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New Baby Corn...Sick or Scared?

E

enl0001

New member
I just got a new baby corn yesterday, and I noticed that he has been curled underneath a tree structure that is in his viv for over 12 hours. I checked on him, he is alive, and when I hold him he moves around like normal. But every time I put him back in his viv, he crawls back under the tree and never moves.

He was fed the day before I got him, maybe he's just digesting?
Or maybe he's just stressed from being in a new home? It's in a 30 gallon tank, so maybe he's just scared of so much space?

I have no idea. :-/

I just want to make sure he isn't sick because this is my first snake and I'm really nervous about if I'm doing anything wrong.
 
If you just got him yesterday I would say scared. They need to be left alone for at least a week so once they are in a new home. That rest time lets them settle in to their new environment and learn all the safe spots in their tanks. What the temperature in his tank like?

My advice would be to leave him alone, no handling, no touching for at least a week.
 
I have a heat lamp on one end of the tank that keeps it around 85, and the other side is around 75 to 80.

And thanks for your reply. I'll leave him alone for a week or so to let him get adjusted...I don't want him to be scared! :)
 
enl0001 said:
I just got a new baby corn yesterday, and I noticed that he has been curled underneath a tree structure that is in his viv for over 12 hours. I checked on him, he is alive, and when I hold him he moves around like normal. But every time I put him back in his viv, he crawls back under the tree and never moves.

He was fed the day before I got him, maybe he's just digesting?
Or maybe he's just stressed from being in a new home? It's in a 30 gallon tank, so maybe he's just scared of so much space?

I have no idea. :-/

I just want to make sure he isn't sick because this is my first snake and I'm really nervous about if I'm doing anything wrong.
Click to expand...

Two key statements You shouldn't handle you snake for at least 48 hours after feeding or until the lump from feeding is gone.

BloodyBaroness said:
If you just got him yesterday I would say scared. They need to be left alone for at least a week so once they are in a new home. That rest time lets them settle in to their new environment and learn all the safe spots in their tanks. What the temperature in his tank like?

My advice would be to leave him alone, no handling, no touching for at least a week.
Click to expand...

Great advice, I would add I wouldn't handle a new snake until after it has a few feedings without regurg.
 
His lump had disappeared (from what I could tell) by the time I brought him home. So I assumed it had been 24 hours since he had been fed. But yeah, from now on, I'll just let him do his own thing until he is better adjusted to his new viv, and until he has fully digested his meal. I'm just glad to know this is normal and he isn't sick! Thanks for everything! :)
 
I would say your guy is fine. My is always hiding in one spot or the other. I think he parties after the lights are turned out as I came down stairs late one night and flipped on the light and he was out and about. My corn also stays in ones spot for what seems like hours at a time.
 
charlie1 said:
I would say your guy is fine. My is always hiding in one spot or the other. I think he parties after the lights are turned out as I came down stairs late one night and flipped on the light and he was out and about. My corn also stays in ones spot for what seems like hours at a time.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much, I guess my baby is just being a snake. This brings up another question I had...should I turn his heat lamp off at night? We keep him in our upstairs which never gets below 72 or so.
 
enl0001 said:
Thanks so much, I guess my baby is just being a snake. This brings up another question I had...should I turn his heat lamp off at night? We keep him in our upstairs which never gets below 72 or so.
Click to expand...

Trickie question, the ideal is to have cool side 70-75, warm 80-85. What kind of light are you using red, blue regular light??? It may be in summer in your area you won't need the heat at all. Is that why you are using a light, heat?
 
susang said:
Trickie question, the ideal is to have cool side 70-75, warm 80-85. What kind of light are you using red, blue regular light??? It may be in summer in your area you won't need the heat at all. Is that why you are using a light, heat?
Click to expand...

I live in Alabama and it is summer so it stays pretty warm even at night. I've been using a regular light to heat the viv, but since I am a first time snake owner, I really wasn't sure if I needed a regular one for day and a blue one for night? Or maybe a blue one all the time?
I did turn the light off about an hour ago, and I noticed my snake finally came out and was exploring a lot more.
I've also heard that heating pads are an option but I've heard of cases where they malfunction and burn the snake or crack the glass, so I'm hesitant to buy one.
Any advice you can give would be great. Thanks so much!
 
enl0001 said:
I live in Alabama and it is summer so it stays pretty warm even at night. I've been using a regular light to heat the viv, but since I am a first time snake owner, I really wasn't sure if I needed a regular one for day and a blue one for night? Or maybe a blue one all the time?
I did turn the light off about an hour ago, and I noticed my snake finally came out and was exploring a lot more.
I've also heard that heating pads are an option but I've heard of cases where they malfunction and burn the snake or crack the glass, so I'm hesitant to buy one.
Any advice you can give would be great. Thanks so much!
Click to expand...

A red light low watt would work you can see the snake but it can't see the light. If the viv gets a variation of natural light, I would save red just to observe your baby in evening. I know some breeders in FL don't use heat, although this winter was colder soooo. I live in Oregon and turned all heat off during summer it gets too hot, even used fans to cool a couple times.
The heating pads go under tank and you do need to have thermostat or check temps everyday.
 
susang said:
A red light low watt would work you can see the snake but it can't see the light. If the viv gets a variation of natural light, I would save red just to observe your baby in evening. I know some breeders in FL don't use heat, although this winter was colder soooo. I live in Oregon and turned all heat off during summer it gets too hot, even used fans to cool a couple times.
The heating pads go under tank and you do need to have thermostat or check temps everyday.
Click to expand...

