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Where Should I Buy My Corn Snake?

B

BlackMamba

New member
Long Story:

I plan on getting a corn snake in about a week and I don't know where to get one. Of course they have petsmart and petco around here but as far as I know they have absolutely no reptile places anywhere near here. They have a reptile show in about 3 months but I really don't want to wait that long.

I've checked out a few online stores and they seem good but then I look up reviews and it looks like all of them have good and bad reviews. I've heard people say that if they arrive sick or dead you have to pay for return shipping which would make it pointless because it's so expensive. At least I could just drive back to petsmart. I also hate having my snake shipped. I've had relatives that have worked for them and I have heard horror stories ...

Short Story:

So now I'm really conflicted. Should I just get one at petsmart and try my best to look it over, or order one from online? If I should order one online, who would you recommend or not recommend?

Any help would really be appreciated!
 
I recommend all of the fabulous breeders here on the forum! You can see lots of corns listed under the For Sale section, and you can always check the BOI for their reputations :)
 
Well honestly I think going through a breeder is the way to go. Pet shops see animals as inventory, breeders see them as babies! Hobbyists tend to breed what they are passionate about, what they love. I think they are deserving of support. I have a small collection of corns from many different breeders here, sent through FedEx and I have never been disappointed yet.
 
I've also never had an issue with shipping or receiving shipped reptiles. There are many great breeders on this site, and many of those in Florida!
 
I got my corn from PetCo. He refused to eat at first and it took a couple weeks of coaxing to get him to finally try a pink. He was so tiny, he weighed 4 grams at his lowest weight. When I asked PetCo for help, they were worse than useless and gave me very poor advice. I would not put myself through that again. I would go with a proven eater from a breeder. It's worth the shipping cost to have a good experience and someone reliable to ask for help. Plus then you get to pick from a much wider array of morphs. That sounds so fun, I kind of want another one! ;)
 
starsevol said:
Well honestly I think going through a breeder is the way to go. Pet shops see animals as inventory, breeders see them as babies! .
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I could not agree more with the first sentence, and feel the second is a terrible generalization as a pet shop owner myself. Be patient, read, study up, decide exactly what you want, and shop the classifieds here AND go to the reptile show in 3 months is my suggestion. Further, my recommendations would be to try to buy a larger baby, if you buy at the show be sure and get the business card and contact info from the vendor/breeder, ask lots of questions, and be willing to leave empty-handed and wait if you don't find exactly what you are looking for. I have many cornsnakes who have lived a long time, well into their teens and still going strong. No need to rush it just to "get one."
 
Order one from a breeder here and then get your second (and maybe third) at the expo in three months ;)
 
Chip said:
I could not agree more with the first sentence, and feel the second is a terrible generalization as a pet shop owner myself. Be patient, read, study up, decide exactly what you want, and shop the classifieds here AND go to the reptile show in 3 months is my suggestion. Further, my recommendations would be to try to buy a larger baby, if you buy at the show be sure and get the business card and contact info from the vendor/breeder, ask lots of questions, and be willing to leave empty-handed and wait if you don't find exactly what you are looking for. I have many cornsnakes who have lived a long time, well into their teens and still going strong. No need to rush it just to "get one."
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Just to add, I wish ALL petshops were like Chip's. Sadly MOST are so far apart that I don't even consider Chip's place a pet shop, if that makes any sense. Chip's place is something else, and something much more. HE certainly sees his livestock as much more than inventory, but then again, he is also a passionate breeder who truly loves the species he works with, and that makes every difference. You need to look at the PEOPLE behind ANY effort you want to consider supporting.
 
AliCat37 said:
I recommend all of the fabulous breeders here on the forum! You can see lots of corns listed under the For Sale section, and you can always check the BOI for their reputations :)
Click to expand...

Absolutely go with the fabulous breeders on this forum.
 
As tempting as the wee babies are at the big box stores, I have only purchased mine from a local to me breeder. They are healthy, handleable eating machines that I have no worries about. I would not hesitate to purchase from any of the breeders on this forum, the old adage goes..."you get what you pay for."
 
Zombiegirl said:
As tempting as the wee babies are at the big box stores, I have only purchased mine from a local to me breeder. They are healthy, handleable eating machines that I have no worries about. I would not hesitate to purchase from any of the breeders on this forum, the old adage goes..."you get what you pay for."
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I gladly would but I'm not paying $100 after shipping for a regular corn snake and the other one isn't replying to me so I don't have much choice. If there was any way to avoid buying it at the pet store I would.
 
I was initially planning on ordering it online but after reading really good and really bad reviews for every place I decided that it looks like I'm actually taking less risk by buying it there. Like I said, at least they're only a short drive away, they're cheaper, and they have a policy that doesn't involve me spending $40+ return shipping.
 
Never mind my advice...
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This...it's ok Chip...some just can't wait for new babies (which I understand...). Good luck with the little one, and hopefully they will still take it back if something happens during their 14 day "guarantee".
 
