New here and to Snakes!

Risika57 · 03-12-14, 08:08 PM

Hiya! I'm hailing in from Dayton, OH! I am the Ohio Coordinator for the rescue Exotic Animal Rescue and Pet Sanctuary.

I was setting up a booth, in February, at a local rescue event, and our main location sent me some animals to showcase what we rescue, and they sent me Tetris the gorgeous corn snake. I've never dealt with a snake before, and thought I wouldn't like them (I don't hate, but didn't think I'd have any actual interest seeing as how my main rescue animal are rats) but I fell in love with Tetris!

She did so wonderful at the event. Allowing others to hold her, and touch her, and coo at her. She'd cling on to me, and try to get out of her container when I'd go put her back for a break lol! She seemed to love the attention! I decided to permanently foster her, and use her as an educational animal at our events!

She was surrendered to us with a untreated respiratory infection, causing her to have some permanent resp, scarrage. (We got it treated, she's all healed up, but now has some quirks ^_^) She open mouth breaths about 15 times or more a day, and she sometimes has a raspy exhale.

Since she open mouth breaths, I don't feel comfortable with her on loose type bedding just in case some gets in her mouth. So I use fleece covered terry cloth towels (the towels to soak up any spilled liquids or moisture build up from humidity, and the fleece to wick the moisture down so she's on a dry substrate. So far, so great! It also gives a very pretty coloring to her tank! (I change the towels out every other day, and the fleece as needed)

She is full grown at 55in long, we don't really know how old she is. She got her name from the markings on her belly which look like Tetris pieces ^_^. I have her housed in a 20 gallon Long with a heat lamp (ceramic bulb) on one side. I've read about the under tank mats, and am contemplating getting one, but the heat lamp was donated to the rescue, and we use what is donated when we can (as long as its safe and healthy)

She is fed f/t large mice once a week. A very good eater.

Anyways, I talk waaaay too much. Here are some photos of my girl, and her set up. (I don't know what her morph is called.)

alessia55 · 03-13-14, 07:24 AM

Welcome to the forum! Please read our sSNAKESs forum rules.

pdomensis · 03-13-14, 07:58 AM

Beautiful snake there. Welcome to the site.

poomwah · 03-13-14, 08:12 AM

welcome aboard, you're going to love it here :]

drumcrush · 03-13-14, 08:14 AM

Hey, welcome!

Sharlynn93 · 03-13-14, 09:10 AM

she looks to me like a very beautiful okeetee! (just an amateur opinion)...I would think something a bit bigger than a 20g would be better, though...even something with a little more height (say a 29g high?) I know mine LOVE to climb, but don't really spend a lot of terrestrial time other than hot spot digesting...

Sharlynn93 · 03-13-14, 09:12 AM

oh, and maybe put the water dish in the middle, and the 2nd hide on the cooler side?

Great Mormon · 03-13-14, 09:25 AM

Hello, I am new here. I am from Malaysia and I'm a parent of a ball python, a green tree python and a sd retic.

sharthun · 03-13-14, 10:48 AM

Hey and Welcome!

Risika57 · 03-13-14, 08:50 PM

Thanks Everyone! As far as the tank goes, everything I've read, says a 20L is fine as a permanent home. I don't have the funds, nor does the rescue, to buy a larger tank when the 20L is fine. She barely ever climbs on the tree she has.

I will think about moving the tree to the side and the pool in the middle. But for now, she's doing well.

sharthun · 03-13-14, 08:59 PM

I agree, I have my 2 year old normal corn in a 40g long and I feel it's not large enough.

**Tsubaki** · 03-14-14, 03:05 AM

welcome!

Trent · 03-14-14, 03:20 AM

hi and welcome!

Lankyrob · 03-14-14, 05:55 AM

You are a rescue and you use a blanket as substrate for a snake?

Risika57 · 03-15-14, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

You are a rescue and you use a blanket as substrate for a snake?

May I ask what is wrong with my using the fabric as her substrate? Especially considering I explained WHY?

She has permanent resp. scarring, causing her to open mouth breath a lot. I would not want to risk impaction with loose type beddings (wood, carefresh, etc)
Carpet can be a pain to wash and sanitize, I don't have easy access to newspaper (plus its ugly to look at), to me, using something like paper towels is wasteful, its one and done. So I decided to use fleece covered terry cloth towels. I am eventually going to make actual sewn pads out of this once I figure out her tank situation. (I just got done talking to the rescue's president, and I may be getting a 55 gallon for the pretty girl.)

The fleece wicks moisture down to the towel, so that she isn't on any moisture from my misting, and from her splashing in her pool. The fleece also adds a little bit of warmth for her to lay on. I change it out either every other day, or as needed (if she goes potty on it).

So explain to me, why this is a bad idea for a girl with breathing issues? (She is vet checked by Dr. Levitas at Mt. Lookout Animal Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. I drive an hour to take her to this vet, because I trust him with all my exotics)