Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Howdy!

I have been reading up on snakes and decided the corn is the ideal species for me, mainly due to the fact that they are low maitenence and easy to care for. So I went to several local pet stores and looked at their corn snakes for sale. I ended up purchasing this beauty from PetCo. The price was high (50$) however I figure if I ordered a corn from a breeder, after shipping I would be paying the same or more for a snake that I have never seen before.

Here's the little guy.

My cage set up is simple at best for the moment, but this will have to do for a little while. It is a plastic cage, about 17 inches by 10. I just have paper towel layed down for on the bottom, a water bowl, and a coconut hide away for him at the moment. I have a spotlight suspended over one end of the cage, the thermometer reads 82-85* on the side under the light, and around 75* on the other side, so I think he should be ok for heating.

Anyways here are my questions:

First off he ate 2 pinkie mice (frozen/defrosted) on the first day home from the pet shop. A little after he ate them he just went under the paper towel. I read they need a day or 2 to digest food completely, so I didn't disturb him for a good 40 hours or so, but when he didn't come out from under the paper towel on his own I lifted it up, took some pictures and handled him for a bit. After I put him back in his cage he just strolled around for a bit, got some water and went back under the paper towel. Why does he keep going under the paper towel? Is my hide box not to his liking? Should I not forcably take him out from under it? What time of day are most corns active?

My second question is about handling. He seems to be very uncomfortable when I handle him. I am very gentle with him and so far have done nothing more than let him slide from one of my hands into the next. What is the best way about making the snake feel comfortable when I hold him? Will he just naturally get used to me with daily handling?

And lastly I am curious as to what color mutation he is. PetCo says he is just an albino, but he seems like he is more pink/white than the other amenalistic ones I see pictures of..

here are some more pictures of him.

Thanks for reading!
-Mike

Welcome to the wonderful world of corns! Looks like you have a nice little snow. Yes, it will hide most of the daylight hours, especially when small. And especially when it just ate. Mine will come out and "cruise" at dusk or when feeding day is near.

Yes, it will handle easier as time goes on. Right now it is small, and in new surroundings, so my biggest advice is to let it settle in a bit. It is very tempting to over-handle a new, first snake. You were wise to give it 40 hours after a meal. Until it has two or three more meals under its belt, I would suggest either letting it alone completely or giving it 3 days rest after each meal. Better to be patient now and for the next few weeks than deal with a regurgitating baby corn!

Best of luck and keep us posted. Duffy

Yes that is a very pretty little snow...I will grow up to be a very pretty snake. I have one...you will like it. Babies seem to like to go under their bedding..no matter what it is. I guess it just makes them feel safe. Your hide is fine ...when it wants to.. it will go in there and when it doesn't it will probably be back under the paper.
Good Luck
Nancy
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Some of my best friends are snakes
Snakes Rule

thanks for all the info/comments! I'm loving this little guy, held him for a while today, and he is already calming down a bit =)

Hi Mike, and congrats on your adorable baby. As Duffy said, it is a Snow. So he is Amel (Albino) and Anery, missing both the Black and Red pigments. You'll learn more about morphs if you stay on this board. It's overwhelming at first, buy once you catch on it's pretty simple really. Do not make him come out from under his towel. Snakes feel most secure when in contact with things. In the coconut hide he might be hidden but he'll "feel" exposed. But he feels safer under the towel because he can feel the towel on him. I bed my snakes in Aspen and they often burrow under it instead of using their hides. If you bed in Aspen then you have to feed out of the enclosure so they won't eat any of the chips. He will get used to being handled over time, I would not worry about that. I will issue you one warning. Corns are highly addictive and you may soon find yourself with more! Best of luck and welcome to the forum!

"Mysty"

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Lyns Lair
Frogwatch USA
WNY Herpetological Society

0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose Snake (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow / Everglades Rat Snake (Pumpkin)
1.0 Russian Sand Boa (Fang)
0.1 Normal Corn Snake (Mysty)
1.0 Anery Corn Snakes (Suezo)
1.0 Banded Water Snake (Ripley)
0.1 Golden Greek Tortoise (Sunshine)
1.0 Green Iguana (Norbert)
1.0 Whites Tree Frog (Trevor)
2.0 Solomon Island Eyelash Frogs (Chompy & Gimli)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.5 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Mystique, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Twister)

That is a nice little snow corn. Pretty little thing.
Unfortunately corns tend to be hiders. They will pick where they want to hide not where you want them to hide...lol
They are more nocturnal so most of its exploring will be done then.
As far as handling. AS hatchlings everything is a potential threat. They will be nervous and flighty for a while. This is not a bad thing. I actually think it is a good sign of a strong healthy hatchling.
Just continue to handle it for a little while every day to keep it used to you and as it grows it will calm down and become very docile and complacent when handled.
A lot of people will say you should have gone to a show or done this or that but I think you got a nice little snow and I agree that by the time you would have ordered online and payed shipping it would have cost as much, or more.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Jimmy