New corn snake owner checking in. (pictures, questions and concerns) sorry very long.

[Amdek]

Howdy!

I have been reading up on snakes and decided the corn is the ideal species for me, mainly due to the fact that they are low maitenence and easy to care for. So I went to several local pet stores and looked at their corn snakes for sale. I ended up purchasing this beauty from PetCo. The price was high (50$) however I figure if I ordered a corn from a breeder, after shipping I would be paying the same or more for a snake that I have never seen before.

Here's the little guy.

My cage set up is simple at best for the moment, but this will have to do for a little while. It is a plastic cage, about 17 inches by 10. I just have paper towel layed down for on the bottom, a water bowl, and a coconut hide away for him at the moment. I have a spotlight suspended over one end of the cage, the thermometer reads 82-85* on the side under the light, and around 75* on the other side, so I think he should be ok for heating.

Anyways here are my questions:

First off he ate 2 pinkie mice (frozen/defrosted) on the first day home from the pet shop. A little after he ate them he just went under the paper towel. I read they need a day or 2 to digest food completely, so I didn't disturb him for a good 40 hours or so, but when he didn't come out from under the paper towel on his own I lifted it up, took some pictures and handled him for a bit. After I put him back in his cage he just strolled around for a bit, got some water and went back under the paper towel. Why does he keep going under the paper towel? Is my hide box not to his liking? Should I not forcably take him out from under it? What time of day are most corns active?

My second question is about handling. He seems to be very uncomfortable when I handle him. I am very gentle with him and so far have done nothing more than let him slide from one of my hands into the next. What is the best way about making the snake feel comfortable when I hold him? Will he just naturally get used to me with daily handling?

And lastly I am curious as to what color mutation he is. PetCo says he is just an albino, but he seems like he is more pink/white than the other amenalistic ones I see pictures of..

here are some more pictures of him.

Thanks for reading!
-Mike

 

[coluk]

Hi, he looks like a snow corn to me same as mine.
Most corns are nocturnal although some like to strut thier stuff during day light. quite often i will see my snow racing up and down during the day. Dont worry about where your corn curls up, they will find the best place that they like and it is not always in the place you have especially made for them ie the hide box. dont try and force him to go into the hide box.

I found with my snow corn that it was not used to being handled when i first got him, dont worry about this, just keep handling him gently and he will get used to it. also i always read that it takes a week for the corn to settle in, i have found with my two corns that this was more 2 weeks before they felt really happy to not just hide away all the time and come out and explore thier viv.

 

[Jicin]

Same story here. I bought my snakes all different sorts of expensive hiding places. Now there both curled up in a toilet rol......... My snakes have no class.

Greetings,
Jicin

 

[stuart]

hey, welcome to the forum, u have a very nice snake there

 

[stuart]

maybe he likes it under the paper towels, maybe its the right temp under there than in his hide, do you have a hide on either side of his tank ?or you could try moving his hide to where he goes under the paper towels ?he will get used to handeling, just takes some time.

 

[Cindy]

Welcome Mike,
He is a real cutie, have you named him yet?, you seem to had all your bases covered in repect of your snake care. A word of warning - this hobby is totally addicitive :cheers:

 

[Krenna]

Nice snake you have there! Welcome to the forum..

As people have posted don't worry about where he is hiding. It's his place where he feels most safe at. I have 2 hides for my little girl one is a cave that I bought. The other I made with half of a ceramic pot, she likes that one the best, and never goes to the cave.

Give your snake time to get used to you, and his new home. I am sure everything will work out for you when it comes to your snake letting you hold him. Just everything is patiences with these guys from what I am learning.

 

[Skye]

Very pretty snake!
As long as your snake is actively seeking a hiding spot you don't need to worry about where he is choosing to be. If he just lay out in the open all the time and didn't want to hide I would be much more concerned. As for most active, you will find that corn snakes are generally active as it begins to get dark. They are also very active when they are looking for something, such as food, or a mate (although your's is too young for that right now). It sounds as if your set-up is great for now.
Welcome to the forum,
Skye

 

[marg]

hiya Amdek :wavey:

your corn is gorgeous (looks exactly like mine )

This forum has been really helpful and friendly and whatever concerns you have you will get help here.

I have had mine for 4 weeks now and felt 'clumsy' handling him/her and worried and concerned about everything when I first got him. Now he climbs out of his viv onto my hand quite readily.......if he isn't keen I leave him alone. I used to lift him out of his viv but he comes to me much happier when I let him set the pace.

enjoy your baby (corn)

thank you

 

[MegF.]

Nice corn! Looks like a snow to me too. As Krenna suggested, two hides, one in each temperature zone works well, although don't feel bad if they like to hide under the paper. I spent a fortune on really nice hides, and they both prefer a crumpled up piece of paper towel....go figure! Just make sure he/she can't lay directly over the under tank heater, as they can get burned. I taped a piece of paper towel over it so that mine can't get under the paper there. Also Cindy is right! I started with one....got two.....getting two more to start a breeding program....ack! Where does it end!?

 

[Jicin]

When i took out the hiding place from the viv this

<---

happened. I quickly retrieved it because he was lying directly upon the heating pad. (I use heatlamps now) There like little kids. You give them a present and they throw away the gift and place with the wrappings

Beautifull corn btw.

 

[Amdek]

thanks

I really appreciate all of the friendly comments! I'm enjoying my new corn a bunch! I will definitely keep everyone here updated with him

-Mike

 

[MegF.]

What sort of substrate are you using Jicin? I've never seen green before.

 

[Jicin]

I think thats what you call Aspen. There was no label on the package though. It's colored green with non-toxic paintstuff. It doesn't rub off on my corn (To bad. I bet you people would have payed big $$$ for my snakie )
Unfortunately, i haven't been able to buy more of it. I got in at a reptile fair and normal petstores simply don't sell it. Though they have other stuff nothing i would hourse my corn on. So now there on paper towels right now I probably won't be able to buy some decent stuff untill the next fair next month.

 

[MegF.]

My aspen doesn't look like chips like that though. Interesting stuff.

 

[Krenna]

Aye that is the first time I have seen the dyed aspen.

 

[Jicin]

What's aspen then? Can someone show me a pic of Aspen?

 

[Neumann]

Regarding hides

We got this idea from The Cornsnake Manual. We use a paper towel role for our corns that we've cut in half lengthwise. We then cut a cave-like entrance right in the center for them. We lay the halved tube across the back of the viv so that it rests across the cool and the warm end. We have some other, commercial type, hides too but they rarely go in them. They have a strong preference for the cardboard tubes. In fact, they've outgrown the paper towel role tubes so we now have larger wrapping paper tubes arranged in the same manner for them. I think they're great because... A) they adore them, and B) it gives them a wider range to thermoregulate in the comfort of their hide. They're also dirt cheap.

 

[lizwinz]

congrats on your new snake, very pretty

i've had a couple that were pretty nervous when i got them but with regular gentle handling they calmed down

about hides, i think that they feel more secure when they can touch almost all the sides of where they are hiding...commercial hides seem to big and open

i like using almost flat pieces of cork bark for small snakes it's more natural looking and not as expensive as the commerical hides plus it adds something rough to their enclosure to help them with their sheds

--liz

 

[Kristel]

I just brought my baby snow home on friday, and she completely refuses to come out of her hide. Even for water. Is this normal or should i be concerned?