Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi. I just joined and I live in Phoenix AZ. I am looking at getting a corn snake. I am not totally new to reptiles (I have 4 tortoises) but am new to snakes. I have always LOVED them and am so excited to have one. I have been doing a lot of research but wanted to join this so I can learn more. I will only be having one (not planning on breeding) and I was wondering what is the best type of enclosure to get for it? Everything I have read has said an aquarium which is good but are reptariums any better? I have attached a link to a pic of one and of course I would get one that is suited for the snake. They come in various sizes and I was thinking of getting maybe a 40 gallong one? Also are reptile expos a good place to get one? I go to them all the time (for the tortoises) to hold the snakes and bearded dragons (which I also love) and they always have very nice corn snake babies. Thanks
Meghan
Link

Hi. I just joined and I live in Phoenix AZ.

Welcome. I've been here a while and i'm fom Panama City, FL.

I am looking at getting a corn snake. I am not totally new to reptiles (I have 4 tortoises) but am new to snakes. I have always LOVED them and am so excited to have one. I have been doing a lot of research but wanted to join this so I can learn more.

What all types of snakes have you looked into? corns are actually a sub-species of rat snakes... you may want to look into some of those. Some grow larger than corns, some grow to the same size. There are a bunch of different colors of corns.... however even a larger selection of rat snakes. I would suggest to read up on all care sheets you could find... mine's in my signature.... but also dont take any one care sheet as a bible.

I will only be having one (not planning on breeding) and I was wondering what is the best type of enclosure to get for it?

The type of enclosure varies greatly with the type of snake you get. It really is best to start out with a small enclosure, then grow larger as the snkae does. Reason being if the snake is a hatchling put in a 40 gallon tank it will be scared of all the big wide open spaces. I keep some in aquariums (make sure to get a locking top.. i have seen so many posts about escaped corns that come out of an "escape-proof" cage with books on the corners...) Aquariums are probably some of the cheapest... but if you're good with wood you could build some.

Also are reptile expos a good place to get one?

Very good place to get them... usually lots cheaper than a pet store and you dont have to pay shipping I would also reccomend to look around at all the breeders tables when buying your snake... talk to the breeder quiz the heck out of hte breeder. ask if they are eating, then ask if they are eating frozen/thawed or live. then ask do they have to be scented. ever been problem feeders? you want to know all this.

Thanks
Welcome.

Meghan
Chris
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Claudius)... coming soon

Welcome. I've been here a while and i'm fom Panama City, FL.

What all types of snakes have you looked into? corns are actually a sub-species of rat snakes... you may want to look into some of those. Some grow larger than corns, some grow to the same size. There are a bunch of different colors of corns.... however even a larger selection of rat snakes. I would suggest to read up on all care sheets you could find... mine's in my signature.... but also dont take any one care sheet as a bible.

Well I have also looked at King snakes (Im looking into the small snakes to start out with) and found corns to be smaller than kinds and I think they are more fun. I have been reading a lot of care sheets on them and probably wont get a snake until another expo comes up (there was one I missed this last weekend )

The type of enclosure varies greatly with the type of snake you get. It really is best to start out with a small enclosure, then grow larger as the snkae does. Reason being if the snake is a hatchling put in a 40 gallon tank it will be scared of all the big wide open spaces. I keep some in aquariums (make sure to get a locking top.. i have seen so many posts about escaped corns that come out of an "escape-proof" cage with books on the corners...) Aquariums are probably some of the cheapest... but if you're good with wood you could build some.

Thank you for that, I didnt know why you should start with a small enclosure. I have also heard a lot of people say their snakes have gotten out when they have books on top of the cage. I think I will just go with a tank.

Very good place to get them... usually lots cheaper than a pet store and you dont have to pay shipping I would also reccomend to look around at all the breeders tables when buying your snake... talk to the breeder quiz the heck out of hte breeder. ask if they are eating, then ask if they are eating frozen/thawed or live. then ask do they have to be scented. ever been problem feeders? you want to know all this.

Chris

Thank you Chris, I looked at your website and it was very helpful and had a lot of good information. Thanks
Meghan

"Hi. I just joined and I live in Phoenix AZ."

Welcome to KS.com I live in Fort Walton Beach Florida

"I am looking at getting a corn snake. I am not totally new to reptiles (I have 4 tortoises) but am new to snakes. I have always LOVED them and am so excited to have one. I have been doing a lot of research but wanted to join this so I can learn more."

