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newbie from long island with some questions! :)

I'd get rid of the 55 gal and get two 20s or 30s. I'd also recommend getting a book on corn snake care or doing some more research online, there are lots of things to know to keep them well.
 
Thanks for the advice & the welcome! My next step is finding two 20 gallon tanks! Anyone know any for sale ? I already checked craigslist
 
okay i hate to say it but i'm just curious what everyone thinks.. my two snakes are in the tank together, and i did my best to separate them for the night so i put kitana (albino) on the right side where she usually is, and kiara (snow) on the left side under a half-log, with a big tupperware water dish in between them. kitana proceeded to come out from her rock, go to the other side, find kiara & curl up with her.
 
because clearly the one snake has the best place in the Viv as far as the two of them are concerned..
them curling up next to one another is simply their way of trying to push the other one out of that one spot. they arnt like other animals with limbs that can clearly push the other animal out of the way, so curling up next to/on top of the other is their way of telling the other snake that they want them to move.


I hope this makes things a bit clearer! :eek:
 
ehh well the only reason I question it is because kitana, the one who was there first, "her spot" is the right side of the tank under this rock hide. she always stays there and she's happiest there. I moved the water dish from the far left side to the middle so I can put a half log hide on the far left side, for kiara. I also figured it would be the best way to separate them. after seeking out kitana on her side, kiara retreated to back to her own side. shortly after, kitana came out of her hide and went to look for kiara, then proceeded to go under the hide that kiara was under. she's either A) formed some kind of connection to her, maybe a mating thing? I've never had kitana sexed so she may very well be a male. orr B) she's just checking to see where kiara is just.. because? territory purposes maybe?
 
its just them compeating.
trust me the only way it will stop is if you get a tank devider or put them into different vivs..

their solitary animals. its doesn't matter which way YOU perceive the behavior.. their not happy just trust all of the people that have already spoken. :)
 
no, no! its all good!

I totally get how everyone thinks that, but if you really think about it.. you never see two snakes hanging out with another in the wild, so why would they want company in captivity?

its just commen sence once you think about it! :)
 
Co habbing AND live feeding are two of the worst things a cornsnake owner can do.
I consider both things as putting your snakes at risk, and being unneccessarily cruel.

Snakes are by nature solitary animals, what others have already said in this thread happens to be true. They don't cuddle, they don't want company, they want to be left alone. Forcing them to live together causes them stress, which you can't see, but over time can cause health problems and an early death. You already have a picky feeder, and by forcing her to live with another you have probably really hurt her recovery.

And live feeding.....
Why?

Thawed food is easier on the wallet, won't fight for its life possibly causing injury, eye loss and infection, has no parasites, is convienient, and is more humane for the prey item.

One member here checked a number of animals that were fed live prey, and every single one of them had parasites and other nasties in them.

If your snake is a PET, feed it like a pet. Dogs and cats don't get live food and neither should pet snakes unless they won't eat thawed. But most cornsnakes eat thawed without a problem. All 38 snakes here, and the 12 I have out on breeding loans have never even seen a live food item before.
 
I'll admit I was concerned in the beginning, but this is just a case of misinformation which can be corrected with education.

At this stage in the game dog piling on berrinmichelle (Michelle?) serves no purpose.

She clearly has a somethings to learn, but helpfully answering her questions is better than trying to rub it in her face that she a "bad owner."

I believe she fully understands what she was doing is not the best thing for her snakes. The fact that she is asking questions and searching for facts shows she really does have their best interest at heart.

Continually beating her up because she is "being unneccessarily cruel" is not going to help at all. Would you like her to get pissed and leave the forum? What would that accomplish? I would rather her stay and ask questions to help keep her snakes better, than have her shut down and leave.
 
BloodyBaroness said:
I'll admit I was concerned in the beginning, but this is just a case of misinformation which can be corrected with education.

At this stage in the game dog piling on berrinmichelle (Michelle?) serves no purpose.

She clearly has a somethings to learn, but helpfully answering her questions is better than trying to rub it in her face that she a "bad owner."

I believe she fully understands what she was doing is not the best thing for her snakes. The fact that she is asking questions and searching for facts shows she really does have their best interest at heart.

Continually beating her up because she is "being unneccessarily cruel" is not going to help at all. Would you like her to get pissed and leave the forum? What would that accomplish? I would rather her stay and ask questions to help keep her snakes better, than have her shut down and leave.
Click to expand...

That is true, and I am sorry for overreacting. Michelle, I really hope you stay and learn more. We really aren't bad people here, but sometimes our passion gets a bit heated. Please stick around. We really only want the very best for your snakes, honest!

