Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi.
My question is somewhat philosophical...
We all know that every snake must have a hiding place so it can feel secure and stressless.
However - i have 2 baby corn snakes (each in a seperate small tupperware-like container) that every time they just see me looking at them or passing by - they go "bannanas" n run for cover like lunatics!
However - i was in a pet store the other day and i saw 2 other baby corns (just like mine!) in an exact container like i have but without a hiding place - and they didnt seem to care at all about all the people.
So maybe it's better to accustom baby snakes to an enviornment without a hiding spot after all ?
Maybe this way they will have more interaction with people and get used to people better...
What's your opinion ?
Thx in advance for any response!
Ed.

My first question is whether the pet store snakes are healthy enough to even have the energy to care about the people. Baby corns need a place to hide. Yours will calm down as they grow.

>>Hi.
>>My question is somewhat philosophical...
>>We all know that every snake must have a hiding place so it can feel secure and stressless.
>>However - i have 2 baby corn snakes (each in a seperate small tupperware-like container) that every time they just see me looking at them or passing by - they go "bannanas" n run for cover like lunatics!
>>However - i was in a pet store the other day and i saw 2 other baby corns (just like mine!) in an exact container like i have but without a hiding place - and they didnt seem to care at all about all the people.
>>So maybe it's better to accustom baby snakes to an enviornment without a hiding spot after all ?
>>Maybe this way they will have more interaction with people and get used to people better...
>>What's your opinion ?
>>Thx in advance for any response!
>>Ed.

The pet store had them in the container, without hides, so they could be seen by anyone looking into the container.
The snakes tend to "get used" to the traffic but, in my opinion, this is not healthy for them in the long run. Or medium run for that matter.
They need to feel secure. They can easily become stressed and refuse food, have bad sheds and become more susceptable to other problems when stressed. Including regurgitations even if they do decide to eat.
A local store, here, would put their "for sale" snakes in display tanks during open hours and then in rack systems during off hours. This did give them security for more hours of the day then not.
But I would NEVER recommend providing an enclosure for corn snakes without somewhere for them to hide.
Your chance to view them should not outweigh their health.
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

they need to hide. i bought a baby corn yesterday at a show and all it wants to do is hide right now. if you don't want to buy anything for it to hide in paper towel rolls work great, little band aid boxes. they like things small so they can feel the sides of it.

when i bought my corns the girl in the shop told me to only put one hide in the viv.... i came here because i had read to put 2. i followed everyones advice here and put 2 in the viv.
both of my snakes, and i have followed everyones advice yet again and put my snakes in seperate vivs.....
both my snakes are doing very well. once they got used to being here they do come out and explore, usually at night but thats when i am in the room they are in.

Another issue is that sometimes, if a snake doesn't feel secure, it'll injure itself trying to get out of the enclosure. I guess the stress makes them want to escape rather than try to hide in insufficient places. The snake in this pic had two hides, and still injured its nose scraping against the screen lid because it wanted out so badly. I put in some better hides and it hasn't scratched its nose since. Point being, the hides are very important