Corns are an excellent choice with the variety of colors, not a bad chopice at all.

"I will only be having one (not planning on breeding) and I was wondering what is the best type of enclosure to get for it?"

If you dont want to build one i would get an aquarium a 40 breeder would be ideal for a corn for the rest of its life, but start with a 10 for a hatchling, with lots of hiding places

"Also are reptile expos a good place to get one?"

Excellent place for them. Should be a wide variety of colors and morphs there.

All in all just buy a couple of books, I go out of Kathy Loves book for inmformation on corns she is the resident master here...well and a few others as well. This site is full of usefuil information, and there are alot of good people on here that are always willing to help. Good luck

Ken

p.s here are my corn snakes. IT took me going to five shows before I found my reverse okeetee

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0.1 Albino Cal. King (Fokker)
1.0 Reverse Okeetee Corn (trouble)
0.1 Creamsicle Corn (Spot)
0.0.2 Anery (Thanks Jimmy)
1.2 Dogs(2 Boxers, Cookie and Joe, Lhasa Apso, George)
1.0 Betta
0.1 Wife
0.1 Kid

Thank you for the info. Your snakes are very beautiful? What is the "normal" color of corns? All the pictures I've seen (on care sheets) show the different kinds (like the redish kinds and others) but I dont know if I've seen a normal colored one. Thanks
Meghan

Welcome to KS.com I live in Fort Walton Beach Florida

Corns are an excellent choice with the variety of colors, not a bad chopice at all.

If you dont want to build one i would get an aquarium a 40 breeder would be ideal for a corn for the rest of its life, but start with a 10 for a hatchling, with lots of hiding places

Excellent place for them. Should be a wide variety of colors and morphs there.

All in all just buy a couple of books, I go out of Kathy Loves book for inmformation on corns she is the resident master here...well and a few others as well. This site is full of usefuil information, and there are alot of good people on here that are always willing to help. Good luck

Ken

Normal color depends on where they are from. here in florida like most places they are orange red and balck. though i have seen some in the barns back hope that were almost a complete cow turd color. like i said it all depneds on the local.

ken
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0.1 Albino Cal. King (Fokker)
1.0 Reverse Okeetee Corn (trouble)
0.1 Creamsicle Corn (Spot)
0.0.2 Anery (Thanks Jimmy)
1.2 Dogs(2 Boxers, Cookie and Joe, Lhasa Apso, George)
1.0 Betta
0.1 Wife
0.1 Kid

>>As stated a 40 gallon tank would be excellent for an adult corn but you should start smaller.
If you want it on display then a 10 gallon tank would be a cheap and easy way to start.
Even with the 10 gallon you will need a few things.
You will need to get an under tank heater or at the very least a normal heat pad to place under one end of the tank.
Inside the tank you will need a water bowl large enough for the snake to soak in if it so desires. I use the water dishes that have holes in the sides and a space underneath. This acts as a hide and a water dish. I place this on the cool side of the tank. (opposite side of heat pad or under tank heater)
Also place a hide on the warm side.
And you can add a bracnh or fake plant for your snake to climb on.
there are different things you can use for substrate. Paper towels, newspaper and aspen shavings are generally the top three choices.
I use aspen. Aspen looks more natural, is easy to spot clean, allows the snakes to tunnel through it adding another "hide" and it is pretty cheap.
You need to get a one piece screen lid with clips to prevent escape.
I also add either a dome light or fluorescent strip light to my aquarium set ups. In the dome lights I use either 40 or 60 watt bulbs depending on tank size.
You can check my link below for caresheets and habitat ideas.
Now for a few shots of normals.
an '03 normal followed by a hatchling

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

Draybars Snakes

I have been doing some more research on different kinds of snakes and corns just seem to be the best (ive looked at kings, corns, rat snakes, and a couple others that are similar in size) so I will be really looking at them mainly. I was also wondering, is there a difference (temperment wise) between males and females? Like are males usually calmer and friendlier (less aggressive) or is it the other way or are they the same? And the next AZ expo isnt until March so that's when I'll be getting my snake (gives me enough time to get everything ready and to do more research) and at the expos I know some of the people will sex the snakes there. Should I have the person do this for the one I want to purchase? I am not looking at breeding so it will just be a pet but if there is a difference in males and females aggression wise then I would like to know what Im getting. Thanks
Meghan