Stupid first-timer questions

[Cornmum]

Hi all!
If you haven't met me on the intro's board I've just bought two juvenile corns for my sons. Naturally most of their care falls to me while kids are at school (hence my username). At the moment I have them in separate tubs inside the viv with a heat lamp. I have placed the tubs so that one side is almost under lamp and one side is cooler, both tubs have a thermometer stuck down low and the viv has a sensor/ thermostat do-dah. The thermos read 85deg during the day and 78 at night.
I sucessfully fed both of them on frozen pinkies uke01: the day before yesterday.
Ok questions for you experts-
How is best way to feed a shy juvenile who has been recently moved? I just left the mouse near the hide entrance...is there a better way? Should I place the prey on something to avoid it getting stuck with bedding? Should I hold it with tweezers? Should I feed them (as I have seen suggested) in a different container?
I have given them a carboard tube cut lengthwise for a hide but one of them spends its entire time buried under bedding..is it trying to tell me something? What is your choice of hide for a young snake (they are about 14 inches long) sorry to ask all these basic questions but the book I bought seems to assume a certain level of knowledge!
Any help much appreciated
Cornmum

 

[Plums]

Ok questions for you experts-
How is best way to feed a shy juvenile who has been recently moved? I just left the mouse near the hide entrance...is there a better way? Should I place the prey on something to avoid it getting stuck with bedding? Should I hold it with tweezers? Should I feed them (as I have seen suggested) in a different container?
I have given them a carboard tube cut lengthwise for a hide but one of them spends its entire time buried under bedding..is it trying to tell me something? What is your choice of hide for a young snake (they are about 14 inches long) sorry to ask all these basic questions but the book I bought seems to assume a certain level of knowledge!
Any help much appreciated
Cornmum

I am no way an expert but can share some advice i have been given, as I am about to buy my 1st baby (i have 2 x adults at mo)

For a baby, I have been reccomended to use kitchen roll instead of substrate such as aspen etc., this will rule out the risk of the snake ingesting the substrate (bedding). It can be very harmful if this happens.

If your snakes feed well by placing the mice by the hide then there is nothing wrong with this, avoiding direct contact with substrate of course.

Lots of snakes like to burrow, one of mine will stay there for ages & ignore his hides, the other doesnt at all..

Many people use the half cut tolilet rolls for the babys, as they are small enough to ensure the baby snake feels secure..so this is ok.

As i say im no expert, but I hope i have helped a little

 

[Plums]

I am no way an expert but can share some advice i have been given, as I am about to buy my 1st baby (i have 2 x adults at mo)

For a baby, I have been reccomended to use kitchen roll instead of substrate such as aspen etc., this will rule out the risk of the snake ingesting the substrate (bedding). It can be very harmful if this happens.

If your snakes feed well by placing the mice by the hide then there is nothing wrong with this, avoiding direct contact with substrate of course.

Lots of snakes like to burrow, one of mine will stay there for ages & ignore his hides, the other doesnt at all..

Many people use the half cut tolilet rolls for the babys, as they are small enough to ensure the baby snake feels secure..so this is ok.

As i say im no expert, but I hope i have helped a little

By the way, Welcome to the forum !

 

[amystl]

Ok questions for you experts-
How is best way to feed a shy juvenile who has been recently moved? I just left the mouse near the hide entrance...is there a better way? Should I place the prey on something to avoid it getting stuck with bedding? Should I hold it with tweezers? Should I feed them (as I have seen suggested) in a different container?
I have given them a carboard tube cut lengthwise for a hide but one of them spends its entire time buried under bedding..is it trying to tell me something? What is your choice of hide for a young snake (they are about 14 inches long) sorry to ask all these basic questions but the book I bought seems to assume a certain level of knowledge!
Any help much appreciated
Cornmum

Welcome to the forum, Cornmum! You can learn a lot from the wonderful people here.

Here is my two cents on your questions.

It's up to you if you want to feed your corn in its enclosure. Some people advise against it due to them thinking anything coming in to the tank is food. If you feed in the viv, make sure you have a solid substrate. Such as paper towel, newspaper, or a paper plate. You don't want loose substrate to get lodged in the little guy. I feed all my snakes in the bathtub. It's easy to clean, easy to watch, and it fits snakes of all sizes. And all I had to buy was a drain cover. I also "dance" the thawed mice to stimulate him to strike... all though it's not always necessary.

My snow spends a huuuge amount of time buried under his aspen. I have two hides in his viv, but seems to prefer the bedding as the ultimate hiding spot. To each their own. Just try out some safe hides and see what the snake prefers. I chalk it up as age with using the bedding over a more open hide. Just make sure the snake doesn't get burned if you're using an under the tank heater (Which is recommended.) if s/he's hiding under the bedding.

I hope some of this helped! Welcome to the addiction.

Happy herping! :cheers:
Amy

 

[Cornmum]

Thanks for the replies. I handled them for about 5 mins each last night they are quite tame the Miami is sensible and calm but the Hypo is a bit of a wriggler, but quite friendly. I feel terrible that I fed them on the substrate and they may have swallowed some so now I'm even more anxious! My bath isnt suitable for feeding it's a whirlpool with 9 jet holes maybe I could feed them in a bucket? Would that be ok? These need to be children's pets ATEOTD so I'd rather they didnt think a hand in the box=food!
Thanks again
Cornmum

 

[Plissken]

Thanks for the replies. I handled them for about 5 mins each last night they are quite tame the Miami is sensible and calm but the Hypo is a bit of a wriggler, but quite friendly. I feel terrible that I fed them on the substrate and they may have swallowed some so now I'm even more anxious! My bath isnt suitable for feeding it's a whirlpool with 9 jet holes maybe I could feed them in a bucket? Would that be ok? These need to be children's pets ATEOTD so I'd rather they didnt think a hand in the box=food!
Thanks again
Cornmum

As long as it has air holes and the snake can't get out if you take your eyes off him, you can use most things safely (as long as it's clean obviously.) I think some people here use deli cups for small snakes, and some suggest feeding in paper bags. It's perference really. I use an Exo-Terra Faunarium, it works perfectly well for me.

 

[h0mersimps0n]

If they're new and you still have the cups they were shipped in try feeding them in there. I too recommend removing them from their viv for feedings it does two things 1.) keeps the animals from thinking everything that comes in the tank is food (including your hand) and 2.) I've noticed the more you (properly) handle hatchlings/youngins the more docile adults they become.

Feed in small containers, force the animals to confront their food and feel safe. Gladware containers with multiple sufficient holes punched/drilled in the side. As they get older you can graduate to plastic "shoe boxes" with lock-cliping lids. Buckets, tubs, all sound risky to me, just when you think they can't or aren't running for the nearest escape they will.

Congrats on the corns, welcome to the addiction!

 

[diamondlil]

for feeding my small snakes, I made holes in the lid of a clear plastic freezer box with a heated screwdriver. For the bigger ones I did the same for ventilation with a bigger storage container. Glad they fed for you already!