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adult or baby...

I

Islandzoo

New member
As a complete beginner in the reptile & snake stakes, do you think I'd be better off starting with a young adult snake rather than a baby?

I seem to be reading more and that babies are a bit nervous and more tendancy to bite etc, that adults are nearly always docile.

Plus that babies don't always take food straight away.

secondly, those of you that have kept corn snakes for many years, how long do they typically live for? I've been told 10 years, and i've been told 25 years - there is a huge difference!

Thanks!
 
a yearling would be the best size to start with as a begginner.. because it is still young.. and you can make a good impression on it as to handling and such.. but its past the skittish/picking eating stage and is hopefully well established!

and as for age... it depends on how well you take care of them.. some break 20 years some dont... ive only been keeping corns for a couple years so i dont have first hand expereince on this.. just what i have heard..

i hope this helps.. and welcome to the addiction! :bang:
 
Islandzoo said:
As a complete beginner in the reptile & snake stakes, do you think I'd be better off starting with a young adult snake rather than a baby?

I seem to be reading more and that babies are a bit nervous and more tendancy to bite etc, that adults are nearly always docile.

Plus that babies don't always take food straight away.

secondly, those of you that have kept corn snakes for many years, how long do they typically live for? I've been told 10 years, and i've been told 25 years - there is a huge difference!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hatchlings tend to be a bit nervous; but my experience has been that within a few months most settle down. Those that have not usually tend to grow up and be "jumpy" adults anyway. As for feeding; if you purchase a hatchling who has taken several meals then it shouldn't be a problem feeding it. Once they get started feeding you're usually out of the woods; it's getting the started that can be a pain sometimes.

I would say that, ideally, a yearling is the best; but I would say that it probably wouldn't really matter that much in the end. Plenty have started out with hatchlings and been just fine.
 
Ive just purchased my first cornsnake and its a hatchling. Ive done a lot of reading about cornsnakes and how to begin with a hatchling. I must say om doing real fine. I bought one which already ate for 3 times, i think thats the best to do. Buy one that already ate a few times and you will be fine.

Nico
 
I'm still waiting to get my first snake (two weeks to go) but I'll be getting a hatchling from a breeder which has eaten about 8 times before I pick her up. From what I have learned so far over the past weeks on this forum and other sights is that serious breeders won't sell a newbie and snake if it hasn't eaten several times without any problems...

Good luck :)
 
There are pros and cons to both... it's really a decision you just have to make for yourself. I personally would always prefer to buy an adult/sub-adult specimen, but that's just me.
 
Thanks.

I would definitely prefer an adult but I'm thinking it means I have less choice over the colour. But colour isn't everything.
 
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