Hi,

We are new to having a snake. We have had it about 3 weeks now. Last night it ate a pinky fine... but this am the pinky was back out. Just wondering why? I THINK its starting to shed because I can see the eyes appear a bit milky... could this be why?

When should we try feeding it again?

Also, I need to change the shavings. Is it OK to handle the snake now? If its shedding is it more prone to bite me? Lol

Thanks!

I presume the corn snake to be young... probably less than 3-4 months. Is that right?

Don't worry yet about why he puked.

And don't worry about handling it. You've not had it long enough to know it's temperament, so you cannot be sure if it will bite you or not.

If it does, it will be no worse than a nip from a cat or dog.

1. Handle him (hold him, stroke him, etc.) frequently so that he knows you well.
2. Yes, clean out his cage now.
3. Try another pinky in a few days.

Thanks Rick.

I would say, yes. She is about that old(she about 1 1/2 ft long)... we were told to wait a few weeks before handling so she could get used to the new home. So, I figured nows a good time to start.

She moves away from my hand but has not tried to strike me at all so Im hoping there won't be any biting lol.

What about the shedding? Any advice?

Thanks again! Im sure I'll have more questions!

I FULLY disagree with the idea of waiting before handling.

The sooner you handle her the sooner she will get to know you.

So YES, now is a great time to start.

Do NOT touch her head. She instinctively protects her eyes (which have no lids), so for now just hold her and stroke her from near her head to towards her tail. And breath into her face so that she can catch your scent (she has no "nose" but will get your scent when she flicks out her tongue).

Shedding advice? There is no advice, really. She will shed when she's ready to shed. You don't have to go in and get every piece when a piece comes off, but when a bunch comes off, get her out and clean her home well (with bleach - and rinse WELL).

OK great.

Bleach! Really! I would never have known to use bleach to clean it.. just would have used water... my instinct wouldve been to leave her "scent" in the tank. All right sounds good.

Thank you Rick!

Yes, use Bleach - and rinse WELL :)

Here's some info I found on shedding for you. Maybe it will help in some way.

Snakes normally shed their skin in one piece. This may occur from 4 to 12 times a year, with young, rapidly growing snakes shedding more frequently. Snakes lack eyelids, and instead have a clear scale called the spectacle to cover and protect the eye. During ecdysis the dead outer layer of the spectacle is shed. The lining of the heat-sensitive pits on the face of certain boas, pythons, and pit vipers, and the outer layer of the spurs on boas and pythons are also shed at the same time as the skin. The dead layer of skin from the points of the forked tongue sloughs are the length of one fork of the tongue, pointed on one end and flat on the other, and appear somewhat worm-like. They are usually found in the water bowl, but may be seen elsewhere in the cage.

As a snake approaches ecdysis, the skin pattern becomes dull and dark. A milky appearance is seen on the belly scutes of some species and the spectacles become milky white, obscuring vision. A snake in this condition is said to be "opaque". During this time the old layer of skin is fragile and tears easily, but the new skin underneath isn't mature yet. To avoid damage and possible scarring, handling should be avoided and care should be taken to be gentle if handling becomes necessary. Opaque snakes normally become inactive and hide, are quite irritable, and refuse to eat. A snake typically remains opaque for about 4 to 7 days after that. Snakes shed by rubbing their nose over the head and neck, turning inside out as the snake crawls out of it. The skin normally comes off in one piece. Placing a rock, brick, branch, or log in the cage may assist the snake by giving it something rough against which it can rub, but most snakes in plain cages seem to have o trouble shedding their skin.

If the skin fails to come off in one piece, the condition is called dysecdysis. A snake with this should be soaked in shallow lukewarm water for 30 to 60 minutes, then all the remaining dead skin should be manually removed. Snakes can drown when confined in a container with deep water, so exercise caution. An alternative to soaking is to confine the affected snake overnight in a thoroughly wetted cloth bag.

All shed skins should be inspected to make sure the spectacles came off with the rest of the skin. Retained spectacles should be removed by gentle rubbing with a cotton swab after soaking or bagging as indicated above. Inexperienced people should never try to remove the spectacles with forceps since sometimes the entire spectacle, rather than just the dead layer is inadvertently removed. This causes corneal exposure and can cause blindness. Sometimes, the last half inch of skin on the tail tip fails to come off. If left on, it will shrink as it dries, cutting off the blood supply to the tail tip which then dries up and falls off. This piece of skin should also be gently removed after soaking.

Shedding problems are more frequent in the winter when dry heat is used and there is a lack of humidity. Humidity can be measured with an inexpensive hygrometer and a humidity of 50 to 60% is recommended. A "humidity box" should be placed in the cage of snakes in dry conditions or those with a history of shedding problems. Use a plastic food storage, shoe or sweater box of appropriate size for the snake. Cut an entry hole in the lid of the box and fill it with damp but not wet sphagnum moss from a plant nursery. If the moss drips when it is wrung out it is too wet. Additional water may have to be added to the moss as evaporation occurs. The snake will use the box as a hiding place.

Awesome inof Silverfox. THANK you.

Well, she shed already... yesterday. Did it in only a few minutes. Amazing.

Rick, you'll be happy to know we have successfully picked her up and held her... 15 minutes yetserday, 45 today. She seemed to really enjoy it! No nipping, no issues whatsover! So exciting!

Now today, after holding her for a while. We gave her a pinky and she snapped it right up. Tank is cleaned/bleached and all fresh for her.

Thank you both for the info/advice. I NEVER thought I would EVER let a snake in the house (you do anything for your kids huh lol) but I REALLY like it. Its very cool! Can't wait to hold her again.


1 more question... after they eat, my guess is handling should be avoided. But for how long? A day?

OK, well, it did it again...

I just found the leftovers of the pinky she ate yesterday.

What to do now?

Digging around the net, it seem that we should wait 1 week before feeding again?
And, how often should she eat? Every 3 days? 4 days? (I see different info everywhere lol)

I'm sorry to say but I do not know. I'm going through similar with my Ball Python. S/he has not eaten at all (won't even try) for 2 months now.

A local snake breeder told me my Ball Python of 3 yrs can go 6 or more months without eating... but I'd think that a young corn snake should not go so long...

... so the best that I can advise is to call a local pet store to ask for their advice.

Or if you want to call my local snake breeder, here's their website: Captive Born Reptiles

My son says, yeah.. that's true about pythons.. lol (not sure how he knows. Always amazes me!)

Anyway, I'll call the guy we got it from. He breeds them as well.

Thanks again... good luck with your python.

How's he doing? Has he eaten since your last post?

THanks for asking... SHE (lol) is doing OK. She threw up again but this last time (with just the head of the pinky) she kept it down. Thank god, I didn't want to get into all the drops and stuff. She ate Friday, so I think I'll give her another "head" tonight. Bleh... its nasty thawing out just a head... LOL

How's your snake? Did you get him/her to eat yet?

What I did was added a hiding spot where I moved most of the bark out from so she could get really warm if needed... seemed to help her

Yay! :)

As for my snake, no, he has not eaten yet. It's been 4-5 months now.

I'll keep trying every 7-10 days.

Well I hope eats soon! Good luck.. and Thanks!