Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My husband purchased a baby oketee from a reptile show yesterday. We got it home put it in the tank and haven't seen it since. We are using about 2 inches of Aspen for substrate. Is it normal for them to be in hiding so much? Will they ever come out so you can see them? Were first time snake owners so any help appreciated.

Also when should the first feeding be? It's only been 24 hours since we got him. Should we feed him tonight or wait a few more days?

Thanks!

Amy

Corn snakes spend the vast majority of their time hiding. This is especially true of young corn snakes. I'd wait until you have the snake for three days before feeding it and I'd feed it in the evening under low light.

You did not mention the size of the cage or age of the snake, but if it's in a relatively big cage, you'll probably have the most luck "cup feeding" it. This would mean putting the snake in a small container with the food item and leaving it alone for a couple of hours.

Tim

Third Eye

Tim very well said the only other suggestion I have would be to cut down the amount of aspen. I use just enough sani chips to cover the bottom and offer a hide.
Just my 2 cent

Tom

Tom,

I agree - cutting down on the aspen is a good idea - even an adult wouldn't need two inches of substrate.

Tim

CSG,

Although you say an adult would not need 2" of substrate,would you say that it is ok? I keep 4" of aspen in my adult tanks which allows essentially the entire 29 gallon long tank to be utilized as a hide. My three snakes all burrow to hide as much as they use the log hides, irregardless.

If it's working for you, I wouldn't change it. That's not the way I'd set it up though. I think 4 inches is overkill and a corn snake can completely immerse itself in less than 2 inches of substrate (unless it's horribly overweight).

The problem with too much aspen is two-fold:

1) Dust will collect in the bottom of the tank (despite the "dust free" claims some manufacturers make). The snake, if it is hiding under the substrate, will breathe in this dust. Less substrate = less dust.

2) Snakes sometimes poop underneath the substrate. The more substrate, the harder it is to find the poop.

T

Tim I will add a like or two if you dont mind.

In my adult cages I actually just 1-11/2 inches of substrate. Although I do use sani chips and i can clean them with a kitty litter scoop incase the animal uses the bathroom in it.

In some of my hatchling boxes I use shreaded aspen so they can borrow in it.

either way 2 inches o aspen for a hatchling is way overkill and money that doesnt need to be spent in today with the economy the way it is.

tom

Thanks for the responses. I don't know when she was born. She's about hatchling size. Fit into a small 3 or 4 inches container at the reptile show. We have her in a 40 gallon breeder tank. I know this is probably to big but i had it left from when i had leopard geckos years ago. We have a water bowl and hide on one side and the other side is a hide and I have a container with damp moss in it for shedding. In the middle of the tank is a branch for climbing. It's one of those low ones and another hide in the middle. So, she has plenty of places to hide out in. I'll have to take photos and post them.

a 40 breeder is way over kill for the lil one. I keep my hatchlings in a rubber maid shoe box not as nice as a tank but it works. keep the deli cup that she was in so you have that when you feed her to cup feed as Tim suggested.
Tom