Buying a snake
Discussion
I live in King's Lynn in Norfolk. Theres a local pets at home near to me which has the majority of things I'd need. Ideally though I'd want quite a large vivarium... Would you suggest buying a larger one straight away, or a small one so that the snake can acclimatise easier and then move into a larger one later?
I would not suggest Pets at Home, I mean a very specialist place - if you are willing to travel and they are still there, Wiltons on Basildon is a good place to start. If not, somewhere similar to them but near you.
And yes I'd buy the larger viv from the outset. Also obviously handle the animal from the outset and do that daily too.
And yes I'd buy the larger viv from the outset. Also obviously handle the animal from the outset and do that daily too.
sorry J&J but I'm not sure I agree.....depending on what you mean by large. Corn snakes do not like big vivariums. Or at least want a LOT of cover to feel secure. I very much advise getting aspen bedding and having a good few inches of substrate so they can burrow. Mine is very relaxed now but mainly becaus his entire tank is a warren of tunnels he feels safe in......
Dead easy to keep....mine doesn't actually have any heating or lighting.....seems totally happy in UK central heated house temps. (i add some heat in winter if it gets v cold)
Don't forget their potential longevity. I got mine when I was 14. I'm now 38.......
Dead easy to keep....mine doesn't actually have any heating or lighting.....seems totally happy in UK central heated house temps. (i add some heat in winter if it gets v cold)
Don't forget their potential longevity. I got mine when I was 14. I'm now 38.......
EdBarrett said:
I was thinking a viv in the region of about 4ft, or is that too large for a baby corn snake?
WAY too big! You'd be looking at a 3 or 4ft viv for a fully grown adult. Young snakes can feel stressed if their enclosure is too roomy. For a hatchling, a faunarium will be fine. Exoterra make these, go for the large or extra large (with 2 doors) and that will see it through probably up to a year.
Some people also use Really Useful Boxes with airholes drilled. The handles lock tight on them, and they're cheap. I've used RUBs before and they're pretty good, loads of sizes to choose from. Pick a 9 litre for a young snake.
Bare minimum equipment you'll need:
Faunarium/Vivarium/RUB
Heat Mat (Place this under a plastic inclosure, should cover 1/3 of the floor space)
Thermostat (A MUST) to regulate the heat mat. E.g. Habitstat Mat Stat.
2 hides: 1 for the warm end, 1 for the cool end (can be cardboard boxes or fancier fake rocks/logs/things)
Water bowl
Substrate - for a corn i'd suggest either paper towels, newspaper or Aspen bedding. The latter looks nicer but the former is easier to change when your snake poops on it
(Corns won't need lighting)
You'll also need:
Frozen Mice - for a hatchling snake, choose 'pinkies'.
Feeding tongs - unless you like handling frozen mice (and increasing your chances of being bitten by the snake)
Things to fill the viv/faun/RUB - e.g. sections of plastic pipe, fake plants, rough pieces of rock/stone (assists with shedding their skin)
Definitely suggest finding a decent reptile shop and having a chat with them.
Also suggest popping over here and having a read of care sheets, chatting to people etc: www.reptileforums.co.uk
I have a Corn Snake and a Royal Python, they're both very easy to keep and fascinating pets
Just to echo prior comments, do not buy a large viv as your snake just get lost. Make sure your heat mat doesn't cover the entire floor of the viv so that when your snake gets hot it can cool down in the cooler part of the viv. Don't buy a heat lamp as your snake will only burn itself exploring the lamp.
It's a minefield, buy a book first and decide if you still want a snake. Hate to say it but some get squeamish at the sight of a thawed out mouse, is this you op? Also snakes can be a pain. Some will turn their noses up at mice and demand gerbil instead so can be a pain to buy food for.
Enjoy though, they're mesmerising creatures (except for the bit where you forget to wash your hands after handling said mice and the snake gets all confused)
It's a minefield, buy a book first and decide if you still want a snake. Hate to say it but some get squeamish at the sight of a thawed out mouse, is this you op? Also snakes can be a pain. Some will turn their noses up at mice and demand gerbil instead so can be a pain to buy food for.
