most likely. They are eager feeders usually and just the smell is enough.

Marisa

jjnnbns · 01-14-04, 12:52 AM

Like i said, I just got him today, and handled him A LOT, probably for almost an hour or two, off and on. Is that gonna be too bad if I let him relax now? I hope so. He just seemed so active!

marisa · 01-14-04, 12:54 AM

I am sure he will be fine. They are very active in new enviroments usually, or when you clean the cage. Just let him chill for a few days and I am sure he will eat no problem for you then

A couple days after feeding you can hold him again!

Good luck!
Marisa

chamitch · 01-14-04, 12:57 AM

yea listen to marissa.she has alot of experience. but just make sense to me to leave them in there original inclosure so they feel comfortable. but thats just me. but probably wont have trouble at all feeding him. theres a reason why corns are so common.

later

marisa · 01-14-04, 01:04 AM

chamitch0 Actually here at my place I also leave the snakes in the enclosures too feed LOL

All the time actually and especially new ones.

But I figured if he was feeding out of enclosure, he might as well start now. lol

Marisa

jjnnbns · 01-14-04, 01:11 AM

Would it be fine to feed in the enclosure, I would just as well do that if it wouldn't negatively affect the snake

marisa · 01-14-04, 01:18 AM

Eh. It's your choice really. Some people "think" feeding in the enclosure causes the snake to associate your hand coming in with food, hence more bites. But I have found this not only to be untrue in most cases but the opposite. Many bites occur when moving the snake from the feeding tub to the cage. Anyways its your choice really. None of my snakes bite, and I feed in the enclosure.

BUT. If you use loose substrate...like aspen, you should feed outside the enclosure because the snake could swallow the aspen (or whatever loose substrate it is) and become impacted. If you use paper towel or newspaper, this obviously isn't a concern though and feeding inside is fine in this case.

Marisa

sapphire_moon · 01-14-04, 12:16 PM

in reference to housing 2 corns together......

i have heard no one say how corns can become cannabalistic (sp!?) (Though I think it's pretty rare, but there is still a chance) if housed with another corn. I remember simon posting a pic of one of his hatchlings that had cannabalised it's sibling.

jjnnbns · 01-14-04, 01:23 PM

does this setup look alright for my corn?

sapphire_moon · 01-14-04, 03:26 PM

you might want to have a hide on the cool side. How are you measureing temps?

I think you mentioned you got this snake at a pet store (if not then I'm sorry).....you might want to use white paper towel, for a while to watch for mites, and have a fecal done......

Looks good, better than what mine looks like right now! lol

jjnnbns · 01-14-04, 03:52 PM

I have a thermometer gauge at each end and a humidity gauge in the center. The hide is split halfway over the UTH pad, but shoud I get a second anyways? (He has enough space on either half without overlapping. Also, How do I check for mites, can I see them?

Here is another pic

jjnnbns · 01-14-04, 03:59 PM

another quick question. It looks like there are two very small pieces of skin hanging below his jaw, is this probably bits left from a shed, or normal, or maybe a problem? Thanks everyone

Here is a pic of his head, can you see what I'm talking about?

sapphire_moon · 01-14-04, 07:52 PM

yes another hide would be great. You probably can't see the mites on that substrate, you would want to switch to news print or white paper towels for a while. it's little black specks running around, check closely around the eyes, nose, mouth, vent, and belly scales for them.

Now what kind of theremometers do you have? Because those stick on ones really are crap (no offence!). The stick on ones only measure the temperature of the glass they are stuck to. And your snake isn't sitting there!

A good digi thermemeter from somewhere like wal mart (only about 13 dollares) with an indoor outdoor probe. They also have ones that have humidity gauge on it. Put the probe over the heating pad to get the correct temps. Heating pads usually go way over 100 degrees so if you check it and it is going over 100 degrees or even 85 degrees then you might want to get a lamp dimmer and use it.

Though with corns house humidity is usually fine with mistings when they go into shed. I always get perfect sheds, even though my room is dry enough to make me have a nose bleed EVERY morning.
It is probably just part of a bad shed?

How long have you had it? How long have you let it rest without messing with it's cage or taking pics? It's always best to leave a new snake alone for atleast 1 week before messing with it and letting it eat atleast 2 times before handling it.