• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

What to look out for in pet shop corns?

EmmyGee

EmmyGee

Tree Hugger
Hi guys
Im new here and im getting a corn snake in about 6 weeks! :bird: since im unable to get him from a breeder, i'll have to get him from a pet shop. I want to be able to select a healthy specimen. What should i look out for? Should i ask to handle the snake before buying to check for illness? Ive been told to check the eyes, size and buttock areas of him. Should i also ask about when/what he has eaten, how often he sheds, etc?
Thanks guys :D
(Also, hes gonna be a californian male corn baby and im going to call him Ozzy, any thoughts of that?) :bird:
 
Welcome to the forum!

I would definitely recommend a breeder over a pet store, but I understand if you really can't get one from a breeder. I would definitely ask to handle him before buying. Most baby corns are quite flighty, so if he appears listless, then he's probably not healthy. (Some baby corns won't be as flighty, but they should still be alert with a flicking tongue and watching your movements.)

Eyes should be bright (unless he's in the middle of his shedding process). Scales should be smooth and shiny, without any flakiness or unusual spots. Also, he should not look wrinkled at all. You can google pictures of skinny baby corns to get an idea of how he should NOT look.

I would definitely ask about their feeding schedule and it would be great if they had a written chart they could show you. They should be able to show you that he's eaten once every 5-7 days, without a whole bunch of refused feedings. Make sure that they're feeding him pinkies (if he's a baby) and not crickets or any other sort of bug.

But just in general, I would ask them lots of questions to get a feel for how knowledgeable they are and how well they keep snakes.

I haven't heard of a 'Californian' corn. Do you mean a Carolina corn?

Good luck and be sure to post pictures once you get him!
 
hypnoctopus said:
Welcome to the forum!

I would definitely recommend a breeder over a pet store, but I understand if you really can't get one from a breeder. I would definitely ask to handle him before buying. Most baby corns are quite flighty, so if he appears listless, then he's probably not healthy. (Some baby corns won't be as flighty, but they should still be alert with a flicking tongue and watching your movements.)

Eyes should be bright (unless he's in the middle of his shedding process). Scales should be smooth and shiny, without any flakiness or unusual spots. Also, he should not look wrinkled at all. You can google pictures of skinny baby corns to get an idea of how he should NOT look.

I would definitely ask about their feeding schedule and it would be great if they had a written chart they could show you. They should be able to show you that he's eaten once every 5-7 days, without a whole bunch of refused feedings. Make sure that they're feeding him pinkies (if he's a baby) and not crickets or any other sort of bug.

But just in general, I would ask them lots of questions to get a feel for how knowledgeable they are and how well they keep snakes.

I haven't heard of a 'Californian' corn. Do you mean a Carolina corn?

Good luck and be sure to post pictures once you get him!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I did mean a carolina corn, sorry, 'cause i always get mixed up with this kind of stuff :duck:

Also, i went to the shop the other day and saw two babies, one was slithering happily around his tub, the other was lying in an open space of his tub (not hiding). Would the latter mean something was wrong? Or is it due to normal behaviour? Just curious :) Thanks
 
Usually baby corns hide almost all the time, so laying out in the open could be a sign of him being unhealthy, but I would reserve judgment until I saw him and was able to handle him. If the two corns are being housed together, it can stress them out and he may just be avoiding the other one.
 
hypnoctopus said:
Usually baby corns hide almost all the time, so laying out in the open could be a sign of him being unhealthy, but I would reserve judgment until I saw him and was able to handle him. If the two corns are being housed together, it can stress them out and he may just be avoiding the other one.
Click to expand...

Ok. If the shop isnt able for me to handle at least one of the snakes, im not buying from there, thats for definite. Thankyou for the advice, and i'll post pictures for when ive bought him!:bowdown: Hopefully he will be healthy! :dunce:
 
were their hides present in the tanks?

In most pet shops, they don't give the corns hides as they will often hide away during the daytime hours (which is also when people shop!) so they will often neglect to offer a hide, for the easy of viewing the animal.

If their IS a hide present and the baby is just sitting out in the open it would either mean that the baby is just comfortable being viewed or they are not doing well.. as you suspected.

You most deffently want to ask to hold to snake and this is will give to the best chance to see if they are healthy or not.
(And just so you know MOST corns are flighty and squirm all over the place but not all, I Picked my boy out and even after being popped/sexed twice to make sure he was indeed a he, they then just flipped him over and handed him to me! :eek1: I felt so bad/sorry for what the little guy had just went through and totally expected him to want to dart right away from me all scared! But he didn't at all! He just crawled onto my hand and wrapped himself snuggley around my fingers and just sat their and stared at me; as if to say "Thank you for saving me from that horrible man!" LOL I know he really wasn't thinking that but he deffently was not trying to get away.. and he's a perfectly healthy boy.)

