>>I know the people at Petco dont know about the snakes they for the most part. And that i will pay more. But the big question is are the snakes ok at Petco? Am I getting a bigger chance of getting a sick snake? And if so how much of a chance I am taking?



Here is my take on the subject.

If PetCo is the only place near you that has cornsnakes available, and you want a corn snake, buy a corn snake from PetCo.

By the way....Unless you were to pick up a corn snake at a show, PetCo's corn snake will be cheaper then buying one on line.

The prices are basically the same but shipping is pretty expensive.

Now, there are a few things to look for when purchasing a snake.

It should have good clear eyes. No cloudiness or watering.

The nostrils should be clean and clear. No drainage or blockage.

make sure there are no mites. Mites look like little black dots (sometimes red). Kind of like black pepper. Although they can be anywhere on a snakes body you can just about bet that if there are mites present you will find some around the eyes or mouth.

The snake should have a full body. No loose skin on the sides. Loose skin means it isn't eating or worse.

Speaking of loose skin you don't want one that has pieces of un shed skin still attached. This can sometimes be a sign of more serious problems.

The snake should be active. Most of the corns at PetCo are hatchlings and a healthy hatchling should be active in your hands.

And the last thing I can think of at the moment...Make sure it is feeding, and even better, talk them into feeding it in front of you. Even offer to pay for the pinkie. It's worth a buck to be sure the snake is eating.

Although a lot of people do not like to buy animals from the big "chain" stores. Sometimes you just gotta' do what you gotta' do.

And that's all I have to say about that
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.

Jimmy (draybar)

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