Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there,

I was thinking of purchasing a Corn snake and was wondering where do I begin?

What heating source should I use?
What size tank do I need for an adult corn?
Do I need UVA/UVB lighting?
What substrate should I use?
What should temps be at?
What should humidity be at?
Do they need any vitamin supplement?

These are some of the more basic questions I have.

I've never dealt with snakes, only bearded dragons, so not sure where to start.

Some of my other questions would be, what are some common diseases/parasites snakes have? I know coccidia is fairly common in bearded dragons and was wondering what to watch out for in corns.

I am also worried that when I am holding a cornsnake when my BD is in his tank and my BD can see me that my BD might get...pissed at me or something? I know it sounds strange, but will having the corn around affect my BD or anything mentally?

Appreciate any help on my questions.

"I was thinking of purchasing a Corn snake and was wondering where do I begin? I WOULD PURCHASE A BOOK ON BASIC CORN SNAKE CARE...K.LOVE HAS A BOOK THAT IS PRETTY GOOD, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY...HERS HAS SUFFICIENT INFO.

What heating source should I use? PERSONALLY, I USE HEAT PADS & MONITOR TEMPS REGULARLY
What size tank do I need for an adult corn? 20 GAL MIN
Do I need UVA/UVB lighting? MANY PEOPLE ARE BACK AND FORTH WITH THIS, BUT MOST SNAKES ARE NOCTURNAL SO IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE UVB LIGHTING, YOU MAY WANT TO USE SOME TYPE OF BLACK LIGHT, OTHERWISE THE SNAKE WILL NEVER BE OUT FROM ITS HIDEBOX TO GET EXPOSURE TO UVB.
What substrate should I use? I WOULD USE SOMETHING SIMPLE AT FIRST, LIKE PAPER TOWELS (EASY TO CLEAN)...YOU CAN ALWAYS GO WITH SOMETHING MORE NATURAL TOO (LOTS OF PEOPLE USE REPTIBARK)
What should temps be at? HI 70'S TO MID 80'S
What should humidity be at? HUMIDITY IS NOT AS BIG AN ISSUE WITH CORN SNAKES (EXCEPT DURING SHED...IN WHICH CASE ITS EASY TO MIST DOWN THE CAGE)
Do they need any vitamin supplement? NOPE, JUST QUALITY FROZEN/THAWED MICE.

These are some of the more basic questions I have.

I've never dealt with snakes, only bearded dragons, so not sure where to start.

Some of my other questions would be, what are some common diseases/parasites snakes have? I know coccidia is fairly common in bearded dragons and was wondering what to watch out for in corns. IF YOU GET FROM A QUALITY BREEDER, THAN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT DISEASES. ALTHOUGH, I ALWAYS RECOMMEND QUARANTINING ANY NEW REPTILES FROM EXISTING PETS.

I am also worried that when I am holding a cornsnake when my BD is in his tank and my BD can see me that my BD might get...pissed at me or something? I know it sounds strange, but will having the corn around affect my BD or anything mentally?
MAYBE, ALTHOUGH THE TWO DO NOT CO EXIST NATURALLY IN THE SAME HABITATS, BOTH GIVE OFF PHEROMONES THAT COULD SEND SIGNALS TO ONE ANOTHER... FOR INSTANCE, BD'S MAY HAVE SNAKES AS PREDATORS IN AUSTRALIA, SO ITS POSSIBLE IT COULD UPSET THEM. THE CORN SNAKE MAY NOT BE AS UPSET BY THE BD.

HOPE I HELPED...IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, JUMP IN AS I AM SURE I FORGOT ONE OR TWO THINGS...

Appreciate any help on my questions.
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carl3
www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

Most everything was covered quite well by carl3 so I will go with the Bearded Dragon question.
My beardie will look at my snakes if I am handling them within his view, but he doesn't seem to really care one way or the other. I would imagine he would get upset if I put one of them in his tank or kept putting one up to the glass in front of him but that obviously won't happen so it is not a problem.
I do know that the smell of my snakes, on my hands, doesn't bother him. He will eat out of my hand even after I have been handling my snakes.
I know it is off topic but here is my adopted beardie. He was rescued by a great friend in Florida and adopted out to my care.
His name is Dimmel (Hebrew for three)...can you guess why?
Dimmel:

Just to keep the post "on topic" I will add a picture of one of my corns.
hmmm which one?
ok, how about my amel?
My amel,Yoda:

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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

Thanks for the replies all.

What I am mostly worried about with my BD is he might get upset at -me- for holding the snake. I live in a single apartment, just moved out of my dad's place, so the tanks would be right next to each other( The BD and Cornsnake tank, but there would be a backround on each tank so they wouldn't be able to see each other)

This has been bugging me all day too, really want to get a corn, but I just have to think about the little man I already have right now and how he would feel. Going to try and do more thinking to work out this odd situation.

Thanks for the help.

--And..

Very nice BD! Poor little guy, does he get around okay with only 3 limbs?

Ya know...your BD sorta looks like an iguana from the side. Nice lookin' one!

And very nice lookin' corn!

>>
>>--And..
>>
>>Very nice BD! Poor little guy, does he get around okay with only 3 limbs?
>>
>>Ya know...your BD sorta looks like an iguana from the side. Nice lookin' one!
>>
>>And very nice lookin' corn!

While my beardie is in the same room with my snakes, he can't see any of them from his tank.
He only sees them when I do my daily checks.
He really doesn't seem to care. Of couse, like I said earlier, I don't give him any reason to be distressed by them either.
Yeah, he gets around just fine on three legs and a stump.
He doesn't know he is "disadvantaged".
He is active, inquisitive and just plain cool.
thanks for the comment on my Amel, Yoda.
She is a very pretty amelanistic (in my opinion anyway). I love the yellow that is showing though more and more with each shed.
Just for fun.. a picture of her hiding in a toilet paper roll.

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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

I've recently just started getting into snakes and for the first time ever I must say, that is a cute snake!

>>I've recently just started getting into snakes and for the first time ever I must say, that is a cute snake!

Although snakes are not quite as personable as beardies you will find that they have their own little personalities. I think you will enjoy keeping them. I also think you should go ahead and plan on where to keep more then just one.
Like LAYS potato chips no one can keep just one....lol
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)