Proud new owner of my first snake, a black corn snake

[ratsnakehaven]

Big Cheese Rodent Factory, The Mouse Factory, Rodentpro are the big ones. I love Big Cheese. Cheaper than TMF but more expensive than Rodentpro. But they are nice and fat, clean, and come vacuum sealed. Rodentpro is the cheapest but they have the crappiest mice and just throw them into the box, not vacuum sealed.

I've gone with The Mouse Factory for years. I used to raise my own mice and know exactly what the best mice are like. TMF is a little more expensive than some, but their quality is good for a mass supplier. And they vaccu-pack.

TC :santa:

 

[Kronos]

Just the feedback I was looking for. Thanks!

 

[slitheringdead]

It's understandable why non-reptile owners would be grossed out by having rodents stored in a freezer with their human food. I don't blame them at all for feeling that way and for being unyielding in their opinions. Even i'm not crazy about the idea, but i'm a little bit of a germaphobe. That's why i bought a separate compact freezer. You can get one for around $150 at Walmart. It's probably more upfront cost than some people would want to spend, but it's a good option for those that want to feed F/T, but have housemates uncomfortable with rodents in their communal freezer.

 

[ratsnakehaven]

I grew up driving my poor mom crazy with stuff in the freezer; so when I got married I kept my old refrigerator, just for my "unique" frozen things and other stuff. Most of the frig is filled with water, beer, wine, snake sheds, and other things that need chilling, but very little food. The freezer compartment holds my frozen mice and a few other frozen things that are necessary or I pick up in the yard and want to keep for awhile.

Strange to most, but not to those who love you...LOL.

 

[rexracer]

I only have one freezer, so my nice, clean mice from TMF get vacuum sealed and shoved in the bottom of my freezer next to the frozen waffles.

 

[atmox]

I only have one freezer, so my nice, clean mice from TMF get vacuum sealed and shoved in the bottom of my freezer next to the frozen waffles.

!!!PLEASE!!! let me know if you mix those 2 up in the morning :rofl:

 

[ratsnakehaven]

I only have one freezer, so my nice, clean mice from TMF get vacuum sealed and shoved in the bottom of my freezer next to the frozen waffles.

Actually, the frozen mice are just as clean as any other frozen product, imho. If wrapped so one can't see them, like in butcher paper, no one would know...LOL.

PS: I used to butcher a deer once in awhile in the great north woods. Is this exotic meat any different?

Terry :santa:

 

[josie]

I have venison in my freezer as well as the pinkies. LOL

 

[SnakesOfCorn]

Thanks for all the good ideas everyone. I am going to try searching craigslist and ebay for a small freezer...maybe I'll get lucky. :shrugs:

I will keep The Mouse Factory in mind also, but until I get a small personal freezer I'm thinking I'll just get a small package of them from PetsMart ??

Would they still be good from a place like PetsMart ??

Thanks SC

 

[sarae]

the ones from petsmart are fine... usually seem to be in pretty good condition, clean, no fecal matter, etc... but they're expensive and I've had snakes that just didn't like them. (Then again, I have some odd critters)

 

[Dreamsnake]

I toss the mice in the freezer, sometimes in a plastic bag, sometimes not. The kids arn't big enough to get in there. Someday I should put them in their own box or something, but I've wanted snakes for so long that I'm willing to put up with anything to keep them. I had a friend who fed with live mice, only he killed or stunned them before teasing the snake. I called the process "snap and tease," I even killed a few mice for him. I think if can't kill a mouse yourself once in a while cats or snakes arn't the pet for you. If I can't get my python to start eating f/t again, I'll resort to my old ways.

 

[SnakesOfCorn]

 

[SnakesOfCorn]

Hopefully these pics work !

 

[bitsy]

Looks like a very pretty Anery! Congrats.

 

[Skully23]

I've been trying to decide wether or not to feed live or frozen/thawed. My major problem with buying frozen mice is keeping them in my freezer with my families food...I'm not really too crazy about doing that at all. Yet I know feeding live once the feeders get bigger they can attack back and hurt or even possibly kill my snake...any advice is much appreciated.
i also use a basking bulb during the day and an infared at night
The one problem I am having is with humidity...I spray water in there and the hydrometer starts picking up the humidity, about 20min. later or so it stops reading the humidity again. Is it because I have a screen lid ? Is it ok to keep spraying water in there to get a humidity reading ?
Thanks, SC

There is nothing wrong with placing dead frozen mice in a freezer as long as they are in a bag. Mine are in a double bag...I do look forward to recieving a small freezer from my parents for Christmas tho. If you are grossed out by that..I would by a freezer instead of taking the extra time and money to keep live food...I would never suggest live if the snake if perfectly fine with F/T...

Does anyone see this as a problem? IMO, I don't think cornsnakes need a basking lamp or lamps. If you have a UTH..there shouldn't really be a need and that might be what causes your humidity problem. And I wouldn't want to sleep with a light over me every night...I think it disturbs that sleep pattern

I work at a place with over 7 snakes. We never mist the cornsnake. I don't even think cornsnakes need misted for humidity. I was told when I came here that I shouldn't mist...just provide a humidity hide for when they shed and of course a water dish 24/7..

During the day I keep the hot side at 88 degrees F. I keep the cool side at between 74-76 degrees F.
At night the hot side is at about 82-84 degrees F and the cool side is between 70-74 degrees F.

