Sand kills corns?

Hi!
As some of you may have read in one of my past thread, one of my friends had bought a Corn snake and he died not so long after that (a week or less).
At that time I didn't know much about snakes and he didn't use a real light (he used incandescent) to heat his terrarium as told by the girl in the shop. She also told him to buy some desert sand because it was what was best.
Recently that same friend of mine met a girl who has 8 corns and told him he died because of the sand.
Even though the temps and humidity weren't good (I think [wasn't monitored]) I don't it could of had killed him, at least not that quickly.
So could it be the sand???
I really want to know because I'd like to get this dumb girl fired if so. Just to be sure it doesnt happen to anyone else....

well, it sounds like all of the husbandry techniques were bad, so it could have been a combo.

Corns can survive very well on room temps. So even without the heating, he could have lived. He very well could have gotten impacted from the sand. He also could have been sick, and malnurished. Petstores don't always take care of there animals, you know. Sorry to hear though! Invite him over, and encourage him to learn more about snakes.:D

The sand does not allow for snakes to burrow thru it as easy as say dirt or wood chips would.Think how it is when you walk across a sandy beach its murder as the sand moves against you ;).He probably suffocated in the sand in my opinion

I've kept quite a number of species on sand, including corns. I always fed in a bag or plastic container so sand impaction was never an issue.

A snake that is healthy to begin with is NEVER going to ingest sand. Why would it eat sand?

If it was very humid it is possible that the dust that is in the sand clogged its nostrils but then you would have seen it breathing through its open mouth.

As far as burrowing, unless it was mentally deficient, it has the instincts not to go deeper than it can burrow out of so I'd rule that out as well.

Incandescent lighting is fine for heat provided you do not overdue the wattage. A 50 watt bulb in a 10 gal. tank can give you a hot spot over 115 F. Too hot.

It is most probable that the snake was ill when purchased.

As far as the walking on sand thing, and not to bust your chops Joe, as bipeds we put all of our weight on a very small amount of surface area, the bottom of our feet, with every step. If you're like me that's a whole lot on not very much. A snake, having no feet, spreads its weight out over not only a larger surface area but has that larger surface area supported by the skeletal and muscular structure of a creature designed for being belly down on the ground.

Check the temps and see if they've had any other deaths at the shop.

dude, you sound like the type of customer i get that would tell me "he's doing fine" instead of thinking of the snake's well being instead of "what's fine".

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Originally Posted by wilomn

I've kept quite a number of species on sand, including corns. I always fed in a bag or plastic container so sand impaction was never an issue.

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what about humidity issues for shedding?

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A snake that is healthy to begin with is NEVER going to ingest sand. Why would it eat sand?

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if it tries to burrow, it can get sand in it's nostrils or mouth, i've seen it happen with eco earth.

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If it was very humid it is possible that the dust that is in the sand clogged its nostrils but then you would have seen it breathing through its open mouth.

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it's sand.....how can it be humid?

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Incandescent lighting is fine for heat provided you do not overdue the wattage. A 50 watt bulb in a 10 gal. tank can give you a hot spot over 115 F. Too hot.

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incandescent lighting is fine? what makes you say that? that type of lighting is for houses really. they provide no special rays that reptiles need like the light bulbs that are sold specifically for reptiles.

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Originally Posted by Snakeman

dude, you sound like the type of customer i get that would tell me "he's doing fine" instead of thinking of the snake's well being instead of "what's fine".



what about humidity issues for shedding?



if it tries to burrow, it can get sand in it's nostrils or mouth, i've seen it happen with eco earth.



it's sand.....how can it be humid?



incandescent lighting is fine? what makes you say that? that type of lighting is for houses really. they provide no special rays that reptiles need like the light bulbs that are sold specifically for reptiles.

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How long have you been keeping snakes? How many species have you kept? How many have you bred? How many different methods of heat have you tried?

Let me start out with this. Corns don't need any special lighting. You're sounding just like those idiots I see at petshops that only care about making a sale and looking smart, not actually knowing what's good or not.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

How long have you been keeping snakes? How many species have you kept? How many have you bred? How many different methods of heat have you tried?

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what matters is the experience foo, not how many years, snakes, or breeding projects. you could be keeping snakes for 20 years and i could be keeping snakes for only one year, that doesnt mean you know more than me (believe me i get that a lot).

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Let me start out with this. Corns don't need any special lighting. You're sounding just like those idiots I see at petshops that only care about making a sale and looking smart, not actually knowing what's good or not.

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if sand was good for them i'd say it's ok to use, but it's not.

and let me guess.....you think it's ok to house more than one snake to a cage too.....

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Originally Posted by Snakeman

if sand was good for them i'd say it's ok to use, but it's not.

and let me guess.....you think it's ok to house more than one snake to a cage too.....

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Talk to me when you're still wet behind the ears.

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Originally Posted by Snakeman

dude, you sound like the type of customer i get that would tell me "he's doing fine" instead of thinking of the snake's well being instead of "what's fine".



what about humidity issues for shedding?



if it tries to burrow, it can get sand in it's nostrils or mouth, i've seen it happen with eco earth.



it's sand.....how can it be humid?



incandescent lighting is fine? what makes you say that? that type of lighting is for houses really. they provide no special rays that reptiles need like the light bulbs that are sold specifically for reptiles.

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You work at a petco dont you :rolleyes:.NEWS FLASH special lights are for lizards NOT snakes.I know several big breeders that the only light the snakes see is the HOUSE lights so YES its fine!

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Originally Posted by wilomn

How long have you been keeping snakes? How many species have you kept? How many have you bred? How many different methods of heat have you tried?

Let me start out with this. Corns don't need any special lighting. You're sounding just like those idiots I see at petshops that only care about making a sale and looking smart, not actually knowing what's good or not.

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Wes you and i both know the PROPER husbandry skills and needs for corn snakes from our BREEDING them not working at PETCO :rolleyes:. So lets leave it at that ;)

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Originally Posted by Snakeman

if sand was good for them i'd say it's ok to use, but it's not.

and let me guess.....you think it's ok to house more than one snake to a cage too.....

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No we are not PETCO :colbert:

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Originally Posted by Snakeman

dude, you sound like the type of customer i get that would tell me "he's doing fine" instead of thinking of the snake's well being instead of "what's fine".



what about humidity issues for shedding?



if it tries to burrow, it can get sand in it's nostrils or mouth, i've seen it happen with eco earth.



it's sand.....how can it be humid?



incandescent lighting is fine? what makes you say that? that type of lighting is for houses really. they provide no special rays that reptiles need like the light bulbs that are sold specifically for reptiles.

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Uummm your 19 and from your profile you dont even own a corn snake so may i ask where you get this info you are preaching here from?

Hi,

Guys.

Play nice.


dr del

Doc, I couldn't get any nicer and not melt next time I was in the sun.

It's a shame the kid doesn't know as much as he thinks he does though. He could learn a lot here if he'd quit reading Petco caresheets and sales technique manuals and actually listen to guys who have been doing this since before he was a glimmer in his father's eye.

But, such is life. Maybe he'll come around.

Afterall, if Pattimus can do it, anyone can.

LOL

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Originally Posted by joepythons

You work at a petco dont you :rolleyes:.NEWS FLASH special lights are for lizards NOT snakes.I know several big breeders that the only light the snakes see is the HOUSE lights so YES its fine!

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the effects of the flu....i dont even think straight :slamhead:

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Originally Posted by wilomn

who have been doing this since before he was a glimmer in his father's eye.

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more than you ever were and ever will be.

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Originally Posted by Snakeman

more than you ever were and ever will be.

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Sonnyjim, me no speakie.

What the heck are you talking about?

Your almost total lack of experience?

Your inability to give correct information?

The fact that you're short and resent it?

The stigma that comes from working at Petco and bragging about it?

Try it again, but this time, before you post, think.

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Guys.

Play nice.


dr del

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We are DAD :rofl:

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Doc, I couldn't get any nicer and not melt next time I was in the sun.

It's a shame the kid doesn't know as much as he thinks he does though. He could learn a lot here if he'd quit reading Petco caresheets and sales technique manuals and actually listen to guys who have been doing this since before he was a glimmer in his father's eye.

But, such is life. Maybe he'll come around.

Afterall, if Pattimus can do it, anyone can.

LOL

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Amen!

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Originally Posted by Snakeman

the effects of the flu....i dont even think straight :slamhead:

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Ok :confused:

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Originally Posted by Snakeman

more than you ever were and ever will be.

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Now thats not being to nice ;)

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Sonnyjim, me no speakie.

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no te culpo menzo

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Ok :confused:

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i DO know that lizards, geckos, uros, turtles/tortoises, etc require the special uva/uvb lighting and snakes really dont. but im so sick right now from the flu that im kinda dizzy that i cant even think straight.

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Now thats not being to nice ;)

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it was, compared to what i could've said:cool:

So, What is the point of all this?

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Originally Posted by Snakeman

i DO know that lizards, geckos, uros, turtles/tortoises, etc require the special uva/uvb lighting and snakes really dont. but im so sick right now from the flu that im kinda dizzy that i cant even think straight.



it was, compared to what i could've said:cool:

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Then why write the incorrect info in the first place? What if a new person reads your post and thinks thats great info.We can do without the incorrect info being given out here.Lets leave that to the pet stores ;).