Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My baby corn has been very very active at night climbing up the sides or her cage. She will then wedge herself between the screen top of the cage and the cage body itself and crawl around. Sometimes she falls from top and lands on the substrate. Is she going to hurt herself? Anyone else experience this? Should I get her a piece of driftwood to climb? Thanks in advance.

Tim Savard

All six of my corns do this all the time. It amazes me how many times they can fall. I think it is their instincts in regards to escaping. Make sure you have your top secured or you will have a loose snake.

It doesnt seem to hurt, mine falls from his climbing structure all the time...i'd be careful when holding him though... if he doenst like getting held he'll fall off your arm and that could hurt him, depending on how high you're standing.

-----
-Chris

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Thanks for the help. I bought two extra clips for the screen lid. It amazes me how she can figure out how to climb and manipulate her body to fit in tight areas. I have her in a 10 gallon tank right now and she's about 20 inches long. Is she clmbing because she doesn't have enough room to move around? Or is she just being a little girl who wants to escape? Should I increase her cage size? I've thought about purchasing a vision cage for her. Any suggestions on that?

Tim

my new baby corn is doing the same thing. youd think they would get hurt but they don't seem to. i have a honduran milk that does that also. usually he does the 'rim' when he is hungry. maybe yours is seeking food...just my 2 cents.

If she is an '04 baby, the 10 gal. is quite adequate for her. All of my baby (and not so baby) corns and rats, even with climbing branches, still enjoy "rim cruising". I like to believe that aspen substrate cushions their impact a bit when they fall.

Make the screen top as tight a fit as possible. The metal framed ones are great because you can bend each side inward with a pair of pliers. A tight fitting top with added cage clips will make her enclosure secure. You are right about them fitting into tiny spaces--the same applies to them fitting THROUGH tiny spaces as well.

I'd wait on the vision cage until she's old/large enough for it to be her lifetime enclosure. Keep in mind that, if small enough, a snake can become trapped between the sliding glass panels on the front or escape under them. Best of luck with your baby!

regards,
althea

Ok, i'll wait a little on the vision cage. I was thinking the front door may pose a problem. What about a climbing toy for her to climb on? Any suggestions? Driftwood? Thanks again.

Yes, driftwood and grapevine pieces are available at many pet stores. Some people enjoy preparing pieces of wood/branches native to their area. I haven't done it, but there are plenty of "how to" posts on the forums.

My latest success has been with decorative bamboo which grows in my neighbors yard. After cutting lengths of various diameters, I let them dry a bit, spray them with ivermectin (kills any mite, etc.), and let them dry some more. I arrange the lengths in the cages & toss them when they are soiled, adding to what is left. In this way the climbing area changes over time. I also add one of those "bird nests" that look like little grass huts, and have found that my rats and corns will use an arboreal hide.

Of note is the "tiny space" thing. If the climbing branch or piece of wood has a small secluded space, you might be tearing your cage apart looking for your snake, only to later discover your darling nestled safe and sound in the impossibly small opening. This happened with a hatchling trinket rat who somehow made it into the center of a larger piece of bambo that had only a small hollow core running through it. Even now I shake my head in amazement over this feat!

Hope this helps!

althea

As long as they know how to tuck and roll when they hit the ground they are usually OK.