Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got my first reptile this past November. He is a Normal Corn snake. He had his birthday on 7/22/05. He is about 32 inches long. His last shed was 36 inches. Is that average or what? Also, I was just wondering who thinks that a rubbermaid container is just as good at housing a snake as a full on large size naturally decorated setup? Who thinks that it makes a difference to the snake? I keep hearing all the time about how snakes are such escape artists, but I have never seen mine try to escape. He slithers about here and there but seems to like where he is. He is in a homemade vivarium that measures 3.5 feet long by 2 feet deep and 2 feet 3 inches high. I have a tunnel that leads down to a box on the concrete (basement) floor with a floor tile for the bottom. It stays about 70 in there no matter if its 90 out. I'll try to post a pic if anyone cares. I think its unnatural and really unfair to the snake to keep him in a shoebox. Just because he eats doesn't mean he is liking where he is. If he liked it, he wouldn't continually try to get out. It's like being in jail. What opinions do you all have?

1.0 Normal Corn: Motega

honestly and as much as i like snakes, i dont think they have the thinking power for such thoughts like aspiring to better surroundings. if hes thinks about anything at all, its safety or lack thereof. snakes are shy cowardly creatures and are constantly on alert for things that can eat them. providing GOOD hides and a safe place for the snake is pretty much all he needs, psychologically. wether its a shoebox or a fancy custom built $1000 set up, i dont think the snake notices or gives a rip
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1.0 alb. okeetee "Grissom"
1.0 Pit Crew's Sun and Shadow "Vanyel"
0.1 CH Grey Castle Hot Tamale "Willow"

Still, they are sensory creatures. They don't think about stuff I know, but you gotta admit that more sensory input is better than less, as long as the snake doesn't feel threatened.

1.0 Normal Corn: Motega

I agree with you the more room the better ESP for corns,rats. Some snakes just hide under the hide area all the time but corns will use the room not to mention climb.
I just got a baby corn he is housed in a 30 gallon and he climbs the fake vines,etc. as adult I plan to house him in 55 the smallest but will probably build an enclosure with height and branches.
I rather keep a 2 or 3 snakes in plenty of room than several in small enclosures.

If you build a new enclosure, be careful of the finish you use on the wood. The stuff you get at your local Lowes, Home Depot is toxic. After it fully cures, you should be safe. Oil based clearcoats can take months to fully cure and stop offgassing. Plywood contains formeldahyde which offgasses too. I guess I'm rambling. Do some research about offgassing or outgassing though. I'm glad someone agrees about the enclosure size/contents.

1.0 Normal Corn "Motega"

There is nothing wrong with keeping snakes in sweater boxes.Ive had snakes that wouldnt eat(feel comfortable)till I put them in a box.If your going to keep more than ten snakes then boxes/racks are the way to go.
There nothing wrong with spoiling a snake.I have a male bairds in a 55 long and I think he enjoys it.lol..Paul

Can't really comment on wether or not the snake prefers a tub to a viv, but I can say that I believe most "cruising" is food seeking behavior. Cornsnakes are much more active predators than many other species we keep as pets. Snakes also try to conserve energy. If they are not hungry (or looking for a mate), they sit around. If they are hungry, they go hunting. The notable exception that comes to mind is the case of incorrect temps- too cold can create a placid snake, too hot and he'll be looking for a way out, no doubt.

>>I got my first reptile this past November. He is a Normal Corn snake. He had his birthday on 7/22/05. He is about 32 inches long. His last shed was 36 inches. Is that average or what? Also, I was just wondering who thinks that a rubbermaid container is just as good at housing a snake as a full on large size naturally decorated setup? Who thinks that it makes a difference to the snake? I keep hearing all the time about how snakes are such escape artists, but I have never seen mine try to escape. He slithers about here and there but seems to like where he is. He is in a homemade vivarium that measures 3.5 feet long by 2 feet deep and 2 feet 3 inches high. I have a tunnel that leads down to a box on the concrete (basement) floor with a floor tile for the bottom. It stays about 70 in there no matter if its 90 out. I'll try to post a pic if anyone cares. I think its unnatural and really unfair to the snake to keep him in a shoebox. Just because he eats doesn't mean he is liking where he is. If he liked it, he wouldn't continually try to get out. It's like being in jail. What opinions do you all have?
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>>1.0 Normal Corn: Motega
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Kassandra Royer
Royer Reptiles

There is a lot of middle ground between a bare shoebox and a set-up like yours. Mine are mainly in rubber-maids, but there is no way I'd keep an adult corn in a shoe-box. They have hides and different substrates and usually at least a branch for them to crawl up if they feel like it. And being in a rubber-maid saves them from feeling so exposed, or from being affected by most activity in the room around them. As far as full-blown vivs go, I think in a lot of cases they are as much for the benefit of the owner as they are for the snake.

Yeah, I really like the way it looks and I don't see Motega too often. But after I look for him, I find him in different spots. In his 29 gallon, he was always in the same spot. For whatever it's worth, I like it that he has more choices on where to hide out.

1.0 Corn Snake: "Motega"

The temperature issue was one of my reasons for building a larger size. Because he can get to the concrete floor under his cage, He moves between heat zones now. In his 29 gallon he spent most of his time at the cool end. (even after I put it in the basement near the concrete floor) I should post a pic so you can see what I mean.

1.0 Normal Corn Snake: "Motega"

I think it depends on the type of snake and the personality.
I have two balls that are complete opposites, one loves to climb and is quite active ( I would never dream of cramming her in a small box) my other one however is very reclusive and loves his privacy and would do great in a tub if necessary.
I have two corns that are the same, one active, one not..Corns tend to need more space, I think then ball pythons .

I am sure there are "snakemills" much the same as puppymills, people only interested in the money they can make, so they use as little space per animal as possible so they can have more and make more.But they will always be there so no use complaining.

I believe all living creatures have an inate desire for freedom and hate being captives.So its our responsibility as the Keepers of pets to make sure they have as much freedom as possible.
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Obviously snakes have been successfully kept in both scenerios, natural viv, and adequately furnished shoebox.

Shall we agree that we don't know everything there is about snake husbandry? Whether a corn snake or a madagascar leaf nosed snake, these animals husbandry ranges from easy to the near impossible. So whether the improvements we make are a life and death decision (as in the leaf nose) or a tiny, probably unnoticed change in the substrate for your cornsnake, all improvements add up to a better life.

We cannot create an exact replica of nature indoors. However getting the closest we can may bring out improvements that we have not anticipated, or may never know. (ie, my corn snake died at 26. Could it have lived 'till 27 if I...)

My example is UV lighting.

We all know that it is unnessary for corn's to breed. But is breeding the ultimate measurement of an animal's health? We may never know the full benefits (if any) of sun light for corn snakes. Perhaps it reduces the likeliness of cancer, perhaps it enhances vision into seniority. Perhaps it's like the predators of the outdoors and reduces the average lifespan of corn snakes.

Like I said we may never know. If a pet, all my animals are in natural vivariums if possible. I believe the benefits are beyond measurement. However if I ever breed animals seriously then a rack system won't be out of the question.

Ian