What should I get for a first corn?

[JenniferInNY]

Well, I've researched a lot the last few days and I definitely want a couple corns. The whole color genetics thing really intrigues me and it's something I found interesting when I raised show rabbits a long time ago..
How should I go about picking a pair of snakes to start with? I definitely want a couple hatchlings, just with all the color combinations to start with, I need some ideas. I'm still at the point where I like everything and am not sure what I want.. Any advice for this stage of the game?
I have a friend from work that deals in higher end snakes and he pretty much has access to most of the common morphs and said he'd pick some up for me at the next show, he just wants me to come up with a list.
So, what are some good color combinations? How many males should I try to get in relation to females?
Thanks in advance..

 

[Roy Munson]

Spam Alert!:

Well, I like Lavenders, I like Stripes, and I LOVE Bloodreds. It just so happens that I have a pair of '07 hatchlings that are phenotypical normals, but they're both het for these three genes. I was going to put up an ad for them, but I'll give you first crack. $350 shipped for the pair. Look what you can make with them!:

12.50%, Het for Lavender, Het for Stripe, Het for Bloodred Pattern
6.25%, Het for Lavender, Het for Stripe
6.25%, Het for Stripe, Het for Bloodred Pattern
6.25%, Het for Lavender, Het for Bloodred Pattern
6.25%, Striped, Het for Lavender, Het for Bloodred Pattern
6.25%, Lavender, Het for Stripe, Het for Bloodred Pattern
6.25%, Bloodred Pattern, Het for Lavender, Het for Stripe
3.13%, Het for Bloodred Pattern
3.13%, Bloodred Pattern, Het for Stripe
3.13%, Het for Stripe
3.13%, Lavender, Striped, Het for Bloodred Pattern
3.13%, Bloodred Pattern, Het for Lavender
3.13%, Lavender, Het for Bloodred Pattern
3.13%, Striped, Bloodred Pattern, Het for Lavender
3.13%, Het for Lavender
3.13%, Lavender, Bloodred Pattern, Het for Stripe
3.13%, Striped, Het for Lavender
3.13%, Striped, Het for Bloodred Pattern
3.13%, Lavender, Het for Stripe
1.56%, Striped
1.56%, Lavender
1.56%, Lavender, Bloodred Pattern
1.56%, Striped, Bloodred Pattern
1.56%, Normal
1.56%, Lavender, Striped, Bloodred Pattern
1.56%, Bloodred Pattern
1.56%, Lavender, Striped

If you get another female that's homozygous for some of these genes, then you'll produce even more of the coolest stuff. The female in the pair prefers live at the moment, but she'll grow out of it. PM me if you're interested.

 

[JenniferInNY]

Wow, that's a pretty detailed breakdown... Those would be really neat.
I'm definitely thinking about it, though, I think hubby planned on me buying 'cheap ones' to start out with. On one hand, I want to get something I'll still like a year from now, but, on the other hand these are my first snakes and I could screw up. Aargh, I hate making decisions.. Thanks for the suggestion

 

[Cegninedorf]

I'd suggest: start with whatever catches your eye morph-wise and works the best for your wallet, because just like people come in different colors and are all fundamentally the same, so are corns. Corns require the same care no matter the morph. Normals/classics are probably the cheapest to buy, around $15 per snake. Check out price lists for bigger vendors to get a ballpark idea of cost per snake...check for expos/shows in your area...and don't forget: if you buy online, you'll also have to pay around $50 for shipping.

It is definitely like going into a candy shop, looking at all of those fantastic morphs & then trying to decide (I have 6 snakes -- at least 5 are each a different morph!). Good luck!

 

[Lennycorn]

......I definitely want a couple hatchlings, just with all the color combinations to start with, I need some ideas.........
I have a friend from work that deals in higher end snakes and he pretty much has access to most of the common morphs and said he'd pick some up for me at the next show, he just wants me to come up with a list........
QUOTE]

I'm confused now.

.......Those would be really neat.
I'm definitely thinking about it, though, I think hubby planned on me buying 'cheap ones' to start out with. On one hand, ......

