Reptile & Amphibian Forums

first of all am I the only person doing a planted corn snake tank? I havent found anyone else or even info about it online.

I also have a couple of questions...
Why do corn snakes need to eat mice? I read that in the wild they eat mostly lizards and tree frogs(green/brown anoles and greentree frogs are found in corns native land and both readily available at pet stores)so if they can do it in the wild why cant they do it in a tank? I know if they eat mice they grow faster/bigger but I dont care about the rate of growth or the size-as long as hes healthly---actully im sure there natural diet is more like mice anoles tree frogs and more
so wouldnt it be ideal if I feed him a diet of all these things?

does anyone have any ideas for plants that I can put in his vivarium that are-easy to find(commen house plants that would be at home depot or (yuk)walmart etc)arent poisones to the snake
farily easy to keep and can grow in his inviornment(preferably native to his home)
thanks
-Matt

I believe the main 2 reasons that people feed mice is convenience and health. Frogs, lizards, etc. tend to have a high load of parasites that could be transfered to your snake when it eats them (at least from what I've heard, I've never fed these things). Mice seem to be less of a problem this way, and you can just stock up on them and keep them in your freezer. You could freeze the herps too but if you are planning on feeding frozen thawed, why not just feed mice?

As far as what plants are native to Florida, etc., I don't have a clue what is there or if any of them would be good for a vivarium/terrarium. The main plant I see in these type setups is pothos. You can find pothos at many local stores.

There are a bunch of people that keep planted cages, but the reason you are having trouble finding info on them is you are searching specifically for cornsnake setups. Instead, search just for "vivarium" or "terrarium" and you should find a lot of info.

I personally keep my snakes in "sterile" setups just to make it easier on me as far as cleanup goes. That's just one reason for not using a planted cage.

Cornsnakes tend to dig up plants. This is probably why many people don't try it. Personally, I'm just very very bad with plants.
Parasites and cost are the main issues with feeding prey besides domesticated rodents.
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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?

Another thing about the herps as meals, the others already mentioned the parasites, so you might think, "in the wild they'd have even more parasites." and that'd be right. But in the wild, the snakes have built up an immunity to most of these parasites. Most of our corns are several generations captive bred, and no longer have those immunities.

I'm sure a corn on lizards and frogs could grown just as large as one on mice. The garters around here are gigantic, and they eat mainly leopard frogs. But if your main concern is that your snake be healthy, go with mice, they're healthy and generally easier and cheaper to feed. Also, some corns will only take one type of food item, and you don't want them getting hooked on the most expensive one

since corns like to burrow, planting the plants right into the terrarium floor would be a daily project. You'd be better off putting a potted plant in there and just pushing the substrate up to the sides of it. but even then, the snake may decide to burrow in the plant, and then you have to re-pot. But they would look very nice, If you could find a way to do it so the snake wouldn't be uprooting it all the time.

I just use carefresh bedding and fake plants. It's easier and cleaner, and the snakes seem to thrive in it just the same. But maybe if I only had one snake, it'd be worth the labor to do a vivarium setting.
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
0.1 Snow (Ruby)
1.0 Anery A (Breaden)
0.0.4 Normal het-snow (no names yet)
1.1 Bloodred (Vlad the Impailer and Natasha)
0.1 Anery Stripe (Morticia)
1.0 Candy Cane (Kane)
0.1 Amel (Christine)
1.3 Cats (Alexys{f}, Mikki{f}, Timothy{m}, Seven{f})
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

In addition to losing some of the natural immunity from successive captive generations, host animals shed parasites over a fairly large territory in the wild whereas they're in a captive territory in a terrarium and thus higher parasite loads in a given area. As already mentioned, price is a big issue. When I first bought my wc Solomon Island ground boa, I couldn't get him to eat mice. I tried anoles (two sizes), feeder geckos (two types & two sizes of each), frogs (two types) as well as f/t, prekilled and live pinkies (scented and unscented with each). Anoles, feeder geckos and feeder frogs run $4-$6 each and you have a tank (or more) full of additional herps if your snake won't eat them. Feeder rodents are typically fed a quality diet and are raised with the intention of reptile prey. Also, as mentioned, captive snakes have a tendency to pick a particular prey when it's offered and steadfastly refuse everything else. That Solomon Island ground boa of mine? He eats only captive bred field mice (from wild caught stock). Not the easiest to provide, but I'm just happy he eats on his own now.

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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
0.1 Snow (Ruby)
1.0 Anery A (Breaden)
0.0.4 Normal het-snow (no names yet)
1.1 Bloodred (Vlad the Impailer and Natasha)
0.1 Anery Stripe (Morticia)
1.0 Candy Cane (Kane)
0.1 Amel (Christine)
1.3 Cats (Alexys{f}, Mikki{f}, Timothy{m}, Seven{f})
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

np..

well...I didn't read any of the responces....

but no plants are actually poisinous to corns.they do not eat them

they could eat frogs and lizards...

but they cost too much.......carry parasites......and we LIKE frogs and lizards too.....so we keep them alive.....frogs are endangered....yet they steal them and rape nature to sell to kiddies in pet shops).....liz's too.....

so..stick with mice,rats,hamsters (many types) , chicks, gerbils, and snake sausages................

have fun..good luck.....buy more corns.......LOL

JY

I saw them in TCM, and was curious. How much more do they cost than mice? And are they more or as nutricious? How well do your snakes take them?
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
0.1 Snow (Ruby)
1.0 Anery A (Breaden)
0.0.4 Normal het-snow (no names yet)
1.1 Bloodred (Vlad the Impailer and Natasha)
0.1 Anery Stripe (Morticia)
1.0 Candy Cane (Kane)
0.1 Amel (Christine)
1.3 Cats (Alexys{f}, Mikki{f}, Timothy{m}, Seven{f})
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

I keep two of my retired breeder females in a large display vivarium with a pothos and two sanseveria. However, I keep the plants potted so I can easily take them out for some sunlight whenever they look like they need it.You've probably recieved plenty of responses on the feeding issue.
All the best,
Perry

I keep all of my herps in as natural a setting as possible. I use two types of live plants. I use Aloe and Phylladendron(sp.) I am not sure if either is harmful to my herps but the insectivores and carnivores leave them alone. My Uromastyx would definately eat them so his enclosure is plant free. I use small clay potters with a plastic tray to contain any excess water. Make sure if you use live plants that the planting soil and water do not mix with your critters substrate. The lighting I use for heat and UVB rays with my herps seems to provide the plants with more than adequate fuel for photosynthesis. Also remove any dead greenery ASAP.

By the way I have been using the same Phylladendron(sp) for 10 years now. I take trimmings and keep them rooted in an old gallon jug ready for immediate planting should the ones in the enclosures die. As far as watering goes I just dump the stale water from the water bowls in the plants once a week.

Good Luck!
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BigMac
1 Mali Uro - Tank
1 Leo - Doobie
1 Chacoan Monkey Frog - Pilar
1 Corn Snake - Muka