Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a baby Corn from Petco. I was just wondering how old these snakes usually are when they are shipped out to pet stores, and if are they are prone to anymore health problems than if I bought one straight from a breeder?

The corns I have seen in local Petco are very young in appearance - though actual age is not known, could be that they just are not fed very often.

It is always, always better to get a corn from a reputable breeder than from a generic pet store.

Pet stores get their corns from a wholesaler who gets his corns from breeders who often sell the wholesaler what's left after they sell the best young themselves.

Also, the wholesalers are in it for the money, and may not follow proper quarantine procedure, resulting in spread of diseases. Pet stores often don't as well - in fact, my local petco usually has at least 4 corns in the same tank. They are different morphs and very well may come from different breeders. If one of them has a disease, there's a decent chance it has passed it on to the others.

Anyway - good luck with your corn, it probably is OK - but I would really suggest avoiding Petco for pets in the future. Try to find a show in your area if you can not afford to have a breeder ship to you (shipping is usually ~ $50)
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3.6 L. getula californiae - 16 eggs (Cal. King)
1.1 L. getula nigrita (MBK)
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
3.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - 14 eggs (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

I totally agree!! Jee

Of course pet stores don't quarantine their snakes We don't have a spare room in the back where we hold all snakes for 6 months.... Most pet stores are horrible. But there are still one or two that care about the animals. The huge chains usually don't though. If you can find a good mom and pop store or just one that has a knowledgeable staff (learn to distinguish between truth an bs) then you are set.... If the snake looks good and you think the price is reasonable then go for it!
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.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

Some pet stores (I believe LLL for example) do however keep their corns separate from each other - reducing the chances of one sick corn infecting a bunch of cage mates.
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3.6 L. getula californiae - 16 eggs (Cal. King)
1.1 L. getula nigrita (MBK)
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
3.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - 14 eggs (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

There are a few good pet stores out there. One that I frequent keeps all snakes individually in sterilite bins or plastic shoe boxes. The other I go to will keep newly acquired snakes/reptiles in a brief quarantine to verify that they are eating well and have no external parasites.

Unless I know the person I'm dealing with by name and face, I will need to inspect and quarantine, I've been sMITEd before.
Mites were a pain to get rid of.

Every new aquisition I get goes into a tub that has been sprayed with prevent-a-mite - and the reptile is wiped down with reptile relief.

Even if I don't see mites.

That seems to greatly reduce the possibility of a snake that arrives with mites from starting a mite cycle at my home.
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3.6 L. getula californiae - 16 eggs (Cal. King)
1.1 L. getula nigrita (MBK)
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
3.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - 14 eggs (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

The big pet store chains seem to be the only option around here. I live in NW Arkansas. There is only one small, family owned store that sells reptiles that I know of, and they don't have corns, just the bigger exotics(boas, pythons, iguanas, monitors). I can't find info on any reptile shows in this area or breeders close by. There 's not even a breeder for pet rats in Arkansas (and I've had major health problems with the ones from Petco). If anyone knows of a show or breeders anywhere close to here please let me know. Thanks for all the replies.

Where in Arkansas are you from? I am just up in Joplin Mo. which probably isn't TOO far off. There is a reptile show in Broken Arrow Ok. (Tulsa) but the last time I went it wasn't worth the drive.
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.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

I live in Rogers. I was hoping for somethig a bit closer, but I'll try it. Why was it not worth it? Not a good selection? Prices?

Well i haven't been to the broken arrow show in about 2 years. I drove about an hour and a half and paid $12 to get in for a total of 12 tables. Only 3 had snakes and two of those tables were balls. There was one table that had some corns that were not too bad. A little high for amels, anerys, and snows. Like I said I haven't been in over 2 years. The show wasn't a total loss though. I got a ball for $15. This was back when normals still went for over $100. Suffice to say that it didn't eat for 3 months (contrary to what the dealer said) but after I got him eating he was a garbage disposal!
E-mail me.... I am sure we can get what you want and if you don't mind a fairly short drive you could come by and pick it up.


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.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

with breeders you dont need to be close by, i live in vermont, i had my blizzard corn shipped from texas.
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jake

my addiction:
0.2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
1.0 albino cal king (zeus)
0.0.1 wc garter (zim)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

pet store snake: unknown age, unknown breeder, the store who sells you has no clue or care about the snakes care and health, they dont feed them so they stay small and cute even if thier ribs show, they give you a care sheet but it only tells you the very basic info, but mainly tells you what product to buy from them, your snake could be full of parasites and diseases,could have a feeding problem and might not eat for you, even with proper care your snake may only live a year or two, the store doesnt care because they are making a profit, how much of a profit? the buy the snakes for about 10 bucks and sell them anywhere up to 100.

snake from reputable breeder: the snake does not leave his care until it is pest/sickness free, eating well and growing and shedding properly and if cared for properly your snake will live a full heathy life. you know where the snake comes from, its hatch date and anything else you want to know the breeder will probably gladly tell you. profit? unless your breeding high end ball pythons you barely break even, you do it because you love snakes.

which is better?
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jake

my addiction:
0.2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1 amelenistic corn snake (maizy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
1.0 albino cal king (zeus)
0.0.1 wc garter (zim)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven