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Is burrowing normal?

EvilRix

EvilRix

New member
Hello,

I'm very new to snakes and got my baby corn (Ollie) 5 days ago. Since then I've handled him a couple of times, I gave him 24 hrs to settle in first (the pet shop said this should be enough as he was used to being handled daily by them).

Anyway, Ollie is a little bit nervous when I first pick him up but settles down after a minute or so. I usually hold him for 2 or 3 minutes at a time and then let him sliver off my hand back into his home. I did this last night and then went to bed. When I woke up this morning Ollie was nowhere to be seen in his home. I checked under his hide and water bowl (he seems to like getting under it! I panicked but realised he must be in there somewhere. I lifed up his home (a big plastic box with a locking lid) and there he was, buried under his substrate. I could see him moving breathing but basically that's about it, he wasn't really moving. Is this normal behaviour? Is he just sleeping or hiding? Should I just leave him and let him get on with it? I'm worried in case he's ill or I've handled him wrongly and scared (or worse hurt - although I am very gentle) him.

Any advice appreciated.

Also, I read in a book all snakes appreciate water and that every couple of weeks putting a little drop of water in a bath and letting them bath for 10 minutes is a good thing. Does anyone have an opinion on this?

Thanks in advance.
 
Rule #1. Just because they work in a pet store, doesn't mean they know about the animals.

Corns needs at least 5 days of NO handling to settle into a new home, regardless of how comfortable they are with being handled.

Some snakes just like to burrow, but his reasons for hiding could be because he's either searching for warmth (do you have a UTH?), or it could be that he's afraid. And since it's a new home, I'm guessing the latter. My advise is to leave him completely alone for a few more days (at least) then offer a meal, and leave him alone for another FULL 48 hours (always leave them alone after eating to prevent a regurg).

As for the bath, some like water, some don't. I'd avoid that now though, as he's still little and adjusting to a new home and you want to create as little stress as absolutely possible.

One more thing if you dont' know already, is that there should be two hides. One on the warm side, one on the cold. The hides should be small enough for the snake to feel secure (they like tight fits), so if it's too large, it could also be why he's burrowing.

Congrats on the new baby! What kind of corn is it?
 
Hi Spirit,

Ollie is a little brown (with yellow rings) corn (is there a special name for this?). I'm not sure of his specific breed (I'm still learning about snakes, including breeds).

Yes, he does have a UTH under one half of his home. He has a hide that is a bit of bark in a half crescent shap that is long enough to extend from the warn to the cool side. Would it be more suitable for him if I removed this and put in two small hides (the bark smells horrible)? I was sold the bark at the pet store (a licensed reptile specialists!) and they assured me it was suitable. If you think I should change this what would you recommend for 2 small hides? Are there any materials I should avoid? Ollie is about 8 inches (25 cm) long if this helps with suggestions.

Ollie's due for his next feed on Saturday, I will leave him alone until then, hopefully that'll give him enough time to calm down and get settled. In the mean time I'll just keep an eye on him. Is he likely to be ok? Are there any signs I should look out for? I'm real worried about the little guy! He seemed fine when I handled him and was quite calm when I returned him to his home. I just want to do the right thing by my new buddy, hopefully without making too many mistakes along the way.

Thanks for your advice.
 
Welcome to the forums EvilRix! As Spirit has already stated, most pet shops don't always give the best advice, so take it with a grain of salt. As for the hide, it's probably better if you keep that one for right now if it extends from the warm side to the cool side so Ollie doesn't have to come out in the open to thermoregulate. He's probably pretty scared and that will help him feel more secure. What type of corn he is I don't know right offhand without seeing a pic, but what has me concerned is his size. Are you sure he's only 8 inches??? That sounds like a VERY small corn.
 
That is very small, although I've seen many that size at my local pet store. My hatchlings were 14" when I got them.
 
Hi,

Firstly, good news. I've just got home from work and Ollie now seems fine. He's up to his usually acrobatics around the cage. When I walked in he was balancing on most of his tail with his back arched and the bottom of his head pressed against the bottom of the top of his home (if you see what I mean). Phew, I'm very relieved. I will leave him alone now until Saturday when I will be feeding him.

As for his length, it is more like 14 inches! I got out a ruler and compared it to Ollie and I agree 8 inches was a poor guestimate - sorry for the confusion!

Anyway, thanks to all who responded for your help, suggestions etc...
 
Great! Sounds like Ollie's starting to check out his new digs! No problem on the size confusion, wow Meg, I never knew they sold corns that small, isn't that about the size they are out of the egg?
 
Yeah thats a smalish egg size corn. I know if i'm selling them i try and make sure their at least 12 inches long so i know their feeding good on f/t, unless i am selling to someone experienced in which case 5 feed's is the minimum, i am willing to let them go.

EvilRix sound's like he's settling in and exploring his new home getting used to the new smells, and hide locations.
 
cool. im also a newbie in keeping snakes but now stevo (my female corn "dnt ask lol") is settling great had a worry at start of week about him now feeds for a few days bu had had a pinkie last nyt so thats all cool lol..
 
Ollie has been pretty active since I've had him (since 31st Dec 04), which was why I got worried when he just decided to bury himself under his substrate and 'sulk'. Anyway, he seems to have got over it now and is back to his active self.

It amazes me just how much of his own weight he can support by his tail. He get's himself to about 2/3 off the ground whilst investigating the ceiling of his home. It also amazes my how he balances himself - I mean, it's not like he has arms he can use to steady himself :)

Once Ollie is a bit more settled I will add his picture to my Avatar, obviously I don't want to do it just yet in case I upset him again.

I plan to feed him for the first time on Saturday (and then every Saturday from then on). I'm going to leave him to digest for 48 hours after. Would it then be ok to try handling him again?

He's pretty skitish when I first pick him up but quickly settles down. Is this a sign he is comfortable with me or is he just keeping still because he is scared? I was planning about 5 mins handling daily (except when he's been fed). Is this too much, too little or about right?

Any advice welcome.

Cheers.
 
I personaly recomend 5-10 mins a day except after feeding for any new snake weather a hatchling or an adult just so you can get used to each other, then slowley increase the amount after say 3-4 weeks once you know you snake a little better to about 15 mins and keep going like this till you both are comfortable with 30 mins + of dailly handleing (except after feeding for 48 hours).
 
burrowing

all my 10 corns burrow so its nowt to be worried about, and as to bathing i always put a bowl big enough for them to curl up in, and they love taking a soak on a regular basis
 
5 full days of being left alone? I dont know about that, I think 5 days is a bit excessive.
 
I agree that 5 days seems a bit much. I think my new baby got 3 days if I remember correctly... Although, she's really laid back and never minded being handled at all, so I don't know. Maybe it depends on the snake. Five days should be more than enough for anyone though, if you want to be on the safe side.

EvilRix, my snake burrows a lot, she really seems to like it, but she's all for exploring the cage sometimes too, so sounds like Ollie is behaving pretty normally. :)

Also, if you wanted you could feed Ollie every five days since he's so young (assuming from his size). I think most people feed their hatchlings (and yearlings?) every five days. It allows them to grow more quickly and put on more muscle. My girl is doing great on this schedule, and on feeding day she's out and hunting around, ready to eat. You may want to try that and see how it goes for you.
 
Really? I read here all the time to leave them for a week in a new home. I left mine for I think 3 or 4 days also, but I never tip toed around either. I'd act very normal when I'd spot clean (never worried about disturbing him) so he adjusted really quickly. Then I fed him and left him for another 2 days, so for ME, it was over a week until I really started handling him.
 
I'm sure the longer the better, but I dont think at least 5 full days is necessary.

From Kathy Love's care sheet....

"I know I’m irresistibly cute, but please try to let me rest for the first three days. Just give me a quiet little home with a hide box, water bowl, and the correct temperatures (low end – around 75 – 80 degrees F; high end – low to mid 80sF. The shavings in my shipping cup are from my old home; please put them in my new hide box to make me feel more secure."
 
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