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Hi! Newbie considering a snake

G

grandlinegirl

New member
Hi everyone. I stumbled across this site while I was searching Google for info on corn snakes.

I've always loved snakes but was never in a position to get one. I'm in the process of upgrading my hermit crabs from a 30 gallon to a 150 gallon and will soon have an empty tank! I was thinking about what I'd like to put in it and realized, duh! A corn snake.

Questions from a newbie...

Is a 30 gallon okay for a baby one? I also have 10 gallon tank avail.

What about substrate?

I read they don't need special light requirements but they need heat. I have 2 under tank heaters on the side of my 30 gallon. I can easily use those under the tank.

Is their temperament alright? I read they're usually calm and docile. I really don't want to be bit! Lol.

Any advice you guys can give would be appreciated!!
 
Hello and welcome! Snakes make great pets and are one of the easiest pets to maintain out there when set up correctly.
Although there is a lot more targeted advice around, first off here is a link to the basic, everyone agrees must haves for corns.

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1674290#post1674290

Corns are generally quite docile but they do have individual personalities. However, truly "mean" ones are very rare. Babies are more likely to be flighty and sometimes to bite. Baby snakes tend to be near the bottom of the food chain in the wild, so they are all at least somewhat wired to think everything is trying to eat them. An older snake, with a known temperament might be better for you. However, baby snake bites don't hurt whereas an adult snake bite can actually hurt. Although I can say that in nearly all snake bites I've ever taken, of many different species, they hurt less and heal faster than a rodent bite or cat scratch.
So getting a baby and having the chance to handle it enough to be sure it's tame, might be your best option, there are pros and cons to either a baby, yearling or adult.
 
If you are talking about a corn snake under a year old a 30 gallon tank may stress the snake. The reading I have done suggests small corn snake do better in a smaller tank like your 10 gallon. Most people here swear by aspen bedding with a thermostat and a under tank heater as the only heat source. I was skeptical about needing the thermostat but after a little time I realized they are very necessary. According to most people here with regular handling the become very docile, as my guy is only a little one I can only give hearsay. I can tell you that they can be a nippy when they are small but their bite feels about like rubbing Velcro on your skin and is so quick you hardly feel it.
 
If you get a baby, I'd use the 10 gallon with an appropriately small UTH. If you get a yearling or adult, use the 30. Make sure you get a thermostat, not a rheostat. Many members here (self included) use Hydrofarm/Jumpstart thermostats that are for plant growing and you won't find them at a pet store.

I always say beginners should get an older snake, but it's your choice.

p.s. I love hermit crabs - I have never had one as a pet but I find them when I'm on holidays... squeeee!
 
Chiming in to say I'm pro buying older snakes as a first snake. My corn, Jax, is my first snake and he's five years old and chill as can be. Older snakes are also a bit hardier (have more body mass) and are a bit more established.

Jax doesn't strike or bite, but I've been bitten once by my ball Python (who has a significantly larger mouth than Jax). It hurt briefly and it bled/bruised, but it was healed up in 2 days.
 
Hm. I will see what the pet store has. I'll also be on the lookout for one in my city that needs a new home. I'm so for taking in pets that need new/better homes instead of pet store animals. I adopt my hermit crabs from people that can't care for them :)

Alright! This helps. 10 gallon for a snake under a year and 30 for 1 year+.

I will take a look at that basics link for sure! Thanks everyone!
 
Corn snakes are the Labrador Retrievers of the reptile world, meaning that you can't go wrong with them because they are hardy, social, and look fantastic, and mellow when they grow up.

I don't see anything wrong with getting a young snake at all. With all the information that is available, you will be able to quickly address any concerns that come up. It's also a great way to learn about your new pet.

Good luck, let us know what you decide :)
 
It's hard to decide!! Bringing a baby up sounds amazing. I think it'd be a good way to bond, but I went to petsmart before work and they're asking $120 for the 'fancy' coloured ones and $70 for the 'normal' ones.

I live in a small town so adopting one will be hard. I also don't drive, so I can't travel :(

From looking around, I've become quite fond of the colour variations but that's a huge difference in price!
 
grandlinegirl said:
It's hard to decide!! Bringing a baby up sounds amazing. I think it'd be a good way to bond, but I went to petsmart before work and they're asking $120 for the 'fancy' coloured ones and $70 for the 'normal' ones.

I live in a small town so adopting one will be hard. I also don't drive, so I can't travel :(

From looking around, I've become quite fond of the colour variations but that's a huge difference in price!
Click to expand...

People on this forum sell very high quality snakes for great prices. You can also get everything you need online.
 
grandlinegirl said:
It's hard to decide!! Bringing a baby up sounds amazing. I think it'd be a good way to bond, but I went to petsmart before work and they're asking $120 for the 'fancy' coloured ones and $70 for the 'normal' ones.
Click to expand...

Please don't fall for the "fancy" snake ruse! Find a breeder with the snake you really want and have it shipped to you. The big box stores call them "fancy" just to add $50 to the price of a Normal which breeders sell for about $15.

Once in a while people do pick up a rarer morph of corn snake from these stores but it is because the store doesn't know what they have, they just know it isn't a Normal corn!
 
It's the same with hermit crabs. The normal ones here are $7 and the 'fancy' ones in nicer shells are $12.

I've posted a few ads locally so hopefully I find someone!
 
I would post in the topic "Misc. cornsnake discussions" and in the title say "looking for Canadian breeders". This may get you some attention, or at least from someone who knows a Canadian breeder who may not be on this site, and Tavia gave you a good link for breeders.

I know shipping is expensive, but to get a quality pet packed correctly and the knowledge that the seller/breeder knows the history of your new beastie it is worth the extra money for shipping. Call it "insurance", but it is definitely money well spent.

Let us know what you find!
 
He had a pic of one. He said he hatched them himself and it looks pretty comfortable being held. I think it's pretty gorgeous!

428f09b7ec347a87d598ab9d6da66e01.jpg
 
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