I lost a snake...

Originally Posted by tsolomon

My preferred caging method was sweater boxes mounted in a rack system where the top of the shelf was tight enough to make sure they couldn't escape. I would use heat mats on the back 1/3 of the shelf for heat. They need a cooler spot to move to, so flourescents lights are better than heat lamps which can overheat the whole cage.

That works for a breeding population, but if you're looking to display an animal, it won't help all that much, honestly, which is what it sounds like he wants to do.

Snakes get their calcium from the prey items they ingest (rodents, etc), unlike most lizards (the insect and veggie eaters), so the lighting isn't critical. Fluorescents can be great for being able to bring out some colors, especially with something like a brazilian rainbow boa (my dream snake). If the cage is large enough, a heat lamp/spot bulb is fine, and gives a more natural feel to the heating spot. Though I will say that I use undertank heaters for my corns and Dumeril's. They need those heated places to aid in digestion.

Originally Posted by Blueface

I am not up on snakes so was interested in seeing what a "corn" snake is.
Good looking creature.

...and they're native to Florida. The premier corn snake breeder is still there, if I'm not mistaken. Bill and Kathy Love wrote the book on corns.

[smokeyandthebandit05]

I have a question about feeding. When I buy pinkies Im assuming they are just mice right? I know a guy whos daughter has gerbils and they are reproducing like crazy and Im curious if I can feed the baby gerbils to the snake?

Originally Posted by smokeyandthebandit05

I have a question about feeding. When I buy pinkies Im assuming they are just mice right? I know a guy whos daughter has gerbils and they are reproducing like crazy and Im curious if I can feed the baby gerbils to the snake?

The problem with feeding it gerbil pinkies is that they can associate the smell of gerbils and not mice with food, and refuse to eat mice, in which case, scenting would be needed to get it to eat mice again. That being said, in general, corns are not considered to be picky eaters, but unless you have a constant supply of gerbils, I'd recommend against it, just in case.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by Wanger

The problem with feeding it gerbil pinkies is that they can associate the smell of gerbils and not mice with food, and refuse to eat mice, in which case, scenting would be needed to get it to eat mice again. That being said, in general, corns are not considered to be picky eaters, but unless you have a constant supply of gerbils, I'd recommend against it, just in case.

I hear there are plenty of gerbils to be found in Fire Island.

Originally Posted by Wanger

The problem with feeding it gerbil pinkies is that they can associate the smell of gerbils and not mice with food, and refuse to eat mice, in which case, scenting would be needed to get it to eat mice again. That being said, in general, corns are not considered to be picky eaters, but unless you have a constant supply of gerbils, I'd recommend against it, just in case.

corns will eat any rodent really lol there not pickie some snakes are i dont think i have ever seen a pickie corn lol

[tsolomon]

Originally Posted by Wanger

That works for a breeding population, but if you're looking to display an animal, it won't help all that much, honestly, which is what it sounds like he wants to do.
...and they're native to Florida. The premier corn snake breeder is still there, if I'm not mistaken. Bill and Kathy Love wrote the book on corns.

Just about all of my corns came from Bill and Kathy and they did write the book on corns, but that was many years ago. At that time, I was breeding and raising Bearded Dragons and Old World chameleons, but my daughter wanted a snake to cuddle with and corns were good starter snakes. As for housing them, I guess with all the cages and aquariums already around the house, there just wasn't any room left to display the corns. I not only had the reptiles, but all the crickets, superworms and flies to feed them, I was a bug farmer as well.

Originally Posted by tsolomon

Just about all of my corns came from Bill and Kathy and they did write the book on corns, but that was many years ago. At that time, I was breeding and raising Bearded Dragons and Old World chameleons, but my daughter wanted a snake to cuddle with and corns were good starter snakes. As for housing them, I guess with all the cages and aquariums already around the house, there just wasn't any room left to display the corns. I not only had the reptiles, but all the crickets, superworms and flies to feed them, I was a bug farmer as well.

Awesome. I used to have Leopard Geckos and a couple Veileds. Had an opportunity several years ago to get a beautiful Panther (didn't know the locality) for $100, but didn't pull the trigger, and I'm still kicking myself about that one.

As of right now, all I have are a pair of corns, a Dumeril's ground (from the Bean Farm, who are friends of mine), and a Green Tree Python (from Signal Herp). Check this out for a few pics of some of the things I have/had and such.