Corn Troubles

Just got a call from my boss and we had a person show up a work with a "looks like a corn-snake" (I haven't seen it yet and can't yet verify species, still waiting on a picture) that they were going to turn loose outside if we didn't take it from them. I'm off today but will be going in to check it out and help get the husbandry set up in the clinic. For health issues I would assume they act the same with RI and mites as a ball python?

I don't know how big it is yet - but I'm guessing small rats are not something a corn of any size can handle...so I would guess that mice would be in order.

I'm going to do some quick husbandry research but any quick tips would be greatly appreciated.

So I guess I will be taking care of our new clinic pet lol. I don't think all of the clients will be as ok with it sleeping on the bench in the lobby like our house cats do :/

From my experience, corns are easy to care fore and generally easy to handle. Put it up on display in the lobby and most will enjoy it as well.

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Originally Posted by Skyrivers

From my experience, corns are easy to care fore and generally easy to handle. Put it up on display in the lobby and most will enjoy it as well.

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Yep

Generally lovely temperament, quite active compared to some ..


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Corns are great. Easy to take care of and usually good temperaments. He’ll like it a bit cooler than BPs, and will be much more active and fun to watch lol.


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Corn snakes are pretty easy...feed mice of appropriate size, normally take f/t easily; humidity not usually an issue though they love a humid hide, & need
way less heat than BPs & boas. They like "room temperatures" (70-80*) with a UTH in one corner at 86*+/-. They also like to climb & will use branches...
while I prefer to use UTH, you could also do a set-up with an overhead light for warmth instead. Yes, issues like R.I. or mites are the same as with other
snakes. No, please don't leave it "on the bench" to be a cat-toy. :colbert: (BTW, good ventilation is best for corns...glass tanks w/ screen top recommended, &
they'll use both a warm & cool side 'hide' in cage.)

Thanks for all the replies. Haven't gone in yet - hopefully I can convince the practice owner to let me keep it long enough to pass a standard QT and have it eating well before finding a home (or rather keeping it for good lol - trying to convince them we need a good reptile vet anyway)

If you do put it in a glass tank with screen lid make sure you use locking clamps. A corn can push a screen lid off.

going to check it out now - fingers crossed it's not an abuse case

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Originally Posted by 67temp

If you do put it in a glass tank with screen lid make sure you use locking clamps. A corn can push a screen lid off.

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Yeah, that goes without saying! They climb well, are active and small enough to slip out any weak spots.

I hope this snake is healthy too & not an "abuse" case.

OK, so boss said no to keeping her at the clinic due to several employees who "fear" snakes....so, I'll be taking her home. She (just a guess) is about 5.3 ft and 830 grams, very skinny, incomplete shed (thankfully head and eyes are clear). She is covered in scars around her face and head, so I'm guessing she was fed live, and the tank she came in is full of poo and urine and mold from the water bowl. No sign of mites or infection, mouth is surprisingly clear. Have a vet visit this weekend.

She is calm but defiantly seems hunger driven towards movement, that tank looks like a 55 short? too big to be a 40gal breeder and too small for a 75 gal and has locking lid. Also heat is unregulated heat mat and 150 watt red bulb - both are going in the trash. I've got a spare dome lamp and ceramic bulb on a dimmer - running out to get a thermostat and new hides/substrate.



Hopefully she is hungry enough to eat f/t, but she's so skinny I'm not going to try and wait her out at this point. **But here's my concern - with my ball I waited 2 weeks for him to adjust before feeding, and while not in immanent danger of dying of starvation - I would like to try and get food into her. Should I wait though? I'm going to be changing a lot today (bedding, giving new hides, new water bowl, new everything) and I don't want to add regurge to the list of things to worry about.

also - would giving her a wipe down with reptile spray do anything for unseen mites? I've only used it once or twice on wild turtles that came in for rehab. and don't have any prevent a mite (as this was not expected)

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/imag...EBAQEBAQf/2Q==

I would defiantly wipe down with reptile spray. Dont forget this isn't a ball, their body shape is different, 800+g is pretty large for a corn. Most Corns are breeding weight over 300g.