Enjoy though, they're mesmerising creatures (except for the bit where you forget to wash your hands after handling said mice and the snake gets all confused)
Hi Ed,
I breed Corns/Kings/Royals as a hobby, here's a few quick pointers.
- visit www.thecornsnake.co.uk
- you WILL get told different things from different people. The Corn is a really hardy snake that survives in loads of different climates, which makes it an ideal starter snake, but means everyone has developed a different way of keeping them, everyone thinks there's is the best (this is the internet after all!)
- Here's how I keep mine:
Firstly I use Really Useful Boxes with some 1mm holes drilled in the side for ventilation. These have an appropriately sized heat mat with a thermostat. This is the most cost effective way to keep them, especially when young.
up to 18 month old they will be fine in a 9l RUB, sub adults & adults will spend the rest of their time happily in a 33L RUB. If you have one that's quite active then you can go for a 50L RUB and give him things to climb on.
Hot side (over the heatmat) should be 27*c, set by the thermostat. Up to you how you check this temp, I have a digital thermometer taped next to the thermostat probe on the heat mat.
There should two hides, one at either end, so the snake can thermo-regulate in hiding. A water dish big enough for the snake to bath in for when it sheds.
Substrate can either be newspaper/towel. or aspen (I use hempcore/Auboise horse bedding, because I get through so much of it). Don't need anything more expensive because you don't need the humidity.
I really, REALLY wouldn't spend money on a viv. They're great if you have an active animal, such as a boa or carpet python, but I've seen so many people (including myself) sink >£200 for a viv where the snake spends 23 hours a day in its hides.
Look on triple 8 reptiles for equipment like heatmats and thermostats.
Be careful if you join ReptileForums, very knowledgable people, but a bit of a lynch mob if you say the wrong thing.
Think that's everything, ask away if you have any questions.
I breed Corns/Kings/Royals as a hobby, here's a few quick pointers.
- visit www.thecornsnake.co.uk
- you WILL get told different things from different people. The Corn is a really hardy snake that survives in loads of different climates, which makes it an ideal starter snake, but means everyone has developed a different way of keeping them, everyone thinks there's is the best (this is the internet after all!)
- Here's how I keep mine:
Firstly I use Really Useful Boxes with some 1mm holes drilled in the side for ventilation. These have an appropriately sized heat mat with a thermostat. This is the most cost effective way to keep them, especially when young.
up to 18 month old they will be fine in a 9l RUB, sub adults & adults will spend the rest of their time happily in a 33L RUB. If you have one that's quite active then you can go for a 50L RUB and give him things to climb on.
Hot side (over the heatmat) should be 27*c, set by the thermostat. Up to you how you check this temp, I have a digital thermometer taped next to the thermostat probe on the heat mat.
There should two hides, one at either end, so the snake can thermo-regulate in hiding. A water dish big enough for the snake to bath in for when it sheds.
Substrate can either be newspaper/towel. or aspen (I use hempcore/Auboise horse bedding, because I get through so much of it). Don't need anything more expensive because you don't need the humidity.
I really, REALLY wouldn't spend money on a viv. They're great if you have an active animal, such as a boa or carpet python, but I've seen so many people (including myself) sink >£200 for a viv where the snake spends 23 hours a day in its hides.
Look on triple 8 reptiles for equipment like heatmats and thermostats.
Be careful if you join ReptileForums, very knowledgable people, but a bit of a lynch mob if you say the wrong thing.
Think that's everything, ask away if you have any questions.
- Edit*
Edited by KarlMac on Friday 27th July 12:36
Hi Karl...don't suppose you have a female corn that needs a, ahem, service do you? I really feel sorry for my guy (and being Wc a long time ago I'm sure his genetics are a beneficial audition to the UK breeding population given what I've been reading on places like reptile forum about corn snake longevity.....). He really deserves to get sme action before he pops his clogs!
Nightmare said:
Hi Karl...don't suppose you have a female corn that needs a, ahem, service do you? I really feel sorry for my guy (and being Wc a long time ago I'm sure his genetics are a beneficial audition to the UK breeding population given what I've been reading on places like reptile forum about corn snake longevity.....). He really deserves to get sme action before he pops his clogs!
Unfortunately all my females old enough have been serviced this year. Next year though, no problem!
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