I just wanted to through that out their, that just cause their not flying all over dose not mean their not healthy.
 
Justine66 said:
were their hides present in the tanks?

In most pet shops, they don't give the corns hides as they will often hide away during the daytime hours (which is also when people shop!) so they will often neglect to offer a hide, for the easy of viewing the animal.

If their IS a hide present and the baby is just sitting out in the open it would either mean that the baby is just comfortable being viewed or they are not doing well.. as you suspected.

You most deffently want to ask to hold to snake and this is will give to the best chance to see if they are healthy or not.
(And just so you know MOST corns are flighty and squirm all over the place but not all, I Picked my boy out and even after being popped/sexed twice to make sure he was indeed a he, they then just flipped him over and handed him to me! :eek1: I felt so bad/sorry for what the little guy had just went through and totally expected him to want to dart right away from me all scared! But he didn't at all! He just crawled onto my hand and wrapped himself snuggley around my fingers and just sat their and stared at me; as if to say "Thank you for saving me from that horrible man!" LOL I know he really wasn't thinking that but he deffently was not trying to get away.. and he's a perfectly healthy boy.)

I just wanted to through that out their, that just cause their not flying all over dose not mean their not healthy.
Click to expand...

Your corn sounds like a gorgeous little chap!
The shop (pets at home, as im in the UK) has the snakes seperately contained in RUBs with a bowl of water and a hide, so it may have been a bit of a "showy" corn!
Nevertheless, im DEFINITELY going to see whether hes flighty, though i am one for softie, soppy things! :rofl:
 
Sort of off topic, but why is a breeder not an option? I know there could be circumstances (I've personally argued some of them myself), but there aren't near as many reasons as one might think that they can't get one from a breeder. I was just curious, in case we could help change your mind. Sorry if that seems pushy, it's just such an important decision and choosing the pet store route can and usually does lead to much more headache and complication.

I think others have covered well things to look for. You'll want to make sure the skin is shiny and healthy. It should be fairly active, at least when handled. While you're handling, try to gently feel for any lumps or abnormalities. Also be sure to get a good look at the head. Bright eyes. Keep an eye out for anything that looks like flakes of pepper, especially if they're moving. Note if it opens its mouth much, if at all (frequent mouth breathing is usually a sign of a respiratory infection). Also while paying attention to the mouth area, look for any mucus build up or anything that looks "off". If you can manage it, definitely flip him over and look over his belly. Again, if anything seems "off" then either inquire about it, or don't even bother with that snake. That's just a quick list off the top of my head, it may seem like a lot but most of that is easily noticeable during a single handling. And the more effort you make now, will save you a lot of headache and possible heartache (if it dies) later.

Not sure the type of pet store you will be visiting, but if they can offer feeding and shedding records, along with a birthdate and possibly recorded weights then all the better! I wouldn't get my hopes up on that much though... Again, pet stores aren't well known for their quality care.
 
EmmyGee said:
Your corn sounds like a gorgeous little chap!
The shop (pets at home, as im in the UK) has the snakes seperately contained in RUBs with a bowl of water and a hide, so it may have been a bit of a "showy" corn!
Nevertheless, im DEFINITELY going to see whether hes flighty, though i am one for softie, soppy things! :rofl:
Click to expand...


Yeah.. I really lucked out with him!

I could of got a snow, amel, or a motley.. But something about him just struck me, He's just a normal But he's turned out to be such a sweet little guy, has never stuck at me, or rattled his tail, and whenever I go to pick him up he doesn't try and run away from me. He's just a calm, and relaxed little guy.

I can't say one bad thing about him!
 
Nythain said:
Sort of off topic, but why is a breeder not an option? I know there could be circumstances (I've personally argued some of them myself), but there aren't near as many reasons as one might think that they can't get one from a breeder. I was just curious, in case we could help change your mind. Sorry if that seems pushy, it's just such an important decision and choosing the pet store route can and usually does lead to much more headache and complication.

I think others have covered well things to look for. You'll want to make sure the skin is shiny and healthy. It should be fairly active, at least when handled. While you're handling, try to gently feel for any lumps or abnormalities. Also be sure to get a good look at the head. Bright eyes. Keep an eye out for anything that looks like flakes of pepper, especially if they're moving. Note if it opens its mouth much, if at all (frequent mouth breathing is usually a sign of a respiratory infection). Also while paying attention to the mouth area, look for any mucus build up or anything that looks "off". If you can manage it, definitely flip him over and look over his belly. Again, if anything seems "off" then either inquire about it, or don't even bother with that snake. That's just a quick list off the top of my head, it may seem like a lot but most of that is easily noticeable during a single handling. And the more effort you make now, will save you a lot of headache and possible heartache (if it dies) later.

Not sure the type of pet store you will be visiting, but if they can offer feeding and shedding records, along with a birthdate and possibly recorded weights then all the better! I wouldn't get my hopes up on that much though... Again, pet stores aren't well known for their quality care.
Click to expand...

