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Where's the best place to buy corns?

I

isis11

New member
Where have people bought their snakes? I have two corns that I bought in 2000 from a pet shop but the time has come to get more, and my local shops don't have what I want :) So, what I want to know is: should I buy online, or wait for a reptile show? Let me know where you've gotten your snakes from, if you where happy with the purchase, and anything else you want to share!

Thanks!
 
Hey isis11,

Welcome to the best cornsnake forums around! Glad to have ya aboard!

What morph are you looking for? That might aid in the search.

There are quite a few breeders here on these forums that might be able to help you out. And possibly have an 03 leftover from last year. Many breeders are trying to get rid of last years stock to make room for this years hatchlings!

Also check out Rich's current sale going on at SerpenCo. Maybe not what you are looking for but you aren't gonna find nicer animals at a cheaper price than that!

As for buying off the net, I personally have no expierience with doing so. I have always bought from shows and local breeders. However, it seems to me that probably most of the sales these days dealing with reptiles are done online! I'm sure others will reply with some good suggestions. It's just like any industry, you always have bad apples in the bunch but for the most part things go rather smooth from what I know.

Quigs

PS. Could someone maybe post the link to the BOI here in this thread? I seem to have lost it myself!
 
Hi Quigs,

Thanks! Glad to be here. I'm looking to get a Lavender and my bf isn't sure what he wants yet; possibly an Aztec, Anerythristic A, Miami Phase, Banded, or Zig zag & Aztec (he's got a lot of thinking to do!) I love SerpenCo :D and I'd love to do the sale, but don't have enough room for all the snakes it would take me to get $300! I'm just trying to figure out if I should pre-order from Rich now for 2004's or wait until June when there's a reptile show near me. What’s the BOI?
 
Online or in person?

Wow! That BOI is a great resource. Thanks Quigs. But, my question still stands, should I order from SerpenCo now and get first pick of the 2004’s or just wait for my local reptile show in June? What are people’s opinion’s?
 
Well, I 'spose that all depends on how antsy you are you get a new lil booger! And if you want to cough up the jack to spend on shipping.

Personally I'll be ordering some things from SerpenCo, when Rich gets back from the Tampa show. But then again I'll also be attending the coming up shows in my area as well...lol

Not much help am I?


But in conclusion...yes there are many trusted big time breeders online as well as quite a few smaller breeders that are very well known and trusted. Thus why I pointed you at the BOI to have a look.

Quigs
 
I have purchased snakes both online and at shows. Personally I like and prefer shopping at the show because you can look around, touch and hold the animal - and judge for yourself whether thats the animal you want. Plus you dont have to pay shipping.

Of course on the other hand, I would have to say that if youre purchasing from someone like Rich Z or Kathy Love, you can be more assured of the quality of the animal youre getting.

If I were in your shoes, I would wait and at least look around at the show near you in June. If you come home and havent seen anything there you want, then you can still buy online from Rich.

Good Luck...

And congratulations on giving in to the addiction!

:cheers:
 
I got mine at a show, but I'll probably get the next one from a local breeder because he has what I want. The snake I got at the show is awesome though, and has great temperament. Good feeder too!
 
Shows versus online

I depends on what morph you are looking for. If you just want a simple, common corn, such as a snow, amel or normal, then a local show will be well stocked and you will not have to pay shipping.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a rare morph, and therefore a more expensive snake, then the breeder is probably a better bet. This becomes even more relevant if you are looking to buy "het" animal. Goin through a respected breeder will ensure that you get what you pay for.
 
A few ideas...

isis11,

Not knocking Rich Z at SerpenCo., (I've got an order from him coming today) but you may look at Cathy Love's site:

http://www.cornutopia.com

She has not only written the Corn Snake Manual she has quality animals too.

You could also see if any other people around you would be interested in ordering something with you to make Rich's minimum for his sale.

...Or you could post an add under wanted snakes on this site and see if anyone has what you are looking for.

Good luck
 
hey there from sf

Hey isis, I'm also in San Fran and I'm looking to buy my first corn! where is that local pet shop you mentioned? I was planning on going to the East Bay Vivarium but if you know a better/closer place let me know ( they look good to me online but I haven't been there yet)
 
I would wait and buy a corn from a show or online from a reputable breeder instead of paying pet store prices. My local pet store sells amel. corns like mine for $70! I paid $24 at the herp show. You could get two or more for what most pet shops sell their snakes for.
 
I second that Meg! The reptile store here sells are of the "common" varieties (normal, amel, snow, anery, etc.) for around $100. Pet stores are WAY overpriced, and the snakes are often not in the best condition.
 
I have bought at shows and online. If you look carefully at shows you see what you are getting. If you buy from someone with a known good reputation online you get a great snake too. I have been extremely happy with all my purchases.

I went into a local petstore yesterday for the first time. Uggg. Tiny hatchling corns, all in one cage, lying next to a regurgitated mouse with poop on it, and they wanted $119.98 for each corn. Even the common morphs.

I left before I threw up. And I'm not even going to tell you about the other herp cages there.

Skye
 
I agree that pet stores aren't usually the way to go, with some exceptions. I'll be getting a shipment of an anery on tuesday, from Sean at www.vmsherp.com . I asked about him on the BOI and he came reccomended, he's seeing some 03's. Not to knock anyone else's business - just there are lots of breeders out there so it's really up to you for where to get it. Also shipping can seriously up the price of the animal. (I'm not lucky enough to get any reptile shows near enough for me to go to)

Hey, good luck with your search~
 
I got one from a show and one from a reptile store. The reptile store I go to has desent prices.
Amel 24.99
sunglow 34.99

Not sure about the others but those are about right.

I actully paid more for my sunglow at a show. But i fell in love with him so whats 5 bucks???

I've found that if you buy at a store you arn't getting the personal information that some breeders can give. i.e. with my sunglow i got a detailed record of feeding shedings and hatch date. Not to mention that they had history of parents ect ect...
My amel is a different story I have no info on him.
 
My local pet shop keeps their snakes in really nice conditions, so I can't knock them there, and they purchase from a local breeder. My only complaint is the price. I actually saw far worse conditions in a Reptile store, than in my local general pet store. I would love to take over that reptile place, and teach them how to clean vivs!
 
SF Stuff!

Hey Moonshadow,

The EBViv is a great store (was actually there a week or two ago) and they have some corns, about four or five morphs. Cool place to visit nonetheless. There are two reptile stores on Judah St. in SF. They are both about the same distance from Sunset, but on different sides. The one on the beach side of sunset is where I got my two corns almost 4 years ago. Kinda nasty place, snakes way in the back, and the snakes were overpriced, but completely healthy. The store on the other side is much nicer, very helpful staff, and is where I get their food, they have a small selection, but again are more expensive than online breeders. There will be a reptile show at the San Mateo County Fairground on June 12th and 13th, so I'm going to hold off buying anything until then.

Congrats on deciding to get that first corn, but beware, they are very addictive! Let me know if you have any questions; I’d be happy to answer them for you.
 
Thanks isis11! :D I'm planning on going down to the EBV today but I'd love to know more about those two stores in SF! Is one of them called the Animal Connection? I was there the other day and their snakes looked good, but as you said they were overpriced and they only had amels, anerys and snows. But they were very helpful and I will probably buy my mice there. Which is the other store? :)
 
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