Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am new to this hobby. I am attempting to educate myself thoroughly before I purchase my snake. I am fairly sure that a cornsnake would be the best plan for my first snake, but I want to build a somewhat natural environment. Most of the habitat suggestions that I've seen are rather sterile looking - by which I mean uninteresting. Is is reasonable to build a natural habitat for a cornsnake? And if so, what would it entail? I have been reading all the old archived posts concerning caging, but most of the natural habitats are for BPs. Does anyone know where more info could be found concerning this topic? Also, the guy at my LPS suggested recycled newspaper pellets as bedding. Is this a good idea, if I don't use a natural set up?

I am getting started setting up now, and will be getting my snake over Thanksgiving break when I go home. I want to make sure that I have plenty of time to work out any kinks in my set up. He (or she) will be housed in a 20L, and I hope to get my hands on a 55 gallon aquarium for later. Any input or examples of an attractive natural (or not) habitat would be wonderful. I appreciate any help.

Also, I couldn't figure out what the numbers meant when someone said they have a "1.1 Amel". I know the pattern and coloration types, but I don't understand the numbers, and I can't seem to find someplace that tells what they stand for. Definition, please?

Thanks, all.

Candice

Candice,

The numbering system refers to the sex of the animal. The numeral before the decimal is the number of males and the numeral after the decimal is the number of females. Therefore, 1.1 would be one male and one female.

You did not mention if you were getting a baby snake or an adult. Baby snakes do best in relatively small enclosures - the size of a shoebox or smaller.

There are several disadvantages to naturalistic enclosures. The two most obvious are that they are hard to keep clean and if your snake ever gets parasites, such as mites, they will be very difficult to eliminate with so many places to hide.

You may be best off with a "semi-natural" set up, which might involve a climbing branch, some rocks and a naturalistic-looking hidebox and water dish.

Tim

Third Eye

Thank you. I am planning on getting a baby. I think I have something that will work perfectly for it. But you certainly answered my question about how reasonable a natural home would be. My primary concern right now is creating a set up that is most conducive to a happy, healthy snake. Aesthetics are secondary.
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~Candice

I have a hatchling corn and he loves his large critter cage. I like it better than the sterilite shoebox because I can see him better and I don't have to worry about him escaping (which he did attempt in the shoebox). We will get a 20L later. Paper towel is best substrate to start with. It's easy to clean and cheap as all get out. I use a very small tupperware dish that I never use for his water dish and have cut an empty toilet paper roll in half and cut a door for it for his hide. This works very well. We will get all the imitation wood and rock acceosories as he gets bigger and we buy the tank.

Welcome to herping, btw. You've come to the right place! I'm fairly new too and have found everyone here kind and helpful and eager to talk all things snakes!
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~redmom~
My Email
Herps:
1.0 Normal corn snake "Ed"

Others:
1.0 Blue Betta fish "'Beta' test"
0.1 White/Lemon/beige splotched and spotted hound mix "Angel"

Human pets:
2.0 Children "Matthew" 7 yrs, "Duncan" > 1 yr
1.0 Hubby "Roger"

"Life will find a way." Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) Jurrasic Park

Hi,
I would stick to the 20 gallon long and forget about the 55 gallon. Most of the space in a 55 gallon tank would be wasted on a corn snake. Been there done that. Still have one 55 gallon set up. I have my two Bairds rat snakes in it.( No comments on co-habitation please, I know all the pros and cons. We can discuss that topic at another time) The bairds rat snakes are a bit more active then corns so they utilize a little more of the tank.
Now, if you are getting a hatchling I would start it out in a rubbermade shoe box or a 5 gallon tank. They do better in a more "secure" environment when young. I had my first creamsicle in a 10 gallon tank for the first few weeks I had her and decided to move her to a 55. She quit eating. I put her back in the 10 and she ate the next day.
As far as setting up the 20 gallon....get an under tank heater to go under one end of the tank.
Add a hide in that side of the tank, over the heat source. Half log, cardboard box, wodden box whatever.
place another hide on the other side of the tank. I think the best hide for the cool side is a dog's water bowl with the hand holes on each side. It works as a water dish, obviously, and an excellent hide. Add a branch and maybe a rock and that's about it.
Don't overdo the decorations. The more you have the more you have to move to clean.
I use aspen shavings as a substrate. Some people recommend paper towels or newspaper but that just doesn't look right in a natural type set up.
If you use aspen shavings make sure to feed your snake in a separate container. Although there is always a slight chance the snake could still ingest some of the subsrtae this greatly reduces that chance.
here is a link to a page with my habitats.
members.tripod.com/~Draybar/habitats.html
Not much but my wife and I are about to clear out the spare bedroom (junkroom) so I can make a reptile room. Then hopefully I will have a few nice display tanks and a decent breeder rack. And all in the same place instead of all over the house.
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

do you want a domesticated pet or a wild animal in a cage?

personally, if you set it up in a wild like environment, it's more likely to revert to it's natural instincts, aka, seeing you as a predator and reacting in a self defense manor.

although i could be wrong.

i dont think it would act wild as long as you handle it atleast 3x/week
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0.0.1 pacific gopher snake ; Mich
0.0.1 albino corn snake ; Shmee
0.0.1 motley corn snake ; Todd

>>do you want a domesticated pet or a wild animal in a cage?
>>
>>personally, if you set it up in a wild like environment, it's more likely to revert to it's natural instincts, aka, seeing you as a predator and reacting in a self defense manor.
>>
>>although i could be wrong.

I think you are wrong....My snakes in natural environments are not more likely to act in a defensive manner. Quite the contrary, they are used to seeing movement and action and a human presence and are not as startled or suprised when I open their tanks to remove them.
Some snakes are a little more temperamental then others but all and all I think handling to be the key with most specimens.
The more you handle them the calmer they become.
Some don't take to it as well as others but natural vs sterile environment doesn't seem to be a factor.
my two cents
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

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