Well find you price range and start from there.

 

[susang]

The only thing I can add to this is I wish what I know now I knew when I got my first snakes. They were $70. a piece an amel and a snow the snow died. While the amel is beautiful for the money I could have gotten a couple really nice snakes from a breeder with feeding records and sex. Since it takes three years for the hatchling to mature to breeding size I would definately look around before I decide. susang

 

[JenniferInNY]

Oh geesch, I can see how what I posted could be confusing.. Thanks for pointing that out Lennycorn..
Yeah, I have a friend that raises $1000 + pythons and various venomous that are way out of my price and experience range.. He's trying to help me get started in snake keeping and recommended corns as a good one to start with. He doesn't currently raise corns, but, orders from and runs into a lot of people that do. He also goes to reptile shows in other states that I just wouldn't be able to go to. So, he would just probably order me some corns the next time he places an order with someone or pick me up some at a show he goes too.. I was just trying to come up with a good combination of color morphs for him to pick up for me at the next show he goes to or when he orders next from someone that also has corns.. Apparently whoever he deals with or whatever shows he goes to has a good variety and he definitely knows a lot more about picking out a healthy snake then I do. So, I was just trying to figure out what would be some good color combinations.. as I guess I'm going to give him a shopping list.. I'm thinking maybe three different pairs, two just more common varieties and one nicer pair.. But, after that, I'm lost..
Yeah, like totally lost..

 

[tbtusk]

Well, I'm still at the point where I like everything and am not sure what I want..

I'm sorry, I just have to butt in and say, what do you mean "still at this point?" I love everything and I've owned corns for 3 years now! I've really been into it for around a year and a half, but still, you'll love at least most of them forever!

Most of what shouyld be said has been said. I would like to answer your question about male to female ratios though. The normal idea on this is that one male can be paired with as many as three females, giving you a 1:3 ratio. I think most people stick at about a 1:2 ration though. I believe it was Rich, the creater and mantainer of these forums, who said he prefers to keep a 1:1 ratio just to be safe, in case something goes wrong with one of the males.

For you, I would suggest sticking with just 2 snakes, a male and a female if you plan on breeding, until you have an idea of the care you need to give them. After that, it's up to you how many you get. It seems many people here will get one or two (as I've suggested) then get at least a few more after another few months.

 

[JenniferInNY]

Ah, I see... No wonder I had such a hard time picking a color, I'll just like them all and want one of each..
I'm also into tarantulas, but, at least with them the different species groups have pretty different characteristics and once you have one or two of each people seem to become fixated on a particular group. Of course, since corn snakes will have the same characteristics only just more wonderful colors, I'll just want to get them all..
Thanks a lot for the help though, I appreciate it..
Out of curiosity, are there any morphs that should never be combined? Are there any particular colors that are just not popular where if you did breed them you'd end up keeping all of them?
BTW, 3 years to maturity is no big deal to me.. LOL.. I have a couple tarantulas that I've had for 2 years that probably won't be ready to breed for another 3 years or so.. I just wanted to start with hatchlings to kind of have a feel for the different lifestages.. If I end up really addicted I'm sure I'll end up buying an older pair later on..

 

[susang]

Just to throw something else in and I dread saying this I really do, but you should have seperate set-ups for each snake. Your friend may be a great herp person, I don't know him. I would look at the possiblities and then got from there something motley or stripe you could never go wrong. Even something with one of the two stripeor motley and the other one het stripe or motley. Also pythons a corns do require a little different set ups, like I said I'm sure he knows what he's doing. susang

 

[JenniferInNY]

I'm doing my own research here.. From what I've read here, I definitely won't co-hab any snakes..
I'm still trying to decide whether I want to go with a more aesthetic setup with some glass aquariums or homemade enclosures or whether to just go with large tubs till they're bigger and then move them into more aesthetically pleasing containers.. I already buy aspen for some other critters, so I'll probably use that with a separate empty tub for feeding.. But, yeah, I'll still have to figure out how I'm going to set up a temp gradient.. I'm nervous about using heat wires or UTH on sterilite containers, so, that might push me to just start out with glass..

thanks for the motley or stripe suggestion.. I like both of those kinds of markings.

 

[zwyatt]

Well, based on what you've said so far in this thread, I think you likely will end up with plenty more than just one male and one female But the good news is that being addicted is just fine by all of us...we have no room to judge


Regarding the morphs and what you are looking for:

I think you could probably sell just about anything. It comes down to what you can sell for decent money and what would have to be done wholesale to a pet shop. It also would depend on how many you were producing and where all you advertised. Normals, amels and anerys (and snows) are the most common morphs. These would be the most difficult to sell to more established hobbyists. However, many people who are just getting started start with one of these morphs. For that reason these are probably some of the easiest to wholesale to pet shops, but that's speculation because I don't have direct experience...just going on a gut feeling.

Since you seem to be interested in the variation of morphs, I would recommend getting something other than just normals. You could look for a male and female that are two different morphs but heterozygous for complimentary traits. For instance, an anery het hypo motley and a hypo het anery motley.
That pair would produce normals, anerys, hypos, ghosts and then motley versions of all four of those. Of course, you can choose any morphs and hets you want. I would suggest "shopping around" a bit to see if there is anything you really like. The other thing to consider is that trying to find particular morphs with particular hets may not always be easy at a show, if your friend is going to try to pick something up for you. You may have better luck finding something you want from a breeder online and just ponying (sp?) up for the shipping.

Sorry for the long-winded reply. Hope it helps out

 

[Susielea]

Aspen is a great substrate for corns but you don't want to use it in the feeding tub, as the corns may ingest some whilst feeding and that could lead to problems.

Also you should have no problems using flexiwatt or UTH under sterilite containers if it's controled by a temp stat or rheostat. You should also invest in a good digital thermometer with a probe attached to measure the temps to be sure you've set the stat right.

Oh and you should also be warned that corn snakes are VERY addictive and can cause serious harm to your hubbies wallet!!! LOL!

Soooo, welcome to the addiction and best wishes,

 

[shank the wiggles]

I've been lookin around at which morphs I find to be most appealing and I have to say it is tough. So far I like blizzard, snow stripe, crimson, candy cane, and hypo/bloodreds.

 

[tbroaddus]

My son got his first Corn a couple of months ago, an Okeetee. My next one is going to be a pretty little Ghost.

TB

 

[JenniferInNY]

I can't wait to get my first one.. I'm so excited.. But, I'm going to make myself wait through another week or two of reading about them first.
I just saw a photo of a reverse okeetee and one of those will definitely be in my want list.. Of course I've already found I have expensive taste in these guys too with the exception of the reverse okeetee .. :rofl:
I don't know how, but, I can always manage to pick the most expensive kinds as my favorites no matter what it is..
Thanks for the help!

 

[CornNoobie]

Good luck in whatever you choose! I got a ghost corn for my first, a month or so later I got a snow, and now im looking around for a butter! then possibly a bloodred, then an amel......... oh and a caramel! Im sure you wont be able to just stick with the 2!!

 

[snakey brad]

i have two corns together which i no is not ideal and they are a black motley and carolina. But when i was thinking of getting another one i really wanted a butter corn, but because they come in such a wide varity you could almost just pick your favourite colour!Good luck with the snakes you finally get.

 

[ilovecorns1]

welll pat on the back for doing more reading the is the best way to go but they arent the most needy animal ever just fresh water clean floor good cage and youll be pretty good good luck

 

[JenniferInNY]

They seem pretty basic so far...
Now I've just got to find a new vet as my vet just closed yesterday.. I don't know what the heck I'm supposed to do about my other pets, that dude was the best vet in town. He even said he'd do fecals for me without having to bring the snakes in.. Ah well, maybe I'll just buy a 'scope so I can do my own.. Might as well with all the critters I have anyhow.. So, that'll throw a bit of a wrench in it now.. Aargh..