Please help. Corn snake issue.

[infernalis]

Most female garter snakes only get as big as a 2 foot long piece of garden hose.

I say female, because males are skittish and don't care to be handled, most will musk when picked up, unless handled a lot.

Females on the other hand are big sweethearts and usually tolerate handling very well.

Garter Snakes



and there are morphs too, but they cost a bit more...

[Marica]

I have never had any of my Corns musk, maybe I've been lucky. Our new little Mexican Black Kingsnake (like most Kings and Milks from what I hear) musks every time we take him out of his enclosure and we always have a piece of paper towel handy to wrap him in until he's done. However, after a few moments of protest he settles down and is a pleasure to handle. Here's a link to a list of some Corn Snake Breeders in the US, some of whom may also work with other colubrids such as Milks and Kings. Like others have stated small colubrids are a good choice for your setup and their husbandry requirements are fairly simple compared to other species. Most boas and pythons are going to require an enclosure a lot larger than a 20 gal, and as adults some grow large enough to require an additional person when handling. A quick Google search on most species will get you caresheets on basic information, but it's always good to confirm with actual keepers on forums as there is a lot of incorrect information online.

[NennaMeerkat]

Oh god speaking of musk I think I got a whiff of my hognose musk this morning! Anyways I am thinking my own next snake might be a garter snake. Though would a 40 gallon be to big for a garter? And since they hibernate together does it make them more okay to house together? Probably not.

Anyways not trying to derail another forum but I do think you should get another cornsnake! They were my first snakes and I enjoyed them so much.

[Sapphyr]

Mmk then. I may still consider it if I can find a store that sells a decently priced 30 - 40 gallon tank to move a ball python into later, which I think I did find way before I did get a snake. Redtails and Rainbows would be something I'd consider later in my life.

Tropical species aren't an issue for me, seeing as how I've cared for several tropical lizards and frogs. Have leftover reptibark if it's suitable. It even creates water droplets while sitting in the bag. If reptibark wouldn't be suitable, I'm fine to get something different, no big deal to me. Also got misters and a waterfall deoration that can be used to up humidity if needed. Any thoughts on additional things I may need?

Also, if it needed to be hotter, the bulb may have been to blame. Was using a different one than my usual brand.

Edit: I'd get another corn, but I've always been intrigued by ball pythons, and to a similar extent, milk snakes. Though, if I can find a creamsicle, candycane, reverse oketee, or a silver queen, I may reconsider. At any rate, I used to have a Biology teacher who kept a full grown Ball Python in her classroom. I'd always love to come in after school and just relax in a chair, him over my shoulders. He'd fall asleep at times, I swear. Sweet thing.

[Marica]

If you are willing to look into larger caging in the future, then the 20 gal would be fine for some of the small to medium boas and pythons for the first couple years. My 2 little Dumeril's Boas are in 20L Critter Cages at the moment and I doubt they'll require larger caging for some time.

[Sapphyr]

So it takes a couple of years for them to get passed the 20 gallon mark? If that's the case then I could handle the ones I have in mind, right now I only make about 100 each month on commissions and little tasks until someone hires me for the long term, which by then I'd hope to make around 600 - 700 a month. So, even with the amount I make now, I could definitely save up for a larger tank when they get to the point of needing it. Growth rate would be handym as far as knowing when I should be expecting that point goes. I mean, it's obvious when you compare them, the cage and snake, face to face as an owner, but for future planning it isn't. I like to plan out things before I dive in. As long as they don't grow so quickly that I'd need to buy a tank, passed 20 gallons, for around 3 - 6 months, I'd be fine. If they do grow that quick and you'd recommend stunting growth by restricted feeding, I'd really rather not. I don't think that's all that humane. I do plan on buying a baby, which is why growth rate from 'baby' to 'passed 20 gallons' would be nice to know.