That's really helpful, I'll look into getting a red bulb as soon as possible :)
Since I live in such a warm state, do I need a heating pad in addition to the bulbs?
 
The books I've read all say that corn snakes need belly heat to aid digestion. The heat strip I use is for a ten to fifteen gallon gallon tank and she is in a twenty. Nim roves around from warm to cool, but I rarely ever see her directly on the hot spot. I gave her a vine so when I see her hanging like a python I know she wants her heat off. When she goes into the hide I know she is cold and time to turn the heat on.
 
Dreamsnake said:
The books I've read all say that corn snakes need belly heat to aid digestion. The heat strip I use is for a ten to fifteen gallon gallon tank and she is in a twenty. Nim roves around from warm to cool, but I rarely ever see her directly on the hot spot. I gave her a vine so when I see her hanging like a python I know she wants her heat off. When she goes into the hide I know she is cold and time to turn the heat on.
Click to expand...

Do you have a way to measure temp over heater. UTH and heat cable are great as long as you measure temps. Hot spot may be too hot.
 
So from what I gather, heat mat is needed. Heat lamp is not.
I just want the best for my baby to be happy.

Everyone, thank you for your patience and help. It means the world to a newcomer!
 
enl0001 said:
So from what I gather, heat mat is needed. Heat lamp is not.
I just want the best for my baby to be happy.

Everyone, thank you for your patience and help. It means the world to a newcomer!
Click to expand...

Thats what this place is here for! I'm glad you could find what you needed. As for the heat mat situation, an easy fix for the thermostat (which can be a little pricey, but totally worth it) is to get a lamp dimmer, as they will work the same on a heat mat, dimming the amount of heat produced from the mat. Also, digital thermometers are fairly cheap and easy to come by. I'm in Canada, but I got my dimmers at home depot for 15$ and the digital thermometers at walmart for 7$. Make sure the probe for the thermometer is placed and fixed on the glass in viv, on the center of the heat mat. You should probably use silicone, or something thats animal safe. just make sure its not tape. Snakes find a way to become horribly stuck in any tape, I dont know how...they just do. :)
Also, it sounds like the opposite, but if you've got a baby in a 30gal (i cant see the first post, but I think thats what was said?) make sure theres lots of plants and hide spots, more than just the two, if he can move around the whole viv and feel covered, he will do so more often. :)
Good luck, take care, and see you around the forum! Keep asking questions! :)
 
enl0001 said:
I just got a new baby corn yesterday, and I noticed that he has been curled underneath a tree structure that is in his viv for over 12 hours. I checked on him, he is alive, and when I hold him he moves around like normal. But every time I put him back in his viv, he crawls back under the tree and never moves.

He was fed the day before I got him, maybe he's just digesting?
Or maybe he's just stressed from being in a new home? It's in a 30 gallon tank, so maybe he's just scared of so much space?

I have no idea. :-/

I just want to make sure he isn't sick because this is my first snake and I'm really nervous about if I'm doing anything wrong.
Click to expand...

I haven't read any other replies but here is mine.

New snakes should not be handled or bothered for 10 days after being brough home, nor fed. Reguardless of age.

The fact the snake was fed the day before you got it concerns me as being moved can cause a regurge which is bad, so can being handled the day after eating. He needs to be left alone.

All corns hide. They are just shy little things trying not to get eaten themselves, they come out when they are ready and usually at night although some do come out during the day too but that is usually when they are a bit older.

All in all I would just leave the snake alone and not bother it at all until feeding day at the earliest 7 days after being brought home.
 
My advice is to get rid of the light and just use an under-tank heater.

The light can dry out the tank, and the snake doesn't need it. A UTH (under tank heater) helps with digestion by giving the corn belly heat. Just cover about 1/3 of the bottom of the tank, and your corn will move to the warm side when he needs to.

Snakes hide. He probably is moving around in the middle of the night. I bet that he goes out and drinks and explores. The more cover and hides he has, the more comfortable he will be exploring during the day.
I wouldn't expect to see him out much for the first while, though.
 
My baby never regurgitated, so he must be a resistant little thing, luckily :)
And I'm looking into getting him some more hides so that he'll be more comfortable in the big viv I have for him.
I've noticed he likes to come out if I turn his light off for a couple of hours or so, so he must just be a night dweller, which is fine with me :) He seems to be adapting fine and liking his new home so far.
I made a checkup appointment with my exotic vet so that hopefully he can teach me everything I need to know to keep my baby happy and growing.
Thanks to everyone, you've been so much help! :)
 
Naagas said:
My advice is to get rid of the light and just use an under-tank heater.

The light can dry out the tank, and the snake doesn't need it. A UTH (under tank heater) helps with digestion by giving the corn belly heat. Just cover about 1/3 of the bottom of the tank, and your corn will move to the warm side when he needs to.

Snakes hide. He probably is moving around in the middle of the night. I bet that he goes out and drinks and explores. The more cover and hides he has, the more comfortable he will be exploring during the day.
I wouldn't expect to see him out much for the first while, though.
Click to expand...

He lives in Alabama it is likely he doesn't need heat, most of the time. Besides a UTH in the normal heat or anytime requires thermostat or very close monitoring, a way to control the heat... For one snake a light i.e. red light is easy and allows one to see their snake when it is active, without disturbing the snake. Turn the light off when heat or viewing isn't required. I am basing this on having a few very healthy snakes raised with a red light and monitoring temps.
 
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