Corn snakes? Good pet?

[Lovemusic33]

Not sure if anyone remembers my posts about our rescue dog that had to go back to the rescue but some of you may.

At the moment we can not have a dog, dd has developed a fear since the rescue dog went for her and my cat clearly won’t except a dog into the house. My eldest daughter wants to get a family pet and is upset that we can’t get a dog. I grew up with various pets including a snake and would love to have one, dd1 is also keen. Do corn snakes make good pets? Are they good to handle? Also what size vivarium would we need? (Unsure if we have enough space). Dd1 has done a bit of research and probably knows more than me.

[mrgrtt123]

I am honestly not a fan of a snake but if that's what you prefer then you can get one. Please refer to this forum if you need help, I saw it on the internet and I am sure that the member of this community will be able to help you with regards to your concern.

www.cornsnakes.com/

We only have a Paracanthurus at home as my little girl wants a fish. We are currently on a tight budget so we decided to get this biobubble terrarium online.

www.petstreetmall.com/BioBubble/5724.html

[Lovemusic33]

Thank you, we have managed to buy a vivarium online with all the extra bits, went for a 3ft set up which I hope will be big enough. Hopefully getting a snake at the weekend.

[bluebluezoo]

I grew up with various pets including a snake and would love to have one, dd1 is also keen

You say you grew up with snake(s). Don’t you remember what they are like as pets?

went for a 3ft set up which I hope will be big enough

Hoping a pet environment is big enough isn’t responsible. Do your research and make sure it is big enough.

Personally I think reptiles and fish need specialist owners. They aren’t “pets”, they’re an interest.

You might be better looking at rats if you want more of an interactive “pet”. They do need big enclosures though.

[Windydaysuponus]

Ds got his corn snake when he was 2! Elvis is now 9!!
You do know you have to feed them defrosted mice?
You need to handle them regularly from small - like holding a feisty worm!!
Nobody has been bitten and she is great to watch. We have put a few of ds's toy tractors in her tank! And a cave over a heat mat and a water bowl. She doesn't like soaking but some do in a bigger bowl.
Aspen is cheap ish for bedding!
Watching it shed and eat is amazing!

[Lovemusic33]

blue yes I remember well but we had a python, a bit different to a corn snake. I have done some research but seem to get mixed views on the tank size, I went for a set up that stated “suitable for a fully grown corn snake” so I’m hoping it is, obviously the snake will be tiny when we get it as we are getting a baby so if it outgrows the set up we will buy bigger but was hoping to get it right first time and not have to spend more money.

Obviously things have changed in the past 25 years since I had a snake and snakes are no longer a rare pet so I was wondering if it’s easier to buy food/mice and wether advice had changed in living conditions.

[LochJessMonster]

I mean, you can't cuddle or pet a snake. They aren't great for children imo. They are sensitive and need careful handling.

[Lovemusic33]

My kids don’t really do cuddling though snakes can be handled. I used to kiss my pet snake when I was a kid.

[Wolfiefan]

I really wouldn’t be buying any pet for a child. But most certainly not one that requires such specialist care.

[Lovemusic33]

They are teenagers so not small children, technically it will be my snake but they will be involved (it’s more for me).

[Wolfiefan]

But if it’s what you want then why haven’t you done all the research? You need to be fully prepared before bringing any pet home.

[Lovemusic33]

wolf I posted the OP a few days ago asking for advice, no one answered so I did my own research. I already have some experience, I just wanted to ask if things were still the same regarding set up but no one answered until today. In the last 2 days I have spent hours researching on other sites as has dd1 and we purchased the set up, we will also be speaking advice from the place we are buying the snake from. So we are now getting a snake. Was hoping to hear from other people who own them.

[IfIShouldFallFromGraceWithGod]

We decided on a royal python as they are more lazy and slower moving
I buy mice online, at specialist pet shops or pets at home
The heat and humidity need to be right, other than that they are easy to look after. He has a ceramic heat light with a cage around it. Don't get a heat mat, they can burn them

[gamerchick]

We have a corn, they aren't like pythons. It's like trying to hold hyperactive water. If you're getting a baby then you'll need a small starter tank. A 3 ft tank won't hold it for ever either. Maybe 3 ft in depth. Get a tank lock as they're masters of getting the door open.

