Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased a Black Corn snake yesterday at petsmart and would like to know how long i should wait to try to feed him.

I'd wait at least 3 days. I would not handle the snake until it is on a regular feeding schedule (has eaten 10-12 times). I'd make sure that the snake has hiding areas in it's cage and access to a "hot spot" in the mid to upper 80s. I would feed the snake in the evening and not disturb it.

Tim

Third Eye

Clearly great advice Tim, but I would like some clarification for one of your statement sentences:
"I would not handle the snake until it is on a regular feeding schedule (has eaten 10-12 times). "

So, I change water every feeding and change newpaper (or paper towel if hatchling) every couple meals and thoroughly clean tubs every several feedings, and when I clean tubs I have to handle the snakes to transfer to the holding tub and when I do so I hold them for a few minutes to make sure that the snake calms down and realizes that I will not harm them and then when it relaxes I put it in the holding tub and do the same when I put it back into the clean tub, so I could not realistically not go 10-12 feedings without handling a snake, but I consider this minimal handling, so I assume that when you say "not handle the snake" what you mean by that is more along the lines of "do not sit in front of the TV for an hour molesting your snake causing it undue harmfull stress, even though it is only natural to want to play with your cool new pet". Is that about right? or do you mean "Do not touch!"?
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Jeff Benfer
1.0 cinnamon pastel Python regius
1.1 pastel Python regius
1.1 mojave Python regius
0.3 normal Python regius
1.3 Terrapene carolina thriunguis
2.3 Terrapene carolina carolina
4.1 Kinosternon baurii
1.1 Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
2.2 double het albino and anerythristicThamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.0 anerythristic Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
2.3 Iowa snow Thamnophis radix
0.2 het Christmas albino Thamnophis radix
1.1 double het cherry erythristic, albino Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
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1.1 triple heterozygous for amelanistic,carmel, and stripe Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 anerythristic motley Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 butter p.h. stripe Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 carmel stripe p.h. amel Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 amelanistic p.h. carmel,stripe Pantherophis guttatus

Yes, that's right...I'm sure he meant keep it to an absolute minimum so the snake doesn't get overly stressed, and has a chance to get used to it's environment.

I will say though, that you should wait at least two days before ANY handling takes place, so the snake doesn't have a chance of regurgitating. This is VERY dangerous for an especially young, delicate snake. It can easily "domino" into huge problems if this is allowed to happen and can quickly lead to it's death unless certain precise measures are taken to counter this if it happens.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Yeah, everybody's lost a baby snake because of constant regurges, and if that first regurg didn't happen, the snake would have prolly been fine.
Handle at your own risk. Once they get established you'll be fine.

Thanks to all of you