Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
im new to this forum and kinda new to reptiles. I have wanted snakes for a while. I have dont quite a bit field herping in pennsylvania, and i have finily convinced my mom to let me get on. I have decided to go with cornsnakes because the seem like the perfect beginner snake. I habe been doing a ton of reasearch on them (websites, Reptile magazine, books) so i have decided to go to a reptile show. But the problem is that i dont know if i should go w/ a hatchling or a juv. or an adult. I was also wondering is a 90 gallon terrarium would be to big for 2 hatchlings or to small for 2 adults. My own real concern is about the adults, if the tank is to big for hatchling i have plenty smaller tanks i can put them in.

thanx in advance of answering my questions and please add any other coments or experence you have it would be greatly appreacated.

-teenherper-

What age snake to get really depends on what you want out of the experience. If you want the challenges of raising a baby (they aren't really hard to keep but there can be problems that arise that wouldn't be as much of a problem in an older snake), but want to see it grow and go through it's color changes, go with a baby. If you want to feel safer getting a snake that is still young but has had enough food to be sure that it will eat once you buy it, then get a juvenile. If you want a large snake to start with and one that you can tell the temperment of, get a young adult (Less than 2-3 years would be best, but older can still be good).

A hatchling (or even a juvenile) will need a smaller tank. I've kept mine in 10 gallon tanks as babies, but even then, they sometimes don't do well, especially during feeding time. A rubbermaid shoebox is then recommended for temporary housing until they are bigger.

A 90 gallon terrarium will be plenty of room for an adult or two. It will have tons of room to move around. If you plant it, it should make a nice naturalistic vivarium. An adult corn can usually be housed in a 20 gallon long tank, but sometimes they get a little cramped in those. However, you may find that the 90 gallon tank is actually too big for the adult.

Remember to make sure whatever cage you use is escape proof.

A lot of people, myself included, think that it's best to house snakes separately. You can keep track of them better (sheds, feeding, feces, regurgitations, etc.) and you don't risk some other problems (cannibalism, breeding too young, stress, etc.). That being said, some people do house them together, but I wouldn't do it.

If you haven't thought of it yet, choose to feed frozen/thawed rodents. They are easier on you to deal with and not a danger to your snake.

Also, look around at all the different colors of cornsnakes before you buy. You may decide to get more after you get your first one, but you want to be happy with your choice. I love all my snakes, but early on I sometimes wished I would have gotten a different color morph as my first snake.

Good luck.

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alstiver@hotmail.com

Current pets:
1.0 '01 Hypo snow cornsnake (Tesla Coil)
0.1 '02 Ghost (pastel) cornsnake (Banshee)
1.1 '02 Bloodred cornsnakes (Desi and Luci Too)
0.0.2 Goldfish (Isamu, and Yuki; RIP Kabuki)
1.0 '99 American Eskimo mix (Rusty)

Next to be added:
0.1 BCI
1.1 Amber cornsnakes
1.1 Hypo Het Lavendar cornsnakes

I can't emphasize enough how much I believe that people should always start with very young animals.

There's just something awesome about raising a snake from a tiny little snakeling ... you get to see them explode in size, get to watch their colours come in, and get to observe their temperament and the way they calm down as they get used to you.

Of all my herps, the ones I am most attached to, BY FAR, are the ones that I have either hatched out myself, or acquired as babies (2 months old or less).

If you find a reputable breeder, selling well-started babies (who have shed at least once and eated at least 4 times), then you should have no problem raising your baby corn.

I would keep her in a 10 or 15 gallon, and feed in a small plastic container until she's big enough to eat in the tank (or always feed in the plastic container if you keep her on a loose substrate such as aspen).

You can read up on housing issues, but I guarantee you that the experience of snake keeping is much more rewarding when you start with a baby and get to watch it grow.

I got my corn when it was 6 days old ... it was the size of a pen and black and white. She's now well over 3 feet and bright yellow and orange. It's been great watching her change.

Joel
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3.6.3 Leopard Geckos (1.4.3 Albino)
~~25 Leo eggs cookin'~~
1.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 African Fat Tail Gecko
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake

First...Welcome to the obsession!

My personal recommendation is to start with a baby from a good breeder. As already mentioned, one that has eaten more than once and preferably gone through its first shed. Of the 24 different snakes I own (a mix of boas, pythons and corns), I am most fond of those I raised from babies. All of my snakes are like my children, but those I've watched grow up have a special place in my heart. In addition to that, they are also the most docile of my snakes because they were well cared for from the outset and handled regularly. I chose to raise my babies in smallish Sterlite tubs (from Target or WalMart) because they have the latching lids to them. They were more than large enough for my baby corns while still small enough for them to feel secure. In fact, both of my yearlings are still in those tubs, hardly outgrown even after a year. A 90 gallon tank/terrarium should be plenty large for an adult corn - just be sure to provide plenty of hides for that much space as you want the snakes to feel secure. My adult female snow corn is only about 3 feet long and housed in a 20 gallon tank, my male snow is around 4 feet long and in a 30 gallon tank. Though I do have a few juvenile boas that are housed together year round, I generally recommend that snakes be housed separately...it makes record keeping easier and reduces potential stress for the snakes (no potential intimidation from cagemates, etc.).

Best of luck whichever you choose. I don't think you can go wrong with one of the corns.
Raven

thanx you all for you very helpful info. i have all my questions answered now i just need to get the cages and the frozen mice and then i can getmy corns.

o yeah almost forgot i really like to blizzard, Miami, and the
anerythristic motley color morphs.

thanx again
rttlrvenom