Reptile & Amphibian Forums

yes, i know there are tons of places where you can find knowledge on a certain subject, but there's only so much you can know....the rest, you have to experience it for yourself right?
for example...a book mihgt say u will experience g force.blah blah blah on a roller coaster....but u will never really know untill u ask someone who has been on it or you yourself have been on it.

we all learn driving from a book to get our G1's.....but even thouhg we pass our G1's, that does not mean we will know everything so well right? they dont teach u about "giving way" or "courtesy"..

This is true but you still have to read the book before you take the test. The book gives you basic knowledge, and then the rest you learn from experience but you still have to have the basic knowledge under your belt before you get behind the wheel.
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2.9.8 Leopard Geckos
1.2.1 African Fat-tails
0.1 Gonisaurus Luii
1.1 Central American Banded Geckos
0.1 Gargoyle Gecko
1.1 Calabar Pythons
1.1 Savu Pythons
0.0.2 Cornsnakes
0.1.2 Chondropythons
0.1 Standing's Day Gecko
1.0 Frog-eyed Gecko
1.1 Ball Pythons

The point Carl3 keeps trying to impress on you is that this forum receives a lot of questions and many questions which have been asked 1000's of times before and can simply be answered by having read the Corn Snake Manual.

The Corn Snake Manual is not just "another" book, it was written by two people who go way beyond "enthusiasts". They really love the animals and I don't know what kind of educational background they have but I have a Bachelors in Science and they really did their homework when it came to technical and biological information. BOTTOM LINE: trust this book.

Learning by having is great! There are so many ways to vary the way you keep your animal I think thats what makes it so fun. There are at least a half-dozen different substrates you can experiment with, feeding schedules, do's/don't stuff you just have to find out for yourself.

If you really can, I suggest going to a local reptile dealer, look at his corns, hold one, consider costs (if you can afford) and don't worry about color patter, this is your first snake and you don't want to spend $200 on a color/morph you accidently killed because you're learning how to regulate and monitor the temperature of the room still.

Good for you for doing resarch though, follow the links available through kingsnake.com, they are VERY useful

Good luck

It looks to me as if you've gained lots of theoretical knowledge at this point. Good for you. You seem to have your eye on a corn at a local pet store. If you want to proceed with caution I would suggest the following:
Ask the folks at the pet store how often the corn is eating, and if there is a certain day of the week. Ask to watch it eat, and make sure that when/if you buy it, you give it a couple or three days after its meal before you take it home. You don't want to handle a young corn for a day or two after a meal...it might puke, and then you've got another set of problems on your hands.
If the snake seems to eat well, visit the store, if you can, each day until you buy it. Maybe get there first thing in the morning when the store opens. Just to make sure that the snake has not puked up his meal. If he is eating and holding down the food, then go ahead and get it. Also, do handle him a time or two before buying...just make sure that he has not just eaten.
The above suggestions are a little overboard...very cautious. But you seem to be going out of your way to make sure that you are doing everything just right...so go the extra mile if you can. Don't worry about making him

It looks to me as if you've gained lots of theoretical knowledge at this point. Good for you. You seem to have your eye on a corn at a local pet store. If you want to proceed with caution I would suggest the following:
Ask the folks at the pet store how often the corn is eating, and if there is a certain day of the week. Ask to watch it eat, and make sure that when/if you buy it, you give it a couple or three days after its meal before you take it home. You don't want to handle a young corn for a day or two after a meal...it might puke, and then you've got another set of problems on your hands.
If the snake seems to eat well, visit the store, if you can, each day until you buy it. Maybe get there first thing in the morning when the store opens. Just to make sure that the snake has not puked up his meal. If he is eating and holding down the food, then go ahead and get it. Also, do handle him a time or two before buying...just make sure that he has not just eaten.
The above suggestions are a little overboard...very cautious. But you seem to be going out of your way to make sure that you are doing everything just right...so go the extra mile if you can. Don't worry about making him "feel happy" ...Just provide all the needed requirements, and ask questions if you run into trouble. You have more info now that many new snake owners. Time to make a decision as to whether or not you intend to use it... And I agree with Homer...DOH! Start with a reasonably-priced animal and let it settle in. Don't think about a second one yet. And when you do...get a second cage. Use plastic, such as rubbermaid or sterilite if cost is an issue. But if you want to do it right, don't house 2 snakes together. And...try to find Love's book. Good luck ... Duffy

well.....honestly, the guy at the pet shop doesnt care much ( i think he just works there and doesnt own it)

They had REALLY TINY baby corn snakes and i asked him what he feeds it and he says he feeds it LIVE pinkies. ( i can change their feeding habits into frozen thawed right?)

The baby corn snakes costs about $59 canadian...okeetee i think..CHEAPEST PRICE I have seen in canada so far. (most cost $120)

i also asked him if i could keep the baby in my 27 gallon tank (3 feet long tank) and he said yes. ( he didnt mention about the 10 gallon tank)

The Cage Cover too.....the one u guys said I should not use, he said i can use it....

thats the reason why i asked questions here, becoz u guys are not trying to ask me to buy a corn snakes, ur all telling me what is best and what is cheapest, it seems that the guy at the shop couldn't care less at all....

well....i dont know if i should spend about $30 on a 10 gallon tank and then later put my corn into the 27 gallon...

im just kinda confused, but i know that guy at the shop was bullsh*tting me.

One more thing.....so i ask the guy when the snake eats, and if it eats i can buy it right? then come pick it up about 3 days later correct?

THANKS SO MUCH GUYS, you guys have been VERY patient with me, hey maybe one day u will see me answering questions that new owners are asking =)

The 27 will be OK as long as he has plenty of places to hide.
With a tank that size, you may need to feed him in a smaller area, or just make sure that the food gets offered directly to the snake. Of course you could get the 10 and when he outgrows it, use the 10 for another baby! If he's eating live for now, that's OK, too. I would still ask to see him eat...Even if the guy at the store doesn't CARE, it's his job to try to help you as a customer.
If he eats on a set scheduled day of the week, you can wait, but he should let you watch if you want and are planning to buy. See if they seem to have a handle on his feeding schedule, or if they are just doing it "when someone thinks of it"...The little snakes are fine, as long as they are feeding. I think half the fun is watching them grow. But sometimes you get a hatchling that is NOT feeding, and if you are not sure, you may as well see for yourself. Good luck. Duffy

Thanks, that is what i needed to hear...i was wondering about putting lots of hiding spots too, i was thinking of using empty "toilet rolls" too.....anyways i got a $50 voucher free...so i guess im gonna buy my baby corn a few hide spots, and a thermometer =) haha thanks =P

once i get my corn, im gonna buy a digi cam and take some pix of him for u to see him =)

Mark
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1.0 Green Iguana

There is nothing wrong with all the questions you are asking...in fact I commend you since most people buy snakes and get frustrated when things don't go right b/c of their lack of knowledge and info on how to care for their new pets.....i just think you would really learn a lot from Love's book, but thats just my opinion... After all your questions I really hope you get a corn soon and post some pics of it to share....I am sure I am not the only one here who is anxiously waiting for that day!!!

BUT till then...keep asking ?'s b/c I am sure there are those that cruise this forum that are too timid to ask beginner ?'s.

GOOD Luck (and I agree with whoever said that you have done tons of research...its time to jump in and get your 1st snake!)