[Lovemusic33]

The set up we bought has a slot underneath the glass for a heat mat (the mat came with the vivarium) is this still risky? I have a thermostat which came with it too. I love pythons and boas but we don’t have the space for something that grows so huge, the one we had when we were kids had a huge set up in our living room but eventually got too big and we had to give it to a local zoo.

[IfIShouldFallFromGraceWithGod]

Supposedly pythons don't like space
Males when fully grown 4ft viv. Ours is in a 3 as he is young.
Everything is very slow. He is fed every 4-5 days. Watching him strike and eat is fascinating. He nerds to be left for 2 days to digest
He only poos when he sheds, every few weeks

[Lovemusic33]

So a corn snake should have plenty of room in a 3ft?

I remember feeding time we'll with our python, people used to come over to watch, we also had a list of people waiting for him to shed so they could have the skin.

I'm excited about owning my own snake, apparently corn snakes are the friendliest of snakes and easiest to look after?

Do you buy mice/rats in bulk and just keep a few months supply in the freezer?

[friskybivalves]

Our friends' corn snake is the great escapologist. Once went up the chimney and emerged in the neighbours house - they were pretty startled.
Then escaped and went to live under the dishwasher. Has now escaped for the third time And they know not where.

[Fortheloveofscience]

He has a ceramic heat light with a cage around it. Don't get a heat mat, they can burn them

I’ve no idea about Royals, but this isn’t true for corns. They are far better off with a thermostatted heat mat than a lamp, they need belly heat to digest and the thermostat control on the mat is more accurate.

I adore my little corn snake (not so little any more, he’s 8 and I’ve had him from a tiny worm). They are wriggly but tend to get used to being handled and just chill and coil round your hand quite quickly.

You can’t put a baby corn into a full size viv, you’re better off buying a biggish plastic box with a lockable lid - the reptile forums call then RUBs. There’s a couple of good forums that you can use to look at setups suitable for a baby and how/when to adapt it as he grows.

[IfIShouldFallFromGraceWithGod]

I think it's the weight of royals and that they don't like to move much that makes them at risk of burns but I've seen people with corns have lamps too

[Lovemusic33]

Thank you.

The vivarium has a lock on the outside and 2 catches so hopefully he won’t escape 🤣

We have a mat and thermostat, the vivarium has a little slot under the glass for the heat mat.

I have bought a smaller plastic tank for when it’s tiny, will place that inside the vivarium until he/she is bigger? Will this be ok, will the heat still get to it through the glass and plastic? Still unsure if we are getting a baby, sometimes people hand in older snakes to the shop for rehoming so we will be happy to take one of those (if not it will be a tiny baby as they often have a lot in stock).

My parents bought our old python from a dodgy pet shop, he was burnt from the heater in his tank and they felt sorry for him, I got home from school one day to a snake in the living room 🤣, my dad built a large vivarium for him and he grew pretty big.

[Windydaysuponus]

Our heat mat is under the outside of the tank.. Watching a worm turn into a big snake is great - def get a baby! Ours used to wrap round my wrist while I made tea!
Ours has been into dc's schools and to friend's houses for show and tell!
2 classes of nursery dc who apparently hated snakes. All but one dc held her.
Even when I produced our 6 foot corn snake they held him too!
Amazing to change people's perceptions op. Use your snake wisely too!

[Egg]

If you’ve gone for a larger tank be aware that baby corn snakes can fit through the smallest holes (like where the hinges are for the door on the lid)! Whereabouts are you based? There’s a great reptile place near Salisbury.

[Fortheloveofscience]

Will this be ok, will the heat still get to it through the glass and plastic

The important thing is the temperature that the snake’s exposed to, so at the very least you’ll need a decent probe thermometer inside the tank at the warm end and then adjust the stat up or down until the temperature inside is at the optimal 30ish degrees. When I was at the plastic box phase I put the half the box directly on the heat mat and cut an extra hole through the plastic to thread a thermometer through. Obviously not all the plastic tank should be over the heat mat so they have a cold side to self-regulate

[Lovemusic33]

Egg I'm not far from Salisbury, I think I have been to the reptile place bit was a few years ago.

I have a temperature probe and the plastic tank has a tiny hole to put the probe thing through as does the vivarium. I have set it up with the smaller plastic tank inside the vivarium with the heat pad under half the tank. Super excited about getting the snake now.

[cupoftea84]

Tortoises and bearded dragons are tamer alternates