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Wait for expo or not?

anderson110

anderson110

New member
I am getting ready to get my 2nd snake. My first snake was a garter snake when I was probably 8 years old. It died after having feeding problems from the day I got it. Felt guilty about that ever since, since I probably didn't care for him properly. This was well before the internet, about 1979 or so!

So now I have kids of my own, and they're getting interested in snakes, and I decided we're going to get a corn snake, after doing a lot of homework on all the popular pet snake options.

Here's my question: there's a reptile expo in two weeks. For a basic corn snake, is it worth waiting for the expo to buy the snake? Or should I just pick up one from a local pet store? In my imagination there will be lots of different corn snakes (patterns, ages, etc.) to choose from at better prices at the expo, is that realistic?

Thanks!
 
You could just shop online. You'll probably have the widest selection of morphs from that, and corn snakes are actually pretty easily shipped-just make sure to send it to the FedEx store to pick up if you can't have anyone at home to receive it, you wouldn't want the poor critter to bake in the sun on your front porch!

There's a lot of online stores that advertise on this site (and have members giving comments). I bought my snake from South Mountain Reptiles, and I have no complaints-they sent me a pretty, healthy little eating machine!

Be sure to have your terrarium set up before you bring the snake home!
 
I would wait for the expo and look around - and fill in the time meantime getting the set up ready
 
I was just checking out South Mountain Reptiles. Some very nice looking snakes there, although with the shipping fees, seems like not an inexpensive option (not my first priority, but still).

Also, after looking at the pictures on there, I'm more uncertain on how to pick out a juvenile snake that will turn into a "pretty" adult. Some of the most brilliantly colored adults on there show as very dull juveniles. Maybe this is an argument for buying online, where you kind of know what you're getting at all stages of life, presumably.
 
Wait for the expo, IMHO. They're a blast: especially when you get to walk out with a new snake!
 
I agree I love expos they are great fun - you have a point though about not knowing what the baby will look like as adult, but -

you could spend some of the waiting time looking up sites like Ian's vivarium that have excellent hatchling/adult pics, and picking a list of morphs that you like the look of adult ...?
 
One more question on this. How would you usually get a snake home from an expo? Should I bring something to transport it in? Will the expo people have containers for sending snakes home with people?

If I should bring my own, what should I bring?
 
Depends on the weather, a small Tupperware tub is what I use, or a small insulated cooler, if its a baby I'd keep it in the deli cup they come in and put the cup(with snake in it) in the cooler if its a hot day. Babies can overheat in a hot car. If its a short ride you should be fine with a Tupperware tub. That's what I do, others may have other options though.
 
usually the snakes will be in deli cups or they'll bag up larger snakes ..
if you want too, you could always bring a container lined with a towel to put the deli cup or snake bag in, to reduce stress on the ride home! (more important if the snakes in a bag then deli)
make sure theirs air holes and if your traveling during the colder months, make sure you bring someone that can either start the car for you and warm it up or hold the snake while you turn it on!
and make sure you don't put the snake anywhere near the cars vents, seems pretty obvious to me but I have heard of some sad stories .. on your lap or a passenger seat is perfect" :)

this is just a tip, I thought of myself.. but I hope it helps!
 
Just to bring this thread to a close, I was one of the first in at the expo today, which was smallish but still big enough to find a 2 year old "classic corn" that seemed just right for my kids and me for our first snake.

After a short handling session that we couldn't resist, I put him in his new viv and he's happily sleeping in the warm side hide.

I was planning on trying to feed him tomorrow. Is that too soon?
 
Yeah, you should normally wait about a week to ten days. He might be stressed out right now. Congrats!
 
Joba said:
Yeah, you should normally wait about a week to ten days. He might be stressed out right now. Congrats!
Click to expand...

He's currently giving me the death stare out of his hide...lol.

That's going to be a tough wait! I'm sure other snake people can relate.
 
aha!

Congrats on the new family member!
lol yeah waitings always hard with any new snake..
 
I am assuming you went to the San Diego expo. How was the corn selection? I was planning on going, but found exactly what I needed online from one of the forum members and decided not to gamble that the expo would have what I was looking for.
 
I sympathize, we food-loving mammals really have an instinct to feed living things in our care and letting the snake not eat for a week to 10 days really goes against that. But it is for the best.
 
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