Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What all do you need to get before your get your snake? I will be gettin a baby albino/reverse okeetee corn (or maybe a butter, is there any difference in their needs?). should i get a glass tank or something else? what kind of heat source do they need? hide boxes? do they need branches or fun stuff? where do you get rats for them? bedding? I have read how they need to be handled, left alone for a few days and then handled minimally for a couple more weeks until they get used to a new home, right? Im very nervous, i dont want to mess up and hurt my new baby! thanks so much for everyones patience!

Amayon

Corn snake are one of the best snake for a beginner. BUT...you need to do research before you get one. Asking questions is a start and there is some great advice on these forums but don't rely on just these forums.

Adult corns can live comfy in a 20 gallon long glass tank. Babies, however, need to feel secure so start them in something small. I started mine out in a 10 gallon tank.

You want to make a temperature gradiant...cooler side...warmer side. I use under the tank heaters (UTH). They only cover about a third of the bottom. This allows the snake to regulate its body temp by chooseing if it wants to be cool or warm. I also have incandesant lights on each tank on the same side as the UTH. These are on timer so the snakes can have a natural day/night cycle.

Baby corns will be eating pinkies (baby mice). Rats are much to big for a corn. Some adults may get large enough to eat rats but for most they eat mice. Frozen/thawed is the prefered food. Live is dangerous for the snake and can carry parasites which can be passed to the snake.

Paper towel is the recommended substrate for babies. I use reptile bark for mine since they are well over a year and a half old and 3 foot long. Water bowl and a couple hiding places is all a baby will need at first. Paper towel rolls make great hides or bandaid boxes.

Limit handling at first to let the baby get used to its new home. Average is 3-5 days. Just put him in his new home and leave him/her alone. Then you can start to gently handle him for a few minutes a day. No handling after feeding though for 48 hours.

If there are any reptile shoes/expos in your area. Go to one. You can talk to breaders and ask lots of questions. "The Corn Snake Manuel" is an excellent book for corn snake owners.
Enjoy your new baby!

is to get a TOTALLY escape proof cage! These snakes are the master escape artists, so if there is ANY way at all to squeeze out, they will.

I agree with the previous poster on his recommendations, but would like to add a few more.

I would also recommend getting either a temperature gun or a digital thermometer. Remember to measure the temps on the bottom of the tank, right over top of the heat pad and also on the cool side. If you use heat lamps to heat the tank, make sure that you give your snake a day/night cycle. Having a white heat lamp shining in your face 24/7 is a big stressor.

Your hide boxes should be small enough for the corn snake to feel secure.

Be forewarned: cornsnakes are very addicting, once you get one, you'll need another, then another.....

ph flame

i will definitely buy the book! my local library has literally NOTHING on pet snakes, just a couple on vipers and pythons and such.

So basically have a hot side and a cold side of the tank, and turn the lights/heat lamps off at night? does the UTH stay on so the snake still has a warm side even at night? I guess i should buy the book first and then come back for any more questions lol

If i do end up wanting more than one corn, can they be kept in the same tank, if I get a slightly bigger one?

The UTH is designed to stay on all the time. I have mine pluged in 24/7. Have never had a problem. What I do is place newspaper over the area of glass where the UTH is. The glass will be hot. Then I place my reptile bark over the newspaper and to cover the rest of the cage bottom. This works for me. You will have to decide what works for you. Also have the lights on timers. Mine are set to come on at day break and go off around dusk.

It's recommended not to keep snakes in same enclosure unless you are breeding them. They are basically solitary animals in the wild. You are asking for trouble keeping 2 or more together. They will get stressed. Not eat. If one has a disease the other can catch it. Don't do it.

Just more of my 2 cents.

gotcha. I will be reading the corn snake manual as soon as it arrives, hopefully that will explain things to me well enough!