Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I'm a first time cornsnake owner looking for some help. I have successfully kept a ball python and five species of gecko for three years and want to try my hand at a cornsnake. I've already done tons of research, but would like to see what you guys have to say about my planned setup. I'm going to be getting a hatchling okeetee from a nearby breeder. I'm going to keep it in a ten gallon tank with aspen bedding, untippable water dish, two hides on both ends of the tank, small branch for climbing and shedding, and a small heatpad. Anything I could change or add? Thanx a bunch!

A rheostat or thermostat and a digital thermometer.
I would use paper towels at first so you can check for mites more easily.
Sounds like you're good to go. Good luck!

Small snakes do best when kept in small enclosures. You'd most likely have a better feeding response if you kept the hatchling in a plastic shoebox or plastic "critter cage" with the snap-on lid.

Also, corns usually hatch in July, so you'd probably be getting a snake that's around 6 months old if you're purchasing one of last year's babies.

Tim

Third Eye

My '05 snakes are each in a 5 gal tank with a sliding screened top that is plenty big for a long while.

I'd include a humid hide. I cut a hole in the side of a small disposable tupperware-type container (you could use a Country Crock) and put a bunch of damp spaghnum moss in there. Put the humid hide on the warm side (under a heat lamp helps). If you use the tupperware with a clear lid, you should see drops of water (rain) condensing on the top after it heats a while. Introduce your snake to it when handling and let him crawl in. Then put the humid hide in his enclosure. My king and corn love it.

Also, add a few lava rocks to help them shed. They work great. They're also light, so they can't get hurt by them.

Good luck!

Walt

>>My '05 snakes are each in a 5 gal tank with a sliding screened top that is plenty big for a long while.
>>

My '05 corns are also in 5 gal tanks, the base of which are
16" x 8". At 25" and 27", the snakes are outgrowing the tanks. Personally, I wish I had gone with 10 gal tanks (20" x 10" to start with.

deg

Sounds like you have some monsters! My '05s aren't nearly that big. However, these tanks are pretty inexpensive at Petsmart, so I'm not too worried about moving up sequentially to 10's then 20's as they grow.

I can't find them on their web site, but they have them in the store. The top slides in a slot, and there's a tab in the back that goes through a slot. Then, you use the included spring clip to secure it. It's foolproof (unless you forget the key)...

Walt

>>Sounds like you have some monsters! My '05s aren't nearly that big. However, these tanks are pretty inexpensive at Petsmart, so I'm not too worried about moving up sequentially to 10's then 20's as they grow.
>>
>>I can't find them on their web site, but they have them in the store. The top slides in a slot, and there's a tab in the back that goes through a slot. Then, you use the included spring clip to secure it. It's foolproof (unless you forget the key)...
>>
>>Walt

say hello to a fool.....LOL
I have a 20 gallon tank with the slide in lid.
I was in a hurry one evening and din't slide the lid in all the way and obviously didn't insert the locking pin.
The next day, Pippin, my normal motley was gone.
Found him about 6 weeks later skinny, pissed and hungry....lol
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

HA! Glad you found her!

I just peeked at my daughter's corn, Tia, and she's clinging to the glass trying to get out the top...

Walt

I actually had one of my yearling amels escape from the sliding lid tanks with the pin lock. I did the feeding one day and was short one mouse, so he didn't get fed. I had not even touched his cage at all that day. At about 2:30 am I got a feeling that I needed to check the animals. My amel was across the room, stretched out on the front of my display case, about half way up it. I looked at his cage. It was closed, with the pin in it! That was last week. Still do not know how he got out. Included is a pic of my display case for those of you that have not seen it in previous posts.

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------Misty-------
Never knock on Death's door. Ring the bell and run. He hates that!

Sorry for the off topic post but I would love info on that display. I can already picture one in my snake room. Did you build it? How? Buy it? Where? Thanks in advance.
My Research and Collection

I actually bought it from a small petstore that was upgrading. The one they upgraded to was larger, better lit, but cost $2000. I just got a few more rows of tanks from the Petco in my area that moved locations and sold all their displays. I put it up temp, until I can build a proper stand for it. I will post pics later of it. As for the one I posted, I can find out what company it was purchased from. Now I have two display tanks(the one still in the work, though) and another set up for my breeder mice. It is very nice for limited space
Basically the front side are sliding glass or plexiglass(depending on which display) doors. The tops of the tanks are metal screen, and the tanks are held together with the normal frame and silicone. The tanks then have boards between them, they stck and lock into each other. Hope this helps
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------Misty-------
Never knock on Death's door. Ring the bell and run. He hates that!

Here are the pics of the case that is in the works. Right now the tanks are just stacked, with the wood to seperate. I am going to build a frame and it will have wood in front to cover the light , cords, wood braces and gaps between tanks.

Included is a close up so you can kinda see how its all together

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------Misty-------
Never knock on Death's door. Ring the bell and run. He hates that!

So for now if you want to get into one of those lower cages you have to take the whole kit and kaboodle apart? Seems like a pain LOL What are those shavings? I used I think it was Ceder Shavings but had a few snakes with regurge problems. When I researched why they were regurging I read the Ceder was not good for them. I went with reptile carpet and so far no regurging.
My Research and Collection

No, I don't have to take the whole thing apart. Each has a sliding glass door (there are 4 doors for each row of tanks). The shavings are aspen, which is not toxic. I do not feed in my cages, so no risk of impaction. I have tried the carpet (right before the shavings) and it looked real good in the case - until someone pooped! It really does not cover the smell at all, and looks gross if you don't clean it every time someone goes on it. I did research on the aspen before I switched, and have a friend that has used it for years with no problems. trust me, I have tried almost everything on the market (except the toxic shavings), and find problems with them all. My snakes and lizards for that matter, always found a way under the carpets as well. Was a constant battle. I will not risk the health of my animals, and will watch closely for any problems no matter how muxh someone swears by a product.
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------Misty-------
Never knock on Death's door. Ring the bell and run. He hates that!