Post up some pics!

I wouldn't worry too much about feeding right away either.
At 800 grams that's a good size corn. I would give it a few days, and if it were me offer over the weekend. Most corns are great eaters and if she's a bit thin shell fill out in no time. I would offer an adult mouse every 7 days and she'll be fine.

It's up to you about the reptile (mite) spray, I've never had to use it (so I'm not familiar with any downsides). Personally, I'd feed her f/t in about a day...I'll
bet she takes it happily from tongs with a slight wiggle. You don't have to heat it with a hair-dryer either. Poor snake, thank you for helping her.

(her cage sounds really gross, other than the overall size)

Once you get her cage all clean & set up (include a humid-hide), the reason I'd feed her & not worry about a regurge is that she's acting hungry, and she's
already survived the mess she's been in. Once you then feed her, let her have nothing but peace & quiet for a week... she'll surprise you with her resilience.

Thanks guys. She was being fed 1-4 mice of unknown size once a month or when the previous owner "remembered".

For anyone who has used the reptile spray - can you also spray down the cage (without water bowl in it) and let it dry? I've only every applied directly to animals at the clinic - so their cages were not with them. She is currently in a pillow case in a box while I disinfect everything with chlorhexidine solution so I have time to run out and pick up the spray

By the way, my advice (above) is not the same I'd generally give to any new snake owner, but you're very experienced & it's what I'd personally do.

Regarding that mite spray, surely the label should answer your question? I would think that if it's safe enough to apply TO the reptile, it would be
even more so to use on the cage as you're considering (unless the double-exposure is just too much?). Hard for me to say as I don't know what's
in it.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

By the way, my advice (above) is not the same I'd generally give to any new snake owner, but you're very experienced & it's what I'd personally do.

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Yeah, thanks. I'm hoping she perks up - other than the shed and thinness she's not in too bad of shape. My boss wants to take her but absolutely won't feed live. So she's mine until I can get her swapped over.

I need to get my own bottle - the one we have at the clinic is a refill bottle from our one vet with a bearded dragon, so I haven't seen the label :/
I'm going to run out to the store while her tank is drying. Hopefully I'll get some pics up of her later once the stuck shed is off. The only reason she's in a damp pillowcase in a tub is because its stuck around the tip of the tail and I need to make sure there isn't a wound under it

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

Yeah, thanks. I'm hoping she perks up - other than the shed and thinness she's not in too bad of shape. My boss wants to take her but absolutely won't feed live. So she's mine until I can get her swapped over.

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In that case, don't get "too comfortable" keeping her...;) I predict she'll be relieved to grab a dead mouse.

Should have known...just finished putting all the clamps on the lid and getting ready to clean up from starting QT...and she takes a dump
but at least I can send the fecal out tomorrow, so a silver lining? I guess.

It never fails, no better "inspiration" than a clean cage! :rofl:

Here's the only pic I have so far - from before I cleaned her cage, she's wedged between the glass and a brick that was in the cage. I'll get better ones once she settles in. Also got the full story, she's supposedly around 9 years old, was the typical kid wanted a snake then grew up and moved out - couldn't take the snake and dad was fed up with (not) taking care of it. So today he tried to take her to one of the local shelters (this one only does dogs and cats btw) and when they turned him down he drove down the block to our clinic and said take it or I'm turning it loose.

So without further ado here is Senorita Rosalita del Maiz (fiance named her not me)

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/450442571596955653/479094440217018376/image.jpg

Pretty gal...sad that she outlived her young owner's enthusiasm, but not surprising either, especially if the parents & rest of the family weren't enthused.

I can't tell much from photo but so happy she's in good hands at last. Nine years isn't all that "old" for a corn...my oldest currently is 19 years, and I've
had them live into their 20's, though neglect will make a snake "age" faster.

Sorry, late to the party here.

Get a good length and weight on her if you can, and some top down pictures. Corns are not hefty snakes. She may be thin, but a few better pictures and a weight would help.

For reference, my adult male corn snake, Figment, is a good 5ft and "only" 650G. I say only because most corns do not get over 5ft and 650G is a good sized boy, if not a little on the bigger side. Unlike BP's, and most boids I know of, in corns, males are bigger than females (usually).

Anything from room temp (down to about 72F or even 70F) is fine for a cool spot. They do want a hot spot, but no higher than 86F. 82-84F is totally fine. Corns need about 82F to properly digest. Too hot and they won't use the hot spot.

Generally very docile, but also can move a lot and be darty when being handled. Figment is all over the place, but is calm and docile, he just has ADHD. On the other hand, our 3 month old female scaleless corn, is calm as can be. They all have different personalities, but in general, are not as slow moving or even sedentary like many boids can be.

They have faster metabolisms then boids, and usually are fed more often. As adults, males and non-breeding females can be fed every other week an appropriate sized meal. Corns can eat prey up to 1.5 times their diameter, but as adults, I feed enough to leave a small lump and that's it. Baby corns can eat prey close to 20% of their body weight. As adults I keep it under 10% and usually around 6-8%.

If she needs to gain weight, feed weekly, but not bigger meals.

A 4ft corn at over 400G can easily eat a large mouse (20-35G) weekly. They readily accept F/T and have a strong food response.

Additionally, being that their metabolism is faster, they poop more than boids. Figure on a good poop 3-4 days after a meal and probably another one, at least, before the next feeding. Figment eats every other week and poops 2-4 times between meals. Also, they are mouse eaters, and colubrids with quick metabolisms; Figment can clear a room. FYI.

As mentioned, escape proof is must. If they can get their head in, they will either escape or get stuck. They will easily and happily push off a screen top that is not well clipped down.

There a few experienced corn keepers on here, and you have already gotten some good advice.

Keep us in the loop and ask anything you need/want to know. We want the best for your new addition.

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Originally Posted by dakski

Sorry, late to the party here.
Get a good length and weight on her if you can, and some top down pictures. Corns are not hefty snakes. She may be thin, but a few better pictures and a weight would help.
As mentioned, escape proof is must. If they can get their head in, they will either escape or get stuck. They will easily and happily push off a screen top that is not well clipped down.
There a few experienced corn keepers on here, and you have already gotten some good advice.
Keep us in the loop and ask anything you need/want to know. We want the best for your new addition.

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Hey, thanks! Yeah, I think she needs maybe 50-100 g before she looks filled out. I can clearly see and feel her spine, and there is an indent caudally about at the midline of her body. She's definitely not emaciated like some petco balls that I've seen. I'll try and get good pics once she settles in. She is ~5.3ft and is 830 g (0.83 kg). I ordered f/t mice tonight, all the stores around me had were pinks or fuzzies or jumbo rats. If she does not take that I'll go to live. She is very scarred up, so I assume shes only ever had live.
I got 2 extra clamps for the screen so that there are now one on each side and replaced the red "basking light" with a CHE on a thermostat. Tonight might well be the first dark night she's ever had for all I know.
She has been exploring all her new hides and climbing all over the cage. She seems fascinated with the moist moss hide. keeps sticking her head in it but trying not to let her belly drag through it, I don't think she's had one of those either. Also, the stuck shed on her tail came off and there is nothing wound related underneath so that's a plus.

She is surprisingly handle-able as well. Let me pull back her gums and look in her mouth, I can touch her head and pick her up without so much as a flinch. At least the kid must have done something with her at one point.

Wait - males are larger? so, princess may be a prince then... not that they know their names

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

Wait - males are larger? so, princess may be a prince then... not that they know their names

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My four unbred 10-year olds (2.2) are all of similar size, but my 19-year old is a male & a good 5'+ as well.

Similar thing with my unbred 2.2 Florida rat snakes, but with them, there's a logical reason: every year, both females lay infertile eggs- about 2 dozen in the first
clutch, & far fewer in the 2nd clutch. The gals waste so much energy producing all those eggs, they stay way smaller than the males. The males are just about 7',
while the females are only about 5'. My corn snakes, so far, haven't churned out infertile eggs, which accounts for their staying a similar size to the males, and I
hope they never do that as problems can arise (egg-binding).

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

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She has been exploring all her new hides and climbing all over the cage. She seems fascinated with the moist moss hide. keeps sticking her head in it but trying not to let her belly drag through it, I don't think she's had one of those either. Also, the stuck shed on her tail came off and there is nothing wound related underneath so that's a plus.

She is surprisingly handle-able as well. Let me pull back her gums and look in her mouth, I can touch her head and pick her up without so much as a flinch. At least the kid must have done something with her at one point.

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She must be amazed with the changes in her surroundings, like her double-take at the humid hide. Typical for them to look but hesitate at first, but once they go in,
they're hooked.

Sounds like she (or he) has the typical docile personality of most corn snakes- there's a few exceptions but just like with ball pythons, most are mellow (excellent) pets.

Based on that picture, although not the best angle, I dont think she looks too underweight at all. But like you said, its not the best pic and you can clearly see better than I can.
But, yeah, I expected worse.

I would guess that snake will take F/T right away and be filled out and looking great in a few short weeks.

Good on you for helping her out!!!

YAY - just as you all predicted, she ate immediately. Had to settle for 2 small f/t mice from petco (12 and 18g). Took both without blinking...well, she doesn't have eyelids. Anyway; she's curled in her hot hide digesting meanwhile my ball python is curled on top of his rat like it is some kind of bean-bag chair - no interest in food at all.

I have an order of mice on the way from perfect prey and blood/stool heading out to the lab for her tests. Been a busy 24 hours for this snoot, kinda surprised she ate!

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

YAY - just as you all predicted, she ate immediately. Had to settle for 2 small f/t mice from petco (12 and 18g). Took both without blinking...well, she doesn't have eyelids. Anyway; she's curled in her hot hide digesting meanwhile my ball python is curled on top of his rat like it is some kind of bean-bag chair - no interest in food at all.

I have an order of mice on the way from perfect prey and blood/stool heading out to the lab for her tests. Been a busy 24 hours for this snoot, kinda surprised she ate!

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Happy Dance! But I'm not surprised at all...I love corn & rat snakes- they don't use rodents as furniture. :rofl: Two smaller mice is actually perfect for her.
You did great! :gj: (well, so did she...or he?) Hoping her stool comes back clean, but even if it's not, it's probably an easy fix.

Nice! I'm glad she ate right away!!
Great job!

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

YAY - just as you all predicted, she ate immediately. Had to settle for 2 small f/t mice from petco (12 and 18g). Took both without blinking...well, she doesn't have eyelids. Anyway; she's curled in her hot hide digesting meanwhile my ball python is curled on top of his rat like it is some kind of bean-bag chair - no interest in food at all.

I have an order of mice on the way from perfect prey and blood/stool heading out to the lab for her tests. Been a busy 24 hours for this snoot, kinda surprised she ate!

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Smart to be doing tests to make sure she's healthy.

Very happy she nailed two F/T mice for you! Great sign both health wise, and also, Yay for eating F/T.

I can't say I am surprised though. She's a corn snake! They love food!

Still good all around.

I can't remember if you said earlier in the thread, but she's quarantined, correct?

Until you know she's A-okay, it's a must.

Awesome update and please continue to keep is in the loop!

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Originally Posted by dakski

Smart to be doing tests to make sure she's healthy.
I can't remember if you said earlier in the thread, but she's quarantined, correct?
Until you know she's A-okay, it's a must. Awesome update and please continue to keep is in the loop!

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She us as far from the python as she can be in a 700 sqft apartment. She has her own feeding tongs and supplies. I'm the only one it the house dealing with her and for now my fiance is the only one dealing with the python. Other than the tank she came in, everything else was thrown away before it got the chance to come in the house.

I've got 2 people already interested in her. Also, this is really good QT practice for when I get my next ball (fingers extra crossed that it's waiting to hatch right now and the odds gods are with the breeder and me lol)