Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I'm thinking about adopting a corn snake and was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts or input.
I work for my local animal control agency, we have a wildlife rehab and exotic animal department (if not all the exotics would likely be euth'd upon entering the shelter ). I have been seriously thinking about acquiring a corn snake for at least a year. I didn't really want to buy one, since we do get several snakes surrendered or as stray (mostly boas and pythons) but it's been over a year since we had a corn snake. Anyway, last week one came in as a stray, found in an apartment building. It's about 16 inches long, seems healthy, but hasn't been checked out by a vet. It's active, but has allowed me to handle him and settled down a bit. I don't know what the color is called, it's pink with no black on him, I'm not too concerned about it anyway.
Most of my animal experience is with dogs, but due to the nature of my job, I have experience with all types of animals, both wild and domestic. I also have 2 red-eared sliders that I adopted about 3 years ago.
My big concern is that I want to make sure I'm taking optimal care of this snake. I've done a lot of reading on the web and I've ordered 'The Corn Snake Manual'. Most of the care sheets I've seen have been pretty basic and lead me to believe that there is not too much maintenance involved with caring for these snakes. Am I wrong? It's not that I don't want to do any work, but I also don't want to miss anything. I must admit that lower maintenance is something that has attracted me to them, that and they seem to be good natured and good first snake.
All of our adopted animals come with a free first vet check up, so I would be taking him to the vet for a visit right away.
If you can't tell, I have to make sure I've thought everything out, I see too many animals die because they were impulse buys.
Any thoughts or things I may not have considered?
Thanks in advance

Hey. It seems as if you have thought of everything. And your experience with animals will make you that much better at owning a corn. I have had mine only but a short month and join the forum shortly after, and I can tell you, if you hang around here you will learn things that you would have never thought off. Its true, experience is the best teacher, but we can learn from one another. I wish you luck with your new pet.
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Blessed Be
Aradia
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1 Albino- Eden
1 Snow- Sage

A corn makes a great first snake. They are relatively lower maintenance than some of the other popular snakes, and are generally easy to care for. You have been doing your "homework" and get a checkup with the deal! That's great! If you are able to confirm that he is willing to eat and is keeping it down...even better. Don't handle him for a couple of days after feeding or he could puke. Scan down this forum for lots of info, and ask any specific questions that you still have. Then...Enjoy your new pet! Good luck. Duffy

Sounds like it's a snow cornsnake that is about 1 year old.

I am a very low maintainance kind of person myself which is why I have been attracted to snakes too. If I was allowed (my husband has finally put his foot down), I know I'd have at least half a dozen more.

As long as you read the Corn Snake Manual you should be all set. However, one thing that I have found is that it doesn't talk about too much about problems that you may have, for example, regurgitation. In a case where you have a problem that it doesn't cover, if you just come here and post your problem, someone is sure to give you a hand.

I say go for it. They are wonderful.

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alstiver@hotmail.com

1.0 '01 Hypo snow cornsnake (Tesla)
0.1 '02 Ghost (pastel) cornsnake (Banshee)
1.1 '02 Bloodred cornsnakes (Desi and Luci Too)
1.0 WC Northern water snake (temporary pet - treating it for a cut on it's neck)
0.0.3 Goldfish (Kabuki, Isamu, and Yuki)
1.0 American Eskimo mutt (Rusty)

From all the reading you've said you've done, it sounds to me like you're perfectly ready for your snake. The only potential hurdle I can see is that if you adopt a snake, its health will be uncertain. Even with vetting, it could require some tlc, particularly if it isn't eating well.
If it IS eating well and seems healthy, go ahead and adopt it. If it does not seem to be in good health, you probably should not take on a sick snake as your first experience with one.

Thanks for all the replys! I'm excited about adopting this snake. Hopefully it is still there, there is the possiblity that the owners did come looking for it, but I guess that would be a happy ending too.
I'm sure I will have lots of questions for you guys.
Thanks