As someone said...the hot side is a little higher during the day. Keep the cornsnake's hot side around 82-85. Your cool side during the day is not cool enough (73 and below). I never use anything to keep my cool side at a certain temp..it just goes with the room temp. At night it goes to about 71 but during the day it's under 70.

I will keep The Mouse Factory in mind also, but until I get a small personal freezer I'm thinking I'll just get a small package of them from PetsMart ??

Would they still be good from a place like PetsMart ??

Thanks SC

Oh PetsMart...IMO, worst place to buy F/T. They are highly expensive compared to other places. Do not go to the bigger named pet stores. I use Pet Supplies... About.99 a pinkie instead of 6 pinkies for $10 at PetsMart.

Sorry for my longness but as far as I have read you need to do a few things:

Stop misting
Get rid of the heat lamps and keep the UTH at 82-85.

-Skully

 

[Skully23]

Forgot to mention...

I love your cornsnake

 

[SnakesOfCorn]

There is nothing wrong with placing dead frozen mice in a freezer as long as they are in a bag. Mine are in a double bag...I do look forward to recieving a small freezer from my parents for Christmas tho. If you are grossed out by that..I would by a freezer instead of taking the extra time and money to keep live food...I would never suggest live if the snake if perfectly fine with F/T...

Does anyone see this as a problem? IMO, I don't think cornsnakes need a basking lamp or lamps. If you have a UTH..there shouldn't really be a need and that might be what causes your humidity problem. And I wouldn't want to sleep with a light over me every night...I think it disturbs that sleep pattern

I work at a place with over 7 snakes. We never mist the cornsnake. I don't even think cornsnakes need misted for humidity. I was told when I came here that I shouldn't mist...just provide a humidity hide for when they shed and of course a water dish 24/7..




As someone said...the hot side is a little higher during the day. Keep the cornsnake's hot side around 82-85. Your cool side during the day is not cool enough (73 and below). I never use anything to keep my cool side at a certain temp..it just goes with the room temp. At night it goes to about 71 but during the day it's under 70.




Oh PetsMart...IMO, worst place to buy F/T. They are highly expensive compared to other places. Do not go to the bigger named pet stores. I use Pet Supplies... About.99 a pinkie instead of 6 pinkies for $10 at PetsMart.

Sorry for my longness but as far as I have read you need to do a few things:

Stop misting
Get rid of the heat lamps and keep the UTH at 82-85.

-Skully

Thanks for all the helpful info. I did stop using the light as of this past Wednesday and the temps are MUCH better...the hot side is right between 80-85* F and the cool side is right between 70-75* F. Still not getting a humidity reading unfortunatly but I am going to buy a hygrometer for my room since the humidity in the cage should be close to the same I believe.

I also got a half gallon plastic milk container to make a humid hide with...what do I have to do to clean it out...just rinse it with hot water? I have to wait until this comming Wednesday to buy some spagnum moss for it but I think that should be a big help.

My only problem with keeping the frozen mice is I live in my moms house so I have to keep it small ya know....I'd love to buy a nice bulk pack but I think for now I'll just keep it small...like a 10 pack would be perfect. Out of sight out of mine. :rofl:

Thanks again for the help...since I stopped using the lamp he actually seems more active also. Thank you for the compliments about him too.

Thanks, SC

 

[josie]

If you are feeding pinkies they are very small and do not take up much room. I have 30 in a zip lock baggie and stored in a small butter bowl. Like you said, out of site out of mind.

 

[Skully23]

Thanks for all the helpful info. I did stop using the light as of this past Wednesday and the temps are MUCH better...the hot side is right between 80-85* F and the cool side is right between 70-75* F. Still not getting a humidity reading unfortunatly but I am going to buy a hygrometer for my room since the humidity in the cage should be close to the same I believe.

I also got a half gallon plastic milk container to make a humid hide with...what do I have to do to clean it out...just rinse it with hot water? I have to wait until this comming Wednesday to buy some spagnum moss for it but I think that should be a big help.

My only problem with keeping the frozen mice is I live in my moms house so I have to keep it small ya know....I'd love to buy a nice bulk pack but I think for now I'll just keep it small...like a 10 pack would be perfect. Out of sight out of mine. :rofl:

Thanks again for the help...since I stopped using the lamp he actually seems more active also. Thank you for the compliments about him too.

Thanks, SC

That's great. Humidity doesn't really matter until they start shedding. Humidity hide is fine for those times. I use this for the cool side but I never worry about humidity

You can even use a cool whip bowl with a cut out hole on the side or the lid. Wet paper towel is fine for a way to keep it a humidity hide. Just make sure it stays damp/wet from the time the snake's eyes go clear after clouding...if the snake uses it then it should be like 24hrs or less for a shed.

I don't see the problem still unless someone is terrified of mice..lol. It is just like another lump of meat in your freezer. I have mine in two ziplock bags laying in the back corner....the freezer clouds the bag so it is not like you can see the detail of the content... being experienced in reptiles myself...having weird things in and around the house is part of owning them.

That's great he seems more active. No problem

 

[ratsnakehaven]

That's great. Humidity doesn't really matter until they start shedding. Humidity hide is fine for those times. I use this for the cool side but I never worry about humidity

Humidity doesn't matter much, if you live in a humid area of the world, and when you heat your home in winter it doesn't lower the humidity significantly. But in some areas, like AZ, where I live, humidity in the cold season is a problem. If you have less than 30% huimidity in your vivs, your snake is going to be stressed to some degree. That's my personal opinion, of course, not necessarily the opinion of all.

TC :sidestep: