Newbie with a couple questions.

Hi everyone! I just got an Amel corn from a local pet store a week ago. It's name is Ali (sounds like Ollie), and I don't know it's sex. It's in a 10 gal aquarium, aspen bedding, a heat lamp, two hides, and a large water bowl. I want to switch to UTH, and I was wondering which UTH pads are the best and which method of regulating an UTH is best - a thermometer or a rheostat? Which is more reliable and easier to use/keep track of? Also, I have been having some difficulty with getting my baby to let me handle it. I know that it's early on, and it is still nervous around me, but the first two times I handled it, it seemed fine. Then I took it out to feed one day and accidentally dropped it (but only from a few inches high), and it tried to get away, so I picked it up and put it back in its cage and let it eat in its cage. After waiting a couple days for digestion, I tried to pick it up again, and it was being really strange. It was all tense, nervous, extra squirmy, and it was even nudging my finger with its nose like it does to the pinkies it's about to eat. The next time I picked it up it was the same (except for the nudging). Any clue why it might be doing this? What are some tips for making the handling process go more smoothly? How to I get the snake used to me? How long could it take for it to quit being scared? Sorry the post is long and kind of rambling, but I'm just trying to get all the questions out before I forget them

Tori G said:

Hi everyone! I just got an Amel corn from a local pet store a week ago. It's name is Ali (sounds like Ollie), and I don't know it's sex. It's in a 10 gal aquarium, aspen bedding, a heat lamp, two hides, and a large water bowl. I want to switch to UTH, and I was wondering which UTH pads are the best

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Hi Tori :wavey: welcome to the forum!

I use the Zoo Med Repti-Therm UTH. It is very reliable

Tori G said:

and which method of regulating an UTH is best - a thermometer or a rheostat? Which is more reliable and easier to use/keep track of?

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I prefer using a thermostat. With the rheostat, if the ambient temp in the room that the viv is in changes, then you need to adjust the rheostat. Not a big deal. But I just set my thermostat and rarely have to change it.

Tori G said:

Also, I have been having some difficulty with getting my baby to let me handle it. I know that it's early on, and it is still nervous around me, but the first two times I handled it, it seemed fine. Then I took it out to feed one day and accidentally dropped it (but only from a few inches high), and it tried to get away, so I picked it up and put it back in its cage and let it eat in its cage. After waiting a couple days for digestion, I tried to pick it up again, and it was being really strange. It was all tense, nervous, extra squirmy, and it was even nudging my finger with its nose like it does to the pinkies it's about to eat. The next time I picked it up it was the same (except for the nudging). Any clue why it might be doing this? What are some tips for making the handling process go more smoothly? How to I get the snake used to me? How long could it take for it to quit being scared? Sorry the post is long and kind of rambling, but I'm just trying to get all the questions out before I forget them

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Since it is acting all jumpy, it may be a good idea not to handle it for 7-10 days, except to feed it. They are naturally scared and nervous when you first get them.

When you do start to handle it again, do it for a short amount of time. Maybe 5 minutes. Then gradually hold it longer. This may help it get adjusted to you better.

Hope this helps.

We love pics, so post some as soon as you can

as for him being scared and jumpy after a couple times. it seems to be normal. its happened with all of my new snakes. you just have to think they are a tiny little thing usually and well your huge. so they are gonna be scared of something alot bigger than them.

as for mine i just handle for like 15 min about twice a week. but mine are also farther along then yours might be. so i would say give him a break (just like rich said) and start off with the 5 min maybe 1-2 times a week. after 2 weeks bump it up a little.

as for how long it'd take, it really depends on the snake. some snakes are awesome right off the bad. but others arent. you just have to be patient and consistent and it will break them of being really jumpy.

Here are a couple of pictures:

Ali is a lil cutie!

Ali is adorable.

Congratulations

Good to see that you obviously did your homework PRIOR to purchasing a snake. Lots of the new owners buy them first then worry about husbandry.

Also, like posted earlier, frquent handling is the key to calming them down. Be cautious not to handle right after feeding though. It is natural for them to be "flighty" becuse that is their fight or flight instinct. They don't understand right away that you are their caretaker, they see something coming to eat them.

Good luck

Cutie amel! Ali is an adorable name too. My amel hides all the time, but is out a bit more now that I added some fake plants and let her settle in for a good while.

nice amel!!! welcome to the forums, you will find good info here. I recomend thermostats. The good temp to have it on is between 70 and 85. any heat pad will work, but with heat pads you should always have a thermomiter in the cage and a thermostat on the heat pad, as some brands can get very hot. Zoo meds, un regulated, can get up to 90. for sexing of your snake, bring it to a good pet store. Not a pet smart or pet co, the don't usaly know what there doing. I recomend going to a snake show and having a good breeder do it. A lot of snake shows are listed on the reptile geeks events page. You can go there and check it out. If you are willing to go a LONG ways, there is a show in Des Moines, IA that i go to. THey have good breeders. It should be comming up fairly soon. how long did you give it to get used to its new habitat. a week or 15 days is recomended. Second, it isn't good for them to pick them up during digestion. This can hurt the process. Snakes can also kind of be lazy since they don't need food. I don't see why he would nudge you though. I don't think it has anything to do with you dropping it. I bet 99.9.99% of all snake owners have dropped one of their snakes once. (encluding me) It is usaly only from a few inches, though sometimes it is more. The snakes usaly turn yout alright unless they fall on something that could have hurt them. (sharp object, Etc...) Happy herping!!

Camby said:

frquent handling is the key to calming them down.

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Which is probably why I have a few hatelings. I don't handle mine much. Now that they are a year old, time to feel 'em up!

Hi........ I noticed how big the hide was in you pics...... I use hides that touch my snakes all round, real small ones that they can feel secure in...

Thanks everyone for the advice. I've added smaller hides to the viv, and I'm going to be getting and UTH/thermostat. Also, I think that I'm going to go easy on handling Ali for a little while and see if he settles down. Thanks again

well aint he/she cute.!