Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there,

I recently picked up an okeetee corn snake and I've got a few questions. We currently have a UTH that keeps the temps at 80 in the hot spot. My first is lighting. Is UVB essential? I was a lizard guy before last weekend and that always runs through my head.... I have read a mixture of different views on the subject, some saying yes, some no. What does everyone here do?

My second question was feeding. The new girl is approx. 18" and I was told she could handle small fuzzies. I didn't think there was any possible way of that, so I bought a few pinkies instead. So far she's eaten two of them and I'm assuming she'd go for a third... or fourth. At the size she is, how much should I be feeding her and should I be adding supplements?

Third and last.... I'd never want to actually try this, it is just a joke, but... who do you think would win.... love bird, or corn snake.... I'm only asking because the bird was out, near the snakes cage and the snake came out of hiding, very interested in the bird.... my mind started wandering....

Thanks for your time, this is a great forum, I have browsed through it and everyone seems helpful and friendly.
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1.1 Chameleo Calyptratus
1.1 Tangerine Leopard Geckos
1.1 Blue Spiny Lizards
1.1 Uroplatus Phantasticus
0.0.1 Yellow-Throated-Plated-Lizard
0.1 Moroccan Uromastyx
0.1 Bearded Dragon

No UVB is required for snakes, i dont use heat lights at all. I use under tank heat pads they work great for snakes. No supplements are required you can use them I do for my growing animals. Pinkies are good. Your snake could eat fuzzies, and could down all four pinks with ease. I have a kingsnake thats 18 inches and is eating 3 fuzzies. Good Luck!! Can you post a pic?

Hmmm well my 5 foot boa constrictor got one of my peach faced love birds. Swallowed it before i knew what happened. I would think the love bird would just fly away unless it's wings are clipped.....the corn would win if the bird cant fly.
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An ADULT corn might win if the bird were clipped, a baby would just get pecked. In the wild they eat nestling birds and eggs, so don't handle the snake right after the bird without washing your hands first just in case.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

I have birds and snakes. Birds range from tiny finches to an African grey. Snakes from hatchling corns to an 8 foot Burm. I did have a wild corn snake get into the bird room. He must have come in during the night. Unfortunately he found a hole between the metal roof of the finch flight and the wire. He ate both female zebras who were in the nest, the male was fine. The next day when feeding I thought it was strange that the finches did not come off of the nest. I peeked in the nest about time the snake stuck his head out and flicked his tongue in my face! I ran screaming from the room and across the yard as if I had never seen a snake before! My husband thought someone was hurt, he was on the lawnmower as I came shreeking across the yard. He removed the snake from the nest, it was a common corn. It had two large lumps from the birds that would not allow him to exit thru the hole he came in through. It was very upsetting. I don't think he would have tried my lovebirds because they were too big. Hopefully a larger snake would not be able to find a crack large enough to get in the room. I had been leaving the door to the outside open sometimes with a baby gate across it but no more! The remaining finch is looking for a new wife from a more secure cage in the sunroom!

that's a sad story, but i have a question...
did you keep the corn?
haha.i mean, if a snake was crafty enough to find it's way into my house and ate my birds, i'd keep the snake. i have a weird respect for predators.
then again i have 3 corn snakes and a rabbit, whom i love dearly. go figure right?