Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, i have just purchased a baby snow corn. It is my first snake and though i have read loads i still have a couple of questions that have cropped up since his arrival.

1. How often should he be fed to give quick, healthy growth without overfeeding.

2. (this is my main question) I am trying to handle him as much as possible to get him used to it, but my cage only alows me to aproach him from above. Whenever i try to get him he trys to wriggle away from me...ie he runs as if hes scared. Its always possible to catch him, but i cant help but think that he may be getting stressed by this. Is it just something he will grow out of (ie natural response as a youngster fearing preadators) or am i doing something wrong? Is there a good/correct way to approach and pick up a nervous baby. He never bites at all and once hes out he seems relaxed and inquisitive.

3. He has a large, 1" tall water container, but i have never seen him go near it. How good are corns at finding water, and how do i know if he is getting enough to drink? Also should the water be on the warm or cold side of the tank?

Many thanks for any help you can give.
Mike

just thought id add.... the snake is around 12" long at a guess, eats pinkies and im currently feeding every 4-5 days.
hope u can help
Mike

You made a good choice for a first snake! Feeding babies every 5-7 days is good. as for picking up your snake, try opening the cage and putting your hand in on the opposite side from the snake. try lowering your hand to the bottom before approaching the snake. but i really don't think that your handling him will be a problem, he'll realize after awhile that you're not going to eat him (or her). Personally, i've always put the water dish on the cool side of the tank, as it evaporates less (i change it every day anyway though), and if the snakes really needs to cool off, the water is nice and cool. if you really wanted to cover your bases though, you could add another one on the warm end as well. as for not seeing your snake drink, just watch out for signs of dehydration, the one that is easiest is if when it turns, it's all wrinkly on the sides, that's and indication. Also, since i clean my cages weekly, i just soak my babies in water once a week anyway, that might be a good idea if you're worried about dehydration. well, have fun with your new snake!
-katie & elliot
-katie & elliot (pogona)
0.4 Columbian Red-Tails
1.1 Dumeril's Boas
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boas(1 anery)
3.0 Ball Pythons
0.1 Albino Burmese Python
1.0 Albino Prairie King
0.1 Nelson's Milksnakes
1.1 Cal King
10.14 Corn Snake(Various Morphs)
0.0.52 Baby Corns (Miamis)
1.0 Box Turtles
0.0.2 Leopard Tortoises
0.3 Red-Eared Sliders
0.0.1 Soft-Shell Turtle
1.4.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Fat-Tail Gecko
4.4 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Green Iguana
0.1 Veiled Chameleons
2.0 Savanna Monitors
1.0 Birds(Senegal Parrot)
2.2 Cats(Starvin' Marvin, Isis, Fredie the Freeloader and Kilala)
0.1 Dog(Pekingese, Suzy)

>>Hi, i have just purchased a baby snow corn. It is my first snake and though i have read loads i still have a couple of questions that have cropped up since his arrival.
>>
>>1. How often should he be fed to give quick, healthy growth without overfeeding.

There are different views and ideas here but I can only give my own. I personally feed once a week.

>>
>>2. (this is my main question) I am trying to handle him as much as possible to get him used to it, but my cage only alows me to aproach him from above. Whenever i try to get him he trys to wriggle away from me...ie he runs as if hes scared. Its always possible to catch him, but i cant help but think that he may be getting stressed by this. Is it just something he will grow out of (ie natural response as a youngster fearing preadators) or am i doing something wrong? Is there a good/correct way to approach and pick up a nervous baby. He never bites at all and once hes out he seems relaxed and inquisitive.

When they are young everything is a threat. It will try to get away and maybe even strike and rattle it's tail until it gets used to you.
Just keep handling it, gently, and it will calm down as it grows. Don't be discouraged if this seems to take a while.
Like I said, when they are young everything is a threat.
It is already showing good signs, no biting and calms down quickly once out of the tank and in your hands.
I think the quicker you just reach in and remove the snake the better. It doesn't give it as much time to be stressed by the big monster (your hand) stalking it.

>>
>>3. He has a large, 1" tall water container, but i have never seen him go near it. How good are corns at finding water, and how do i know if he is getting enough to drink? Also should the water be on the warm or cold side of the tank?

They don't seem to have any trouble finding water as they need it.
If you are worried try sticking its nose over the water when you place it back into its habitat.
If it hasn't found the water on its own this may spark it to take a drink.

>>
good luck
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

I have a cave on the warm side and a cave on the cool side of the tank. the water is in the middle of the two. i garantee you that if you set up a video camera on time lapse that you would see them drink...just mind you drinking takes very little time and you arent looking at them 24 hours a day 7 days a week...you have (or at least i hope you have) another life outside of the snake. lol.

I also have cages with only top access...what i did when they were babies was just put my hand straight down on top of 'em and pick 'em straight up. at first they try to run out of your hands but after about 3 days one calmed down, only took 2 days for the other one. they are fine now.

good luck! keep us posted!
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown