Brought a Corn in from the cold...help!

[RobbinRN]

My sister's family discovered an albino corn snake in their garage trying to get warm. They set it free outside yesterday and it hung around. She called me today because she felt sorry for the little guy. I was actually going to adopt it, but her son thinks my BPs are cool and is interested in keeping him. I agreed to take him for a few weeks to quarantine him and make sure he eats well. He is about 2-1/2 feet long and looks very healthy. I set up my 10-gallon quarantine tank for him and the first thing he did was practically drain the water bowl! Since I have never had a corn, here come the questions

Temperature, humidity and hide requirements (the tank has a UTH) and I put two hides (sorry...leftovers...not identical) and a branch (don't they like to climb more than BPs do?).

What are their light requirements or do they even have any?

Handling and feeding waiting period like BPs? I don't know when he ate last and hate to make him wait a week if it's not truly necessary because he's probably starving. They don't seem to be as shy as BPs. When I do feed him, do you think a hopper is too big for the size I mentioned? Again...2-1/2 feet long and about as big around as a guy's middle finger (maybe an inch diameter). Do any of y'all feed corns F/T?

How old do y'all think one this size might be? How big do they get? Are they relatively easy to keep for an 8-year-old? Of course, if it proves too much for him, I am prepared to adopt him permanently, but my sister and her husband are prepared to help him.

He's really pretty and I'll try to post pics. My nephew has already named him (or her) Slither

If y'all can think of anything else I need to know, please by all means lay it on me. I want to help the little guy and be able to pass all this advice on to my nephew.

Thanks so much!

Robbin

[blackcrystal22]

My sister's family discovered an albino corn snake in their garage trying to get warm. They set it free outside yesterday and it hung around. She called me today because she felt sorry for the little guy. I was actually going to adopt it, but her son thinks my BPs are cool and is interested in keeping him. I agreed to take him for a few weeks to quarantine him and make sure he eats well. He is about 2-1/2 feet long and looks very healthy. I set up my 10-gallon quarantine tank for him and the first thing he did was practically drain the water bowl! Since I have never had a corn, here come the questions

Temperature, humidity and hide requirements (the tank has a UTH) and I put two hides (sorry...leftovers...not identical) and a branch (don't they like to climb more than BPs do?).

What are their light requirements or do they even have any?

Handling and feeding waiting period like BPs? I don't know when he ate last and hate to make him wait a week if it's not truly necessary because he's probably starving. They don't seem to be as shy as BPs. When I do feed him, do you think a hopper is too big for the size I mentioned? Again...2-1/2 feet long and about as big around as a guy's middle finger (maybe an inch diameter). Do any of y'all feed corns F/T?

How old do y'all think one this size might be? How big do they get? Are they relatively easy to keep for an 8-year-old? Of course, if it proves too much for him, I am prepared to adopt him permanently, but my sister and her husband are prepared to help him.

He's really pretty and I'll try to post pics. My nephew has already named him (or her) Slither

If y'all can think of anything else I need to know, please by all means lay it on me. I want to help the little guy and be able to pass all this advice on to my nephew.

Thanks so much!

Robbin

Same handling and feeding wait.
Humidity is fine general household humid with ups before a shed.
Temps, mid 80s ambient, 80-90 warm spot is fine. They are not picky about humidity.

Feeding f/t is fine, if it'll take it. ;]
At that size, an adult mouse (maybe small) sounds like a good prey item. Same thickness as the snake.
They can get 3-4ft depending on the sex, but are relatively easy to care for.
Remember, no sand, pine, or cedar!

[truthsdeceit]

Caresheet here:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules/...warticle&id=12

Things you can't find on said sheet:
The wait period on feeding (to my understanding) is just to make feeding more likely by allowing the animal to de-stress. If you think it's been a while since he's eaten go ahead and try. In my experience corns are very ready feeders. Mines never refused a meal. I feed mostly f/t w/the occasional live mouse.

Follow the body size rule. Feed him a meal no bigger around than the biggest part of his body.

It's probably 2ish, my corn is 1year old and about 2ft long as big around as a mans pinkie, though I've been told he's small for his age. Anyone know?

As far as ease of care. Very easy. Normal in home humidity easy temp gradients, it's a great first snake for a kid.

Good luck, keep us posted.

[mechnut450]

sounds like an real late 06 ore an ealry 07 corn i have 2 07 anda recent rescue that I am guessing about an 06 they close in siz butthe rescue beign a little bigger in diameter. I giving mine either live or ft pinkie rats ( these guys are just about openngi their eyes .. and theyeat then down with notrouble and i feed like this only 7-10 days since he prey pretty big ( it hard to keep the right size on hand.. ) as for the rescue it has yet to eat . so I gognio t try a ft like the previous owner was feedign cause it act scared ofthe live prey.. the ones i got love ot burrow in the aspen so make sure it at least a good inch deep..

[Montessa Python]

Mech,
You won't normally find albino's in the wild, so you might have the family put up flyers or an ad in the paper. SOme one could have lost it and be looking for it.
I would of course not mention the color OR type of snake so they would have to identify it.
I would have your nephew and the family at least attempt to find out who own's the snake.
Its the right thing to do, before naming it and suddenly wanting to keep it.

Carol

[Montessa Python]

Sorry,not you mech nut..
To the OP... You need to have sister and family check with vets, and pet stores and post flyers before claiming this albino corn for their own.
Some one may be missing this snake.

Carol

[wax32]

Caresheet