My first snake....

damzookeeper · 05-15-04, 08:00 PM

Hi everyone. A little bit of a long intro but my first time here so here it goes. Some of you might recognize me from the leo or bearded forums but I've never been here other than to read a few posts.I've had lizards since 1999 but never a snake. I keep beardeds, leos, fatties, and crested geckos, blue tongues, and ocellated skinks, and also got my first uro on Mother's day. I've wanted a snake for a few years now but my husband is terrified of them and would not be in the same room or house for that matter as a snake. He compromised about a year and a half ago with a blue tongue, this was before he saw exactly what they looked like. When I brought it home he freaked out thinking it was a snake, the fact that it had legs was the only reason he believed it wasn't. lol. So, anyway, I wouldn't trade my blue tongues for anything and I love them to pieces I was happy with the compormise but still wanted a snake of course.

Well, a year and a half has passed and I actually got him to touch the blue tongues from behind a couple time. Quick and painless. lol. But he is still afriad of them and literally scared to even look at pictures of snakes so I thought I would never, ever have a snake, unless something were to happen to him or we separated, which I don't plan on doing anytime soon. lol.
Anyway, to get to the point of my story. lol, Saturday evening before Mother's day I was sitting at the computer looking at the many different morphs of corn snakes admiring them and reading care sheets like I do so often dreaming of having my own some day and my husband came by. He said "you really want one of those don't you?" I said "of course, always." lol. and he took a big breath and said "Well, get one then." I said "WHAT?" wasn't sure if I was dreaming. lol and he said "you heard me, happy mother's day, don't ask me to say it again or I might change my mind." I was so happy I called a friend right away whom I thought might have some. He had a beautiful female and I went right away to pick her up before my hubby could change his mind. I brought her home and he saw how big she was, small for me, but big for him. lol. He is happy for me but he wont go in the same room as the snake. He is still terrified and wont stay on the same floor as we are if the snake is out. lol, it's too funny, if he only knew how easy she was to handle and wouldn't hurt a mouse. Well, maybe a mouse. Heehee. But you know what I mean. She is awsome and I'm so happy to have her. I can't express my graditude to my hubby. I know he is a special guy to let me bring something in the house that terrifies him that much. So I respect him and let him know everytime she is out, where she is and when she returns to her cage. I also make sure she has no way of escaping, or at least I hope not. lol
So, now what you have all been waiting for and listening to me ramble on about. Here is my new corn. I named her Rosey because of her beautiful color. She is an okeetee as I'm sure you can guess by the pictures. Oh, and hubby wasn't behind the camera, lol, my cousin was.

and one of her alone in a twenty gallon tank while I set up her 35 gallon. Do you think that is big enough for her? She seems fine in the 35, she has a hide and a water dish, I'm using newsprint for substrate, might change that later though. I have a 55 I would like to put her in later but I have to get an escape proof lid as it has none at the moment.

Vengeance · 05-15-04, 08:09 PM

I think 20 - 25 gallon is the minimum, but as allways the bigger the better. Looks like she is already full grown so atleast your hubby won't have to worry about her getting any bigger

Congrats on the new aquistion.

Joe · 05-15-04, 08:25 PM

Congrats and nice snake!

Emily-Fisher · 05-15-04, 09:05 PM

CONGRATS DEB!!!! After having you tell me about your husband's fear so many times, I never would have expected this to happen! She is SO pretty, too!! You must be overjoyed.. a couple more months and you'll be breeding 'em!

Katt · 05-15-04, 09:11 PM

That is a gorgeous corn! Congrats!!!

mouseman · 05-15-04, 10:06 PM

I must add my congratulations to the list!! She is a true beauty and you are very lucky to have such a caring husband. Your story makes me giggle though because my story is similar - the only difference is that I was the one that was deathly afraid of the reptiles and my hubby was the one that thought we should give a corn snake a try. We were actually raising mice on a very small scale before we got any reptiles. We finally got a corn snake and I was so petrified that I would get up in the middle of the night to check and make sure she was still in her cage. The killer part of this story is now I have reptiles that my husband knows nothing about, I'm sure, and my snake count is up to 92. About half are corns of various color phases. I have definitely come to appreciate the reptiles more than I ever thought I could!! I would never part with them now!! Have fun with your new little girl!!
Lori

damzookeeper · 05-16-04, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Emily-Fisher
After having you tell me about your husband's fear so many times, I never would have expected this to happen!

You and me both Em, you and me both! lol

damzookeeper · 05-16-04, 07:17 AM

Thanks everyone for the welcome into the colubrid family. I'm so happy I found Rosey, okeetees are my favorite phase of corns besides sunglows so I really got lucky finding her in one night. Thank you Don!
Lori, I'm hoping in time my husband will come around too and see what beautiful creatures these snakes are and how incredibly tame and sweet they can be. Your story is an inspiration to me, there is hope after all.

Here's one of my 9 1/2 year daughter, also another reason why my husband gave in. Cynthia has wanted a snake since we brought our first newt home in 1999. Don't mind the housecoat, it was after her bath. lol.

Simon · 05-16-04, 08:07 AM

Nice!!

Lovely story indeed~~
and welcome to the corn world!!!

I am sure that you'll find more and more interesting morphs that you'll be wanting soon!!
I hope that your husband will start to appreciate the beauties of snakes and hope that he too will soon get his own corn (show him all those different coloration of corns and see if he sees any that are nice looking)

Get the corn snake manuel and show him the photos inside...get online more and show him more online pictures~~~ hahahhah

vanderkm · 05-16-04, 02:37 PM

Gorgeous okeetee and glad to hear you are able to get started in corns. As other have said, they are definately addictive - and you have a great looking girl to start with,

mary v.

nickykci · 05-17-04, 10:02 AM

Congrats on the new snake :-) i'm in a similiar situation as you, i wanted a corn snake so bad, but my husband hates snakes, after talking it over for months *lol* he finally agreed on me having my corn, cuz he knew it would make me happy. So now I can't wait to get it!!! i am waiting to get a hatchling, so only one more month to go, i already got the aquarium and everything!

Dragon_Slave · 05-17-04, 07:29 PM

Deb, the corn is beautiful and so is your daughter! Glad you decided to come into the snake world! Enjoy her!