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constant hiding

hartsock

hartsock

New member
I got a new baby cornsnake about 3 weeks ago. It wasn't used to being handled and it has taken awhile for this thing to settle down. Still a little nasty at times, but is improving. My question is that it hides constantly. For a brief time after getting it, it would explore the cage a little, but it just burrows under it's water dish and I don't see it come out until the next time I move the dish to get it out to feed or hold it. I have the cage on the bottom of a small entertainment center with a small boa in a 20 gallon tank above it on another shelf. Could the corn be smelling the boa and just stay hidding out of fear? or is it normal for them to hide this long? Does he need more time to adjust or what? Seems healthy and no problems.
 
Keep in mind that a baby corn snake is food for anything big enough to eat it - so they DO spend a lot of time hiding. Most of mine spend their time either under the paper or in their hides.

As he gets older, you'll see him more - because the bigger he gets, the fewer things can eat him and the more things he can eat himself.
 
Thanks Ssthisto, I hadn't really thought of that. After posting the message, I looked behind me at the cage and lo and behold, he was out crawling up the sides and exploring a little. I walked over and he looked toward me as if to say, "ha, ha, I made you a liar." And then he burrowed back under the substrate and back under his water dish. I have a small half log for him to hide under but he seems to prefer the water dish. I also was ashamed after reading my own post that I kept refering to him as an it.
 
Agreed

Yup, good point. Those hatchlings take a while to warm up to big monsters hovering over their cage. Mine did that for about two-three weeks (constant hiding). Then it finally started getting used to me. It is actually still a big hider, maybe a winter thing. But lately the past week it has been burrowing under its newspaper quite a bit. I figure it may be the temp difference (ambient) as we keep the temp in the apt at 78 while at work (w/ no heat). However he has his warm side which is actually at a constant 85 degrees with a big log hide for it to hide under. Corns just love to squeeze into warm tight places. Nothing unusual with yours. It will come around with handling, time, and the correct temps.
 
Just curious now that I read your in pa and I know winters can be cool there. Are you using anything to monitor your temps in that viv?
 
At this point no. I have it in one of those plastic critter cages with the attachable light on top. That is what they had them in the pet store and I got the slightly bigger model. I keep the light on throughout the day and turn it off at night. The pet store people said that was all I would really need at this time because of it being a cornsnake. I knew that wasn't totally the truth; I mean, I don't have to be as worried with the temp as I do with the boa, but it is still something that is vital. The heat in the house stays about 75 degrees and I know that light is putting out some heat I feel the difference in the waer bowl. He also gets some heat from the boa take above it with the UTH. The boa is in a 20 gallon Critter Cage with the lockable screen top. What I was hoping to do in the next few weeks was to build or buy a larger type of stand or shelving unit. Get a 40 gallon Critter Cage for the boa and move the corn to the 20 gallon unit with the UTH and a basking light. Right at this point the space is limited.
 
At this point no. I have it in one of those plastic critter cages with the attachable light on top. That is what they had them in the pet store and I got the slightly bigger model. I keep the light on throughout the day and turn it off at night. The pet store people said that was all I would really need at this time because of it being a cornsnake. I knew that wasn't totally the truth; I mean, I don't have to be as worried with the temp as I do with the boa, but it is still something that is vital. The heat in the house stays about 75 degrees and I know that light is putting out some heat I feel the difference in the waer bowl. He also gets some heat from the boa take above it with the UTH. The boa is in a 20 gallon Critter Cage with the lockable screen top. What I was hoping to do in the next few weeks was to build or buy a larger type of stand or shelving unit. Get a 40 gallon Critter Cage for the boa and move the corn to the 20 gallon unit with the UTH and a basking light. Right at this point the space is limited. Here is a pic of the little guy.

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please excuse the double post, I thought I hit the stop button in time...you would think I had faster reflexs after messing with this particular snake. :sidestep:
 
Hey man, at least you got a plan set out for yourself and looks like the background you have with boas is carrying over to corns. Good job. As far as temps, your right corns are not nearly as tempermental or unforgiving as boas so that should be fine for now. Just hopefully that is a low watt heat bulb so it is not putting too much stress on the corn, but I doubt it is. Other than that between that 75 ambient temp and the heat lamp the corn should be fine for now. I just recommend getting a couple hides in case it wants to cool off a bit (in case temps get above the 85 mark). Keep in mind corns actually thrive with a warm side of 85 and cool side between about 75-80 and need less heat than boas do. I'd imagine the bulb is putting the whole tank between those temps and causing no issues. Good luck with the new setup and let us know how it goes. Congrats on the cool corn. Later man.
 
the same thing is happening to me. i got my amel cornsnake about a month ago and he is just always inside its hide. if i wanna play with him i always have to take out the moss that's inside the hide, take him out, and then put the moss back in to the hide again. do u think he just needs more time to adjust?
 
Hi there I'm a new user here, but my candy corn is doing the same thing. I used to see him all the time but now since I bought the hide (4 days ago now) he found it, liked it and now he stays in there all the time he doesn't appear to come out and warm up. This is my first snake so I'm so worried about it cause i want to keep it properly. I do the same as tommyxivx open the hide take out the moss and handle him still but then as soon as he's in the Viv he disappears straight away. Is he OK?
 
Metal Benji --- don't worry about it. The posting I mean. I had actually forgotten about this thread and it was nice to see where things have gone for me. He is coming out a little more, but still likes his hide. He got a new one that is one of those magnetic 2 piece caves that the one piece goes on the outside, so you can remove it to see in the hide. This one he really loves and every once in a while I will catch him basking on top of it. As my experience with snakes has grown, I have noticed that hiding is one of the things they do best. I have some sand boas and that is all they do. People that look at the cages keep thinking they are empty.

I have picked up two 04' creamsicles and those guys do stay out more. They only have half logs as hides right now, but even then they come out a lot more. I think it does have to do with size. When they get bigger, they don't have to worry as much about something thinking they are lunch.

How about a pic of your snake?
 
I have a Nelson's Milksnake hatched in August, and I NEVER see her out. Maybe once every two months or so, and she is quick to hide again if she sees me seeing her. Supposedly by the time she is two or three she will be less reclusive. I have also never found a poo from her- I've had her since November.

Nanci
 
wow, that's a really nice snow you have. Look alot like mine.

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The nimrods at Petco had it listed as an albino on the tank, the "snake" guy (who I will give him credit with pythons and hot snakes, he seems to be pretty knowledgable there, but corns..forget it) he came over and said that was wrong that he was a ghost. I bought him because I knew he was something special and I really liked him. I posted a pic on here and within 5 minutes it was confirmed that he was a snow. that was also a nice set up with the viv, do you have a pic of the whole thing.

Man, a beautiful snake and a girl who will hold it...what more could you ask for!! :crazy02: :crazy02: :crazy02:
 

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I failed to mention that the yellow really came out on him in the last two sheds. Before when I got him, there was only a hint of the yellow, you could tell it ran far down the side, but after the last two sheddings, it was just like it popped out.
 
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