hi guys my name is mike i live in ny and im new to snakes but i have done alot of research on them but still trying to find the best one to start off with if anyone has any pointers on what type of snake i should get to start that would be nice..... thank and i look forward to chatting with you guys...!
-
Hello!
Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.
Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....
Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.
Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.
hello all
- Thread starter MrGBB
- Start date
ShowMeCorns
New member
Hi mike. Im alex.. Welcome to the forum. im still new to snakes im starting to get into breeding and what not. Corn snakes i found was for sure a great starter snake. as for the type of corn snake... well i guess thats up to you and what you like. as for me right now i have a female snow and soon to have a reverse okeetee and a candy cane along with a butter stripe. You will learn what those are soon enough 
bitsy
Owned by Corns since 1991
Hi Mike - welcome!
As you're on a specialist Corn Snake message board, you might find us a bit biased about the perfect first snake - Corns all the way!
They have relatively simple housing requirements:
- a secure tank of an appropriate size (the "secure" thing is vital - they're escape artists!)
- controlled heat source (usually an undertank heater known as a UTH, with a thermostat). The snake needs a heat gradient of a cool end and a warm end, so the UTH should be big enough to sit underneath one-third of the tank.
- a decent digital thermometer to monitor temps (strip or dial-type ones are cheap but can be up to 10 degrees wrong either way)
- a few hides (can be as simple as cereal boxes or toilet roll tubes for hatchlings and plastic foliage always looks good)
- a non-spill water bowl
- substrate (you can use things like aspen, bark chips or even newspaper for adults, kitchen roll for hatchlings).
Some shops will try to sell you a light, but Corns don't need them as long as they're in a room that has natural sunlight. They definitely don't need UV light, which is sometimes recommended because sellers get Corns confused with basking reptiles. Corns are most active at dawn, dusk or overnight, so they've never evolved a basking behaviour or a need for UV light.
Some shops won't tell you about thermostats, but you'd be well-advised to buy one. A Corn's ideal maximum temperature is 90 degrees, which is below human body temperature and will feel lukewarm to us. Most reptile heat sources will get much higher than this, which can cause health problems and may even kill the snake in extreme cases.
Corns eat mice of various sizes, getting larger as they grow. A reputable shop or breeder will sell you a Corn that eats defrosted mice and doesn't refuse feeds or regurge. That way you can go out and buy frozen supplies and keep a stock, which is much more convenient. Feeding live mice can bring its own problems, so it's usually only a last resort for a Corn that won't eat any other way. If you use the "Search" option at the top right and look for "Munson Plan", this is a good starting point for a feeding routine.
As a final piece of advice, it's generally recommended that you only keep one Corn per tank, especially when you're new to them. They're solitary animals in the wild and cohabbing can bring its own set of risks that you probably don't want to be dealing with. This can be especially problematic as Corns are so addictive! Once you have one, you'll want more. Start planning which furniture to throw away now, so you have room for more tanks later!
Good luck and let us know what you decide!
K. Rene
Cozmic Cornz
Welcome from OR happy to have you aboard. There are so many colors of corns your choices are wide open. Corns are wonderful snakes, fairly simple to care for as far as reptiles go, and so easy to love and get addicted to. "Corns are the new crack!" lol I would brows the photo gallery and the for sale sections of this site. There you will find pictures galore, and surly you'll find something you like. Keep us updated on your choice.
happy to have you aboard. There are so many colors of corns your choices are wide open. Corns are wonderful snakes, fairly simple to care for as far as reptiles go, and so easy to love and get addicted to. "Corns are the new crack!" lol I would brows the photo gallery and the for sale sections of this site. There you will find pictures galore, and surly you'll find something you like. Keep us updated on your choice.
medusacoils
Mr. Enigma!
Hey Mike and welcome to the forum. :wavey:
As has been previously mentioned, corns are the way to go. They are a very hard species with a lot of morph varieties to choose from. They are also reasonably priced and have a fantastic life span. They are also very notable for their usually docile temperament. Something that is even noticed in wild animals. You will be hard pressed to find a better beginner snake.
Bitsy gave you some great advice. I would definitely listen to her. She really knows her stuff!
Good Luck and keep us posted on what you decide!
Wayne
As has been previously mentioned, corns are the way to go. They are a very hard species with a lot of morph varieties to choose from. They are also reasonably priced and have a fantastic life span. They are also very notable for their usually docile temperament. Something that is even noticed in wild animals. You will be hard pressed to find a better beginner snake.
Bitsy gave you some great advice. I would definitely listen to her. She really knows her stuff!
Good Luck and keep us posted on what you decide!
Wayne
carnivorouszoo
Crazy Critter Lady
Hi! I disagree that you will have to toss furniture, just toss out those dusty old books and tunr the case into a rack! I love corns and am considering buying the king that Kathy has on her site!
wstphal
working in the Gulag
Welcome MrGBB! I am a snake noobie & a noobie here. If you want some recommendations for beginner snakes from this beginner, here it is:
corn snakes
king snakes
milk snakes
I have 3 corns, and am looking to add a king snake next. I have read the kings & milks are a little more difficult in terms of handling, but they have relatively easy & similar environmental requirements, and all can eat the same convenient meals -- thawed out frozen mice of a suitable size.
Ball pythons are popular but I have read they can be difficult regarding eating. Bigger snakes are too much snake, in my noobie opinion, for a fellow noobie, although I hope to graduate to being able to care for a dwarf boa relatively soon.
So that's what I can say. There is a TON of snake knowledge & experience here, and many of the folks here own other snakes, not just corn snakes. So ask questions & they will be able to give you guidance.
corn snakes
king snakes
milk snakes
I have 3 corns, and am looking to add a king snake next. I have read the kings & milks are a little more difficult in terms of handling, but they have relatively easy & similar environmental requirements, and all can eat the same convenient meals -- thawed out frozen mice of a suitable size.
Ball pythons are popular but I have read they can be difficult regarding eating. Bigger snakes are too much snake, in my noobie opinion, for a fellow noobie, although I hope to graduate to being able to care for a dwarf boa relatively soon.
So that's what I can say. There is a TON of snake knowledge & experience here, and many of the folks here own other snakes, not just corn snakes. So ask questions & they will be able to give you guidance.
carnivorouszoo
Crazy Critter Lady
Thanks so much to every one that answered this post I'm going to my local breaded tommorrow to pick up my new born female ghost corn
-Mike
Do not get a newly hatched unless by newly hatched they mean a few weeks old and eating well for them and has shed at least once. At least I wouldn't. Just too much risk for a snake you have to pay for. If you bred the clutch yourself then I'd say the risk is worth it, mostly because you planned it and minimized as much of the risk as possible! :crazy02: