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first time owning snake [hatchling]

K

kickflare

Crazy snake Lady
I was given a corn snake yesterday as a late birthday present. Her name is Ayesha, and she's Okeetee Corn snake and only 6 weeks old. She's had one shed and was eating when she came to me.

I got her in her new tank, [fanerium, plastic with heat mat, foliage, hide, water dish and substrate] but she's spent the whole time in the hide [which i moved a little closer to the heat mat as it got bloody in my place last night].

I'm a bit worried as she's not come out at all, although i did find some aspen chips in her water bowl.

I'm due to get a second snake on the weekend, a dilute Anely Corn. And the guy I'm getting them from said that they could be housed together. [I did read your threads and decided I'm separating them since I may as well start as I mean to go on]

but i am worried about my Ayesha, she's seems a bit stressed to me and the corn snakes i've looked after at my place for a month where very active and wanted out of the tank ALL the time. I mean i ended up calling myself the ever evolving tree because he just wanted to climb all over me.

Am I being a worry wart over this or should i be doing something?
 
Here's a sticky from my personal forum about settling in a new animal.

And yes, you should house them separately. I think pet stores/ some breeders say it's okay to house them together because they think people are too cheap to buy a second enclosure and are afraid they'll lose the sale if they don't say it's okay. Plus, if one or both die- they get to sell more! I would never knowingly sell one of my babies into a cohabiting situation.
 
Nanci said:
Here's a sticky from my personal forum about settling in a new animal.

And yes, you should house them separately. I think pet stores/ some breeders say it's okay to house them together because they think people are too cheap to buy a second enclosure and are afraid they'll lose the sale if they don't say it's okay. Plus, if one or both die- they get to sell more! I would never knowingly sell one of my babies into a cohabiting situation.
Click to expand...

HOLY COW!! Have YOU got the dark side of humans pegged or what?

RIGHT ON Nanci! I believe you hit it on the head! I cohabbed all 3 of my snakes as I bought all of them simultaneously, as newborn hatchlings, 8 years ago and I remember the salesman at Petco saying that "they will all live harmoniously together as corns are one of the only species that are known to live communally!" I NEVER said I wouldn't purchase a separate tank for each but he enthusiastically sold me the largest one he thought I would buy!

I have NEVER been one to be cheap or even frugal with my pets as I treat all of them as family, especially my cats who kinda rule my home since our routines have been tailored to their needs. When I discovered that corns only used one lung, I went and bought a nylon mesh enclosure which ensured maximum ventilation for them and was large enough for all even as they grew to adult size.

Now, that I KNOW better, and only after reading it HERE on THIS forum, only my egg-laying female who is just about 3 feet long resides alone in that 30' x 30' x 18' well-ventilated and sophisticatedly-heated mansion!

If that salesman ONLY KNEW that I would have been willing to buy each one of them the same setup if it was required, he would have made the sale of the month!!

And for the record kickflare, Nanci is correct. Keeping them separate is the way to go. My humble opinion and I believe the only ones who would debate this point are those who ARE too cheap to get separate enclosures for all their snakes or are naïve enough to believe that corns are "cuddling" when they coil up together in a natural attempt to compete for the best temp in the viv.

Just sayin'.
 
Welcome Kickflare. Your little Ayesha is behaving just like most new baby corn snakes! Good for you for not cohabbing. With Nanci's good info you will give your little snakes a great start.
 
Ah that's good. Thank you for the link Nancy it was a very interesting read. It appears my gut instinct for how to put her was in fact correct as it seemed silly to me to dump her in the tank when she's been crammed into a tiny little box for a rather long journey to my home.

Xd Ayesha's tank is right next to my Dyson air filter so she gets good quality air as well as bottled water to drink and bath in as the water in my area is so bad that it comes out a yellowish white colour.

I'm really hoping she comes out soon amd stays exploring her viv as that's when I know she's gonna be okay. I've ordered her food. Now I just need to go to pets at home and get Sterling's viv sorted ready for his arrival on Saturday xd

Have to say: Best. Birthday. Presents. Ever! I love my little scale babies xD so cute! I'll post pictures of them when they're settled and not stressed out so everyone can see them <3
 
Awesome! You are among those who feel the same way.

You are doing exactly right on the water. Here we have good water out of the tap but I still run it through a Brita pitcher before serving it to my snakes.

Sounds like you are well started. Looking forward to your pics!
 
P.S. Do remember that they spend most of their time hiding. Most exploring occurs at night. Sometimes you may catch them out and about early morning and evening. This is normal and is the sign of a healthy normal snake.
 
Hey kickflare, welcome and congratulations! There's just one thing I'd like to add to the valuable advice already given. When I first started out with snakes, I got two right off the bat so my first lesson was that every snake is different. One was a brave young lady, out exploring all of the time, while the other was a very shy girl who only ever came out when I wasn't around, and they stayed that way for about the first year.
So Ayesha may come out more once she's settled in, or she may not, but as she gets older everything will stress her out less. It all comes in time, but is also particular to each snake's individual personality. (Or maybe I should call it a snakality? LOL)
 
Lol! Okay I understand, I just figured out how to use her thermostat as well. it was all set up for me by the person I got her off but the thermostat wasn't lighting up. Insert internet research, boom. the temperature hadn't been set.

Is 84'f too high? The heat mat is under the tank and the sensor is in the tank above where the heat mat would be. I did a ton of research and they're all saying 84-85'f for the warm end.
 
Yes, that's perfect for the warm end. Be sure to confirm it with a thermometer and not just the thermostat setting. (You probably know that, but I want to make sure any "lurkers" now or in the future know that.)
 
I put a thermometer on top of the substrate on the warm end and its reading 25'c... which i think is 77'f. I'm going to put under the substrate and see what it says. If it's still reading low then I'll put the thermostat up.

I'm surprised the thermostat wouldn't be correct in temperature. it's brand new. That worries me now. Also Ayesha still hasn't come out of her hide. I saw her head poke out for a few seconds earlier but she disappeared back in.

I'm worried that she's not drinking since its hot here by UK standards. [probably nothing to what the US gets]. We had highs of 24'c! It was ridiculously humid as well! And thunderstorm was pathetic. Four cracks of thunder. *shakes head*

I've changed her water so its fresh and I'm hoping that encourages her to drink. but I'm also worried that she may not know where it is. Should I move it closer to her hide so she'll be able to find it easier?
 
Sorry to double post~

Under substrate the temperature is 28'c which is 82'f. Should I increase the thermostat to get it up to 85'f?
 
Putting your waterbowl along the edge of the tank ensures your snake will find it, as they like to travel along the edges of things. My personal feeling is that unless you're snake is in a huge enclosure, she'll find the water.
 
3CHl1I1

Ayesa finally came out of her hide. But the grumpy little moo did this weird hiss spit noise and I think she tried to bite me but it didn't hurt. The noise made me jump and the strike was more of a tickly fluttering sensation than anything painful. But at least she's out and moving and maybe now she'll start to feel more at home. Enjoy the picture! Also sterling should be arriving tomorrow or Monday xd so happy!
 
I would love to see a picture of your hatchling Ayesha, because my just-turned-one-year-old, extreme Okeetee, is named Ayasha! She's too blue to bother right now, but as soon as she sheds I'll post a current picture of her!
 
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