Also forgot to mention above that I have a left over ceramic heating bulb from when I had a Sugarglider. Also, I found Agatha to be very mobile before all of this happened. Always moved. I heard that even the breeder said corn snakes in general are squirrely and pick a direction and go for it. I'd prefer a snake that's pretty mellow in temperament and is cool to just hang around, like my old teacher's ball python.

Also, I looove hognoses. Had no idea they musked, though. I've always been fascinated with how they fake biting, as far as I've observed. I specifically love the albino or orange colored hognoses. As far as price goes, though, aren't they pretty pricey to get from breeders or stores?

[NennaMeerkat]

Also, I looove hognoses. Had no idea they musked, though. I've always been fascinated with how they fake biting, as far as I've observed. I specifically love the albino or orange colored hognoses. As far as price goes, though, aren't they pretty pricey to get from breeders or stores?

You won't really see a lot of the behaviors you see in the wild with a bred hognose. The most my little girl does is the smell and it doesn't stick to you or anything but is like this bitter spicy scent that they have on them. I think that paired up with the "playing dead" act they are supposed to do makes for something that you don't want to eat...if you were a predator that is. I know they also flatten out their heads like a cobra and hiss along with rattling their tails to mimic a rattlesnake. But as I said before a hognose that has been hand raised and not harassed isn't going to do it. The "fake biting" isn't always that since they like to burrow and they will try to burrow into anything. My little girl often tries to do it to my shirt or my jeans.

Anyways hognose even full grown fit nicely in a 20 gallon and are easy to take care of like a corn snake. So your aspen and hides would work nicely. I think needed temps are the same as well (never good about exact temps). When we went to an expo to get ours they had many different sizes and both genders. Ranged from 65 for the smallest to 85 for the largest...which is what we got. The only thing I can say is sometimes hognose are picky eaters and may not easily eat even after settling in. So you have to work to find what conditions they like to eat. Mine won't eat if her lamp isn't on, if it isn't daytime, and if she hasn't been moving around already. She also won't eat if she isn't in her home. And if you move around while she is eating she will retreat and just give up on it. So yeah once a week I am perched in front of her home until she gets done eating her two pinkies in fear that I could discourage her from eating...oh and I have yet to get her to eat anything but live.

Our girl is normal colored keep in mind, not sure how much an albino or almenistic would cost. Though to me they are like a BP when it comes to being normal colored...they already have such dynamic markings.

[serpentshideawa]

i good place to look at hognose morph pricing would be BHB reptiles

[serpentshideawa]

ok i dont know why its talking about a canadian drugstore but it still takes you to bhb enterprises

[infernalis]

Anyone who saw this before I edited it...

Please NEVER take matters in your own hands.. If anyone sees a questionable post of any kind, please PM me with a link to the post.

[Sapphyr]

Oh I looove BHB reptiles. I've been watching their Snakebytes channel on Youtube for several months, absolutely love it, and the 'fake biting' tid bit is from them, actually. Brian was showing off one of his and it kept tapping its flat nose against his fingers.

At any rate, I'm kind of skeptical about this upcoming expo as far as variety goes. Then again, the one Agatha was bought at even had Silver Queen morphs, Blopals, etc. and I'm certain it was held in a smaller city than ours. So, maybe there'll be more variety to pick from than I'd think, we'll just see.

Also, my question wasn't answered about if a baby would surpass a 20 gallon long tank in 3 to 6 months, as far as ball pythons go.

[serpentshideawa]

let me see if i can remember lol i dont think so but i could be wrong im not a big bp fan i prefer boas amongst other larger boids

[infernalis]

Someone should contact them, a quick HTML edit on their page will fix the bogus Viagra link.

[Sapphyr]

Originally Posted by infernalis

Someone should contact them, a quick HTML edit on their page will fix the bogus Viagra link.

I didn't get any spam, oddly.

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by Sapphyr

I didn't get any spam, oddly.

Because I used the "magic moderator edit button" to fix the link so it no longer says anything about Viagra.