Edited to add, Again my apologies Michelle. I hope you come back. Co habbing and live feeding are kind of hot button issues for me. I actually had a snake die as a result of being co habbed temporarily. I had a rack burn up, and had to put her somewhere until I got a new cage for her. She died eggbound because of it. It's been 8 years and I am still so angry at myself and mourning her loss.........
And as far as the live feeding, I have just seen so many pictures of bitten and ripped up snakes, and heard so many stories about parasites, and being an animal nut I also feel sorry for the prey too.....

But I am really glad you are here. Please stay!

Beth
 
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My name is Erin :) i'm not going anywhere. some people may be rough but as i've stated i LOVE my snakes. they mean the world to me and BloodyBaroness is right.. I'm just misinformed. It's hard to separate fact from fiction when dealing with such a vast topic as snake & reptile upkeep - everyone has a different way of doing things and everyone SWEARS their way is the best way! i want only the best for my snakes, and appreciate any and all feedback. i may be new at this but i'm learning quickly and will take all the help i can get. i've only been a snake lover for a short time, no more than 2 years.. before that, i couldn't even hold a snake! i was terrified. but it didn't take long for me to fall head over heels for snakes. i find that they are the most wonderful pets besides cats and dogs and would choose a snake over most if not all other animals. when i purchased my first corn snake Kitana, i was told that she would not eat frozen mice. i can't say this is because they tried, they very well may have NEVER even given it a shot. however, on the occasion that she decides to kill her food and decide not to eat it (she can be quite the princess sometimes) she stays far away from its .. how can i put this, lifeless? moving-less? body... it seems she has no interest in anything that isn't moving around. she's a hunter at heart. same goes for my ball python kilo.. if it doesn't move, he isn't interested. i would much rather feed thawed (although i don't like the idea of frozen mice being kept storage amongst my frozen veggies, chicken, beef, ice cream, etc..) simply because not only am i a snake lover, but a true animal lover. i really do love all things living and it is REALLY tough sometimes having to watch the mice die. 9 times out of 10 i just leave the room. i realize this is a very controversial subject, much like cohabbing, however unfortunately this is just something i find works best for me and my snakes individually.
 
berrinmichelle said:
My name is Erin :) i'm not going anywhere. some people may be rough but as i've stated i LOVE my snakes. they mean the world to me and BloodyBaroness is right.. I'm just misinformed. It's hard to separate fact from fiction when dealing with such a vast topic as snake & reptile upkeep - everyone has a different way of doing things and everyone SWEARS their way is the best way! i want only the best for my snakes, and appreciate any and all feedback. i may be new at this but i'm learning quickly and will take all the help i can get. i've only been a snake lover for a short time, no more than 2 years.. before that, i couldn't even hold a snake! i was terrified. but it didn't take long for me to fall head over heels for snakes. i find that they are the most wonderful pets besides cats and dogs and would choose a snake over most if not all other animals. when i purchased my first corn snake Kitana, i was told that she would not eat frozen mice. i can't say this is because they tried, they very well may have NEVER even given it a shot. however, on the occasion that she decides to kill her food and decide not to eat it (she can be quite the princess sometimes) she stays far away from its .. how can i put this, lifeless? moving-less? body... it seems she has no interest in anything that isn't moving around. she's a hunter at heart. same goes for my ball python kilo.. if it doesn't move, he isn't interested. i would much rather feed thawed (although i don't like the idea of frozen mice being kept storage amongst my frozen veggies, chicken, beef, ice cream, etc..) simply because not only am i a snake lover, but a true animal lover. i really do love all things living and it is REALLY tough sometimes having to watch the mice die. 9 times out of 10 i just leave the room. i realize this is a very controversial subject, much like cohabbing, however unfortunately this is just something i find works best for me and my snakes individually.
Click to expand...

LOL!!! You already have cows, fish, chicken and pigs in your freezer, what's the harm of a few mice!? :)

Ball pythons are harder to switch to thawed as far as I know.
None of my snakes (corns, rosy boas and a blotched king) eat live, and most will eat a lifeless motionless body....but if you do want to try to switch them over you can heat them up reallly hot with hot water, then blow dry them off and do what is called the "zombie mouse dance". When I do that my snakes attack it with gusto!!

And just think.....if they were switched over you could spend less money and buy in bulk, and no more going out after work or school in the rain and the snow to the pet shop on feeding night. And no parasites or possible bites!

Orrrrrr if you are really against having mouse meat in the freezer, there are some really good plans on this site on building a CO2 chamber. If done correctly it is a very humane end for the prey, and then there is no danger or bites.

Please think about it, ok? Pretty please?

Edited to add maybe even the next time your girl makes a kill and doesn't eat it, instead of throwing it away maybe trying it then? That way you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
 
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