The only reason I am opting for the pet shop snakes is because its actually going to be another family member's snake, and i will have to look after him. Unfortunately, the family member has to move house and knows very little in the wellbeing of snakes and the dangers of petshop animals, so "cant be bothered" going through the"hustle and bustle" of going to a reputable breeder :(. I am trying my best to persuade her to contact a nearby breeder, but im preparing for worst case scenario. :) thanks!
 
Justine66 said:
Yeah.. I really lucked out with him!

I could of got a snow, amel, or a motley.. But something about him just struck me, He's just a normal But he's turned out to be such a sweet little guy, has never stuck at me, or rattled his tail, and whenever I go to pick him up he doesn't try and run away from me. He's just a calm, and relaxed little guy.

I can't say one bad thing about him!
Click to expand...

Ah, true love at first sight :D
 
EmmyGee said:
The only reason I am opting for the pet shop snakes is because its actually going to be another family member's snake, and i will have to look after him. Unfortunately, the family member has to move house and knows very little in the wellbeing of snakes and the dangers of petshop animals, so "cant be bothered" going through the"hustle and bustle" of going to a reputable breeder :(. I am trying my best to persuade her to contact a nearby breeder, but im preparing for worst case scenario. :) thanks!
Click to expand...

There are many reputable breeders online. And with the 2013 season underway, there's a lot available atm. I know it seems weird ordering a living creature on the internet, but with next day delivery and proper packaging it's safe enough that most will offer a "live arrival guarantee". You can ask on here, or check out www.faunaclassifieds.com and see what's available there. Fauna Classifieds even has the BOI (board of inquiry), allowing you to look up user names to get customer reviews and comments.

Ultimately, there's less "hustle and bustle" of ordering from a reputable breeder online from the comfort of your home, than there is getting in the car, going to the store, inspecting each option, asking questions, hassling with stupid employees, driving home, etc. Hopefully you can have some luck trying to explain that to the family member... if not, hopefully you can find a quality snake at the pet store. It *can* happen, it's just not too often the case. I can't really lecture or criticize because I picked up little Plissken at a major chain pet store here. I would never do it again, but Plissken turned out alright.
 
Nythain said:
There are many reputable breeders online. And with the 2013 season underway, there's a lot available atm. I know it seems weird ordering a living creature on the internet, but with next day delivery and proper packaging it's safe enough that most will offer a "live arrival guarantee". You can ask on here, or check out www.faunaclassifieds.com and see what's available there. Fauna Classifieds even has the BOI (board of inquiry), allowing you to look up user names to get customer reviews and comments.

Ultimately, there's less "hustle and bustle" of ordering from a reputable breeder online from the comfort of your home, than there is getting in the car, going to the store, inspecting each option, asking questions, hassling with stupid employees, driving home, etc. Hopefully you can have some luck trying to explain that to the family member... if not, hopefully you can find a quality snake at the pet store. It *can* happen, it's just not too often the case. I can't really lecture or criticize because I picked up little Plissken at a major chain pet store here. I would never do it again, but Plissken turned out alright.
Click to expand...

Thats great news. I am looking up breeders on that site now, and do far it seems pretty good :) im going to try and persuade the family member to either buy from a breeder and maybe from the site you recommended.
Does it do UK orders?
 
I know people extoll the benefits of getting a snake directly from a breeder, but even though I breed corns I only sell a very few directly, most of mine wholesale to local shops because I don't want lots of visitors!
I'd shy away from buying online, personally, unless it was from a strongly recommended source. I have ordered corns from Lexcorn and couldn't praise the health of her stock highly enough, but in the UK you have to pay for a reptile courier as animals can't be sent through the post. I have heard horror stories of the couriers transporting multiple animals and disease being transmitted because they don't quarantine properly, so I travelled to a reptile show to meet her and collect my corns. (Of course they can't make a trip for just one animal, they'll transport a vanload and drop off on the way)
SO if you can't make a personal visit to a breeder, I'd say choosing from a well-run reptile store is fine. Ask to see the hatchdate and feeding records of the snake. If you are told something like 'oh we feed every Sunday', walk away. You will have no guarantee that that particular corn is a good feeder. Check the viv or display tank hasn't got dirty water bowls and lots of poop. Check each baby is kept separately in a small tub, not a big pile in one tank. Ask if the snake has been sexed or if they can do it for you in the shop.
(I sell each of mine with the hatchdate, feeding record from hatching and sex from popping. I can guarantee males but females are always unproven IMO)
 
One other thing to check for, mites! Small black dots between the scales. They are treatable but can carry diseases.
 
aha!

yes, i do love my classic, their just such amazing snakes.. so many different colour mixes of deep reds, oranges, yellows, blacks and whites.. they all just look soo different.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top