PLEASE NOTE
The information on the BambooZoo site is as much as 10 years old and in the hobby much has been learned. Though, I believe there is merit in keeping the site open. There are many controversial issues presented in these pages. Please view BambooZoo as a starting point in your research.
These beings are as complicated as we are and deserve more than a basic 5 paragraph care sheet to maintain their health and well being.
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CORN SNAKE BASIC CARE
Congratulations on your new cornsnake. He will live up to 12 years. It not unusual for them live much longer than that though.
You've just got your corn home and everyone wants to handle him and show him off right? The best thing to do is leave him for a day and let him settle into his new enclosure. Don't panic if he just settles into a hide and doesn't come out all night. This isn't unusual.
You've just got your corn home and everyone wants to handle him and show him off right? The best thing to do is leave him for a day and let him settle into his new enclosure. Don't panic if he just settles into a hide and doesn't come out all night. This isn't unusual.
HOUSING
Hatchling corns get stressed if they're kept in too big a vivarium or tub. The best way to house a corn is in a plastic tub or pet shop bought plastic vivarium. I keep my hatchling and young corns in somthing called a really useful box, it's a plastic storage box found in most shops, like Staples, Argos and Tesco. It's the same principle as the pet shop ones but at half the pirce. As corns require no special lighting a simple heat mat will be all it needs to keep its body heat up. Place the heat mat at one end of the tub (underneath the container not inside it) and keep the temps at around low end 75 – 80 degrees f high end low to mid 80F. A thermostat should always be used to help you keep the temps at the required amount. These are available at most rep shops and are easy enough to set up. You can use Kitchen roll, newspaper, aspen bedding or wood chips for your corns substrate. Its easier to keep a vivarium clean with kitchen towels and newspaper but some people prefer their viv to look natural. I have also found that corns love to burrow in the aspen and wood chips.
The vivairium can have as much decoration inside as your like but the basic requirements are:
2 x Hides - one at the cool end and one at the warm end
1 x water bowl - placed in the cool end
As long as you have these your corn will be happy enough in his new home.
Hatchling corns get stressed if they're kept in too big a vivarium or tub. The best way to house a corn is in a plastic tub or pet shop bought plastic vivarium. I keep my hatchling and young corns in somthing called a really useful box, it's a plastic storage box found in most shops, like Staples, Argos and Tesco. It's the same principle as the pet shop ones but at half the pirce. As corns require no special lighting a simple heat mat will be all it needs to keep its body heat up. Place the heat mat at one end of the tub (underneath the container not inside it) and keep the temps at around low end 75 – 80 degrees f high end low to mid 80F. A thermostat should always be used to help you keep the temps at the required amount. These are available at most rep shops and are easy enough to set up. You can use Kitchen roll, newspaper, aspen bedding or wood chips for your corns substrate. Its easier to keep a vivarium clean with kitchen towels and newspaper but some people prefer their viv to look natural. I have also found that corns love to burrow in the aspen and wood chips.
The vivairium can have as much decoration inside as your like but the basic requirements are:
2 x Hides - one at the cool end and one at the warm end
1 x water bowl - placed in the cool end
As long as you have these your corn will be happy enough in his new home.
FEEDING
It has become a resent craze to feed your snake as much as possible so he grows quicker. This can seriously damage your snake! He can become overweight and it may lead to an early death. Over feeding also causes a snake to regurgitate its food and this can result in many problems. I find hatchlings should have one pinky a week. Hatchlings take up to 4 days to digest their food and once a week gives them time to fully digest their meal. Most keepers feed young snakes once a week. Leave a pinky around 4 hours to defrost then you can simply offer to to your snake (by hand or with feeding tongs) or you can place it in the vivarium. Its depends on how confident you are, first time owners usually like to just place the mouse in the vivarium and leave the snake to eat it.
It has become a resent craze to feed your snake as much as possible so he grows quicker. This can seriously damage your snake! He can become overweight and it may lead to an early death. Over feeding also causes a snake to regurgitate its food and this can result in many problems. I find hatchlings should have one pinky a week. Hatchlings take up to 4 days to digest their food and once a week gives them time to fully digest their meal. Most keepers feed young snakes once a week. Leave a pinky around 4 hours to defrost then you can simply offer to to your snake (by hand or with feeding tongs) or you can place it in the vivarium. Its depends on how confident you are, first time owners usually like to just place the mouse in the vivarium and leave the snake to eat it.
Never feed on aspen or wood chip bedding! The substrate will stick to the mouse and if the snake eats it he will be unable to digest it. This will result in inpactation which can result in death. If you use aspen or wood chips bedding simply move the corn into a tub with newspaper or kitchen roll in while he eats. Once finished just pop him back in his vivarium.
It's best to leave him for around 2 days without handling too much. He can become stressed after he has eaten if you handle him and handling make him regurgitate his meal. After around 3 - 4 days they normally poo but some snakes go longer so don't worry if its a week or more later.
GENERAL CARE
Cornsnakes on a whole are normaly very docile, healthy and make brilliant pets. There are a few things that you can do to help your new pet stay healthy.
Always take care when handling your snake. A gentel but firm grip is the best way to describe how to hold him. Don't drop him from a height or leave youNg children unsupervised with him. A bit of common sense is all it takes.
It's best to leave him for around 2 days without handling too much. He can become stressed after he has eaten if you handle him and handling make him regurgitate his meal. After around 3 - 4 days they normally poo but some snakes go longer so don't worry if its a week or more later.
GENERAL CARE
Cornsnakes on a whole are normaly very docile, healthy and make brilliant pets. There are a few things that you can do to help your new pet stay healthy.
Always take care when handling your snake. A gentel but firm grip is the best way to describe how to hold him. Don't drop him from a height or leave youNg children unsupervised with him. A bit of common sense is all it takes.
Water bowls should be changed everyday. Poo's should be clean when you see them do it. It's easier to do with a scoop of some sort. The whole vivarium and all hides and branchs should have a good wash once a month. Your corn may poo on their fake plants and things so its best to just make sure their all disinfected too. Hot soapy water and a good rinse is adaquate.
Snakes are always growing, a hatchling snake will shed it's skin as it grows. Hence the reason they shed alot more when their younger. When a snake is due to shed its's skin its eyes will go cloudy. When you see this it's best to spray your snakes viv once a day with a spray bottle. Most corns enjoy a good misting of the viv. The aim is to have a light spraying of water. Once his eyes go clear he'll shed his skin. Normally you'll wake up and find his skin in one long piece but if it's in bits check him over and make sure he has no bit left on him. The end of the tail is a common one. If theres some left on, spray him and gently rub it off. If it still hasn't come off then try sitting with him in a small container of water and slowly try again.
As your snake grows he will require a bigger vivarium. A 3ft long vivarium is the minimum size you should keep an adult corn in. Cornsnakes can reach 5ft so the vivarium should be minimum 18inch tall and deep. This will alow your cornsnake enough room.
As your snake grows he will require a bigger vivarium. A 3ft long vivarium is the minimum size you should keep an adult corn in. Cornsnakes can reach 5ft so the vivarium should be minimum 18inch tall and deep. This will alow your cornsnake enough room.
Good luck with your new cornsnake. Heres to many happy years together.