Chip said:
Never mind my advice...
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I appreciate your advice, but I don't want to wait 3 months to get one. Patience may be a virtue, but it's not one that I possess, at least yet. Enough money should make up for patience.

I know exactly what I want but I really don't feel comfortable buying one online after what I'm reading. I don't want to have to pay $40+ return shipping if there is a problem, and it looks like that's the case with anyone selling them online.

Some things I really need help with though:

1. How many of each size mice should I order for one baby corn snake? Where do you recommend I order them from? I started another thread for it but I'm not really getting replies ...

2. I ordered a hydrofarm thermostat and just got a 10-20 gallon zoo med heat mat. I've heard the temps can be reading pretty differently and I don't know how to make sure they're safe. I don't know if I should trust the zoo med thermometer or the thermostat?

3. I am planning on using paper towels as the substrate for a while because it's cheaper and I heard it's good to use for quarntine when you first get them. How many layers of paper towels should I use? Also, the probes go on the glass in the tank under the paper towels?

Sorry for all the questions but I just want to do everything as perfect as I can so the snake thrives.
 
BlackMamba said:
I appreciate your advice, but I don't want to wait 3 months to get one. Patience may be a virtue, but it's not one that I possess, at least yet. Enough money should make up for patience.
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First, I apologize for my frustrated comment. I deleted it, but evidently not in time. You have a group of people here with TONS of experience keeping corn snakes who are eager to help you! And we so often are asked questions, give our honest opinions, and they are pretty much ignored.
BlackMamba said:
II know exactly what I want but I really don't feel comfortable buying one online after what I'm reading. I don't want to have to pay $40+ return shipping if there is a problem, and it looks like that's the case with anyone selling them online.
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What "exactly" do you want? Someone here *really* might be able to help you. If you buy a healthy animal, there shouldn't be a problem or worry about a return *if* you provide a proper habitat.


BlackMamba said:
I1. How many of each size mice should I order for one baby corn snake? Where do you recommend I order them from? I started another thread for it but I'm not really getting replies ...
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For one snake I would never dream of ordering mice. I'd search out my local stores and price shop. If there is nothing, look for a local herp club, local mouse breeder, or just pay box store retail. Even at $2.50 a pink they don't eat that often.
BlackMamba said:
I2. I ordered a hydrofarm thermostat and just got a 10-20 gallon zoo med heat mat. I've heard the temps can be reading pretty differently and I don't know how to make sure they're safe. I don't know if I should trust the zoo med thermometer or the thermostat?
Click to expand...
A good IR thermometer is worth its weight in gold.
BlackMamba said:
I3. I am planning on using paper towels as the substrate for a while because it's cheaper and I heard it's good to use for quarntine when you first get them. How many layers of paper towels should I use? Also, the probes go on the glass in the tank under the paper towels?
Click to expand...
Depends of the size of the baby. I put my probes right on the hottest spot of the glass.

BlackMamba said:
ISorry for all the questions but I just want to do everything as perfect as I can so the snake thrives.
Click to expand...
I appreciate your questions. I just hope you will consider taking your time. Not sure how old you are, but I would wager some of us have corn snakes older than you! I can't minimize that. These aren't pets that live 2-3 years like guppies. You are going to have this snake a LONG time. Pick the perfect one.
 
Thanks for the reply. I'm in my 20s but I'm sure there are also impatient people in their 40s ..

Unfortunately, there are absolutely zero reptile places around here besides the chain pet stores. There are none for at least an hour drive in all directions that I could find. I've heard that the ones at the chain stores are really nasty and bad. What do you recommend?

I checked out the snakes today and I don't know their weights but they were really small, I'd say roughly 1/4" in diameter and maybe 8-10" long from what I could see of it. How many layers of paper towel would you recommend at that size? Also, should they be laying flat on the bottom of the glass?
 
Where are you looking where you would get a regular, I assume a normal, corn snake for over $100 after shipping? I see normals on this forum for $20-25, and if shipping was $50?

That said, I bought my first corn snake at PetCo. She is a great snake (a ghost), but she has had about 2 regurge issues since I have had her in this last year, so she is a little smaller than my 3 corns from South Mountain Reptiles (shipping is $35 there, by the way), but otherwise healthy. But there is a reason I bought from breeders after her. It is so nice to be able to contact the breeder, to know the hatch date, to know the sex of the snake, and to know about hets or possible hets. I know that I can send an email to the breeder of my bearded dragon, 3 corns, or my milksnake and kingsnake breeder and they'll be there to help me with any issues. I have had 2 different reptile packages shipped to my house, from FL to WI and then TX to WI with no issues.
 
I am glad I went to a local reptile show. Got a snake from a quality breeder, saw the snake in person first, and didn't pay shipping.
Patience and planning pays. You'll have the snake for many, many, years to come.
Even paying shipping, I'd get one from a breeder again.
 
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