Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a newly purchased albino corn snake, he or she(tips on how to tell would be great) is about a foot long. Whenever i hold him, he is always trying to move all over the place, somethims he wraps around my fingers. BTW these guys are pretty strong for their size, anyway will they ever calm down. Oh BTW he has never bit me or anything, i guess he just needs to get used to me, how often should i handle, i dont want to annoy him.

one more thing, he likes to hide under the newspaper substrate alot, is this normal, i think i am just over reacting, as i've only had him for a day.

ok. there are alot of questions and i will try to remember them all. first of all under paper is fine. just make sure you have some hides (logs, caves, even paper towel tubes...my babies LOVE those) ok sexing...if you dont have any tools and being since it is pretty long you cant really sex by "popping" so what i would do is look at the tail. if it stays the same length for a couple on inches it is a male...if the tail gets small real fast after the vent it is more likely a female. and depending on how long you've had it...its probably scared. i usually try not to pick up or disturb my new snakes for at least 3 days that way they are getting used to their home and new smells and textures. i dont remember any more questions so i will leave you be and hope someone else answers the rest!!! congrats and good luck!!! ~kin

you can handle them as often as every other day. only right after feeding its recomemded to wait like 24-48 hours for digestion and so they don't regurge. you don't want a regurging baby on your hands.
they are all very flighty when so little. i have a butter motley that is a few months old now and is still freaking out when i grab him. but they do calm down. it just takes time and as they get bigger they get used to handling.
most corns are very good in that they don't bite. i have yet to bet bit by my 4 and my biggest one is like 4 foot now. so very good beginner snakes.
hiding under whatever is what they do best. just be careful he isn't resting on a UTH if that is what you are using for heat. they can get burned. they do like hides in there also. mine love paper towel rolls and i also take little kleenex boxes and cut them down. they like a hide they can feel the sides off. so smaller is better for babies. enjoy. with a little help they pretty much take care of them selves. very easy snakes to start with.

thanks for the replies, i figured he would calm down with time. The UTH is actually on the side so he wont get burned, i just wish i would be able to see him more. I have a hide in the cool end, and the warm end, and water in the middle. Also my temps. are 84 warm side day, 80 cool side day, and 75 at night warm side, im not sure what the cool side is at night.

when you say the UTH is on the side are you talking about the SIDE of the tank. they go UNDER the tank that is why they are called under the tank heaters. its recommended to use some sort of temp controler. if you can't keep your hand on the bare glass bottom over the heater its to hot for the snake. i was just wondering.
babies hide all the time but do come out more as the get bigger and more comfortable with their enclosure. everything is hugh to them so they instinctively hide. i have 4 corns. here is one of them.

its not too hot, someone said that not to let the snakes touch it, but its on the outside of the tank so.... I can keep my hand on it, it around 84 on the bottom of the tank.