Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am geting my first corn real soon and have been doing lots of research on the internet. I just want to make sureI havent forgotten anything. Thanks.

Enclosure:
20G Long w/ screen locking lid
2 hides (one on cold and one on hot side)
water dish (in middle)
UTH
Aspen bedding ( is this ok for 1-2 month olds?)
2 Thermometers
Stand for tank
CARE:
Hot side 83 F
Cold side usually between 70-75 (whatever room temp is)
Feed 2 pinkies every five days (Tat too much or little or about right?)
Feed in seperate container
Also is it ok to let it soak in about 1/2" of water every week when I clean the cage? I think it might help in shedding and keeping parasite free. Also when I have a bit more money I wil get something for it to climb on. All coments welcome.

20G Long w/ screen locking lid - how big of a snake are you getting? the only concern id have is a baby snake can easily escape from a 20 gallon long with a locking lid...i have a 20" neonate black rat who lives in there and cant get out but i wouldnt put a baby in it. the lid fits too loosely

2 hides (one on cold and one on hot side) - good

water dish (in middle) - change it weekly and refill as needed

UTH - good. you got a dimmer/heat control?

Aspen bedding ( is this ok for 1-2 month olds?) - dont feed in the cage. may accidentally ingest some. i use astrotuf.

2 Thermometers

Stand for tank

CARE:
Hot side 83 F - since you're talking at a 2 month old baby id go higher 85 or so...grown snakes like 75-85, babies like 80-90. i keep my babies around 85

Cold side usually between 70-75 (whatever room temp is) - add a 20 watt light with reflector hood on the warm side which will warm the cool side slightly..my cool side stays around 77-82

Feed 2 pinkies every five days (Tat too much or little or about right?) - i dont feed 2 @ a time because it can lead to regurgitation. i feed one pinky every 4 days and they're fine.

Feed in seperate container - you already have this down. not necessary if you use astroturf, except they may associate your hand with food...mine never have tho.

Also is it ok to let it soak in about 1/2" of water every week when I clean the cage? I think it might help in shedding and keeping parasite free. Also when I have a bit more money I wil get something for it to climb on. All coments welcome.

climbing - i use wooden dowels...1/2" dowels from home depot. small zip ties to connect them.

sounds good. what kind of corn are you looking at getting? Since you are going with a younger one I would get a larger kritter keeper or something of the like (unless you have a sliding locking lid) and keep it in there for the first few months. you can actually place this inside your tank and it will be heated by your UTH and such.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat(Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)

Thank you for your comments. I am hoping to get a blood red or ghost. Also the dowl rods are a great idea as I have a gajillion in my basement! I dont have a dimmer, but will definatly check into it. I dont really see ow he could escape, the screen fits the tank pretty tightly, but I will definatly check to make sure there are no wide gaps. This was very helpfull, I am glad that I had asked.

Baby corns like small enclosures. A 20 long is much to big for a baby. They like to feel secure. I started mine out in like a 5 or 10 gallon tanks.

Also I'm curious as to why you want to soak your snake every week. Esp a baby. The only time you really need to soak a snake is when it's in shedding mode. Some snakes like to soak, however, but mine have never soaked in their bowls. There is no need to soak them to keep bugs off if they don't have bugs in the first place.

Everything else sounds great. I fed my babies 1 pinkie every 5-6 days. Remember to not handle them after feeding. Also when you bring the new comer home and put it in it's enclosure LEAVE IT ALONE. It's recommended to leave them alone for 3-5 days before doing anything with them. I wouldn't worry about anything for it to climb on just yet. Mine were at least 6 months to a year before they showed any interest in climbing. Mostly eating and growing. But each snake is different.

Enjoy and you'll soon find out you can't have just one!
This is my ghost..

Yes, I agree. I don't remember if I put the security part in my post or not but yeah I'd reccomend kritter keepers because then they can feel secure and they will have a lot less stress which will in turn give you a lot less problems with your snake. (you could have problems with regurgitation, not eating, etc...) the lid...that fits...thats wonderful. you didnt waste any money there. What i'd reccomend is go to walmart and get a reptile ranch (it's like a kritter keeper)...measures 15"x7" and you can put the snake in there with the lid on then put him in the locked 20 gallon and that will give you the heating and the double security. Then in about a year (if you're getting a farily newborn) you can let him graduate to your 20 long and use that reptile ranch for when you need to transport him or a place for him to chill while you give his tank an overhaul.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat(Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)

I recommend "The Corn Snake Manual" by Kathy Love. It is a great resource and you should read it BEFORE you get your snake.

Also, make sure that the hides are small enough for the snake to feel secure in. You can use an empty toilet paper roll that you have squished down a tiny bit (so it isn't totally round). That way if it gets pooped on, you can throw it away and get another one.

phflame