| Care Sheet (for humans) There are a gazillion snake care sheets out there for the new snake owner. Check out my favorite links page for those....Don't forget the Cornsnakes.com forum for ANY questions you have about snake keeping. This page is for the snake owner's wellbeing... Many thanks to Brent Newman of Dakota Corns for his help with this page!! 1. I think snakes are adorable..however, your landlord or significant other may not ...therefore, be sure you have 'permission' before you purchase. 2. Mice....They are the main diet of most snakes. If you can't handle sending little fuzzy creatures to their doom, or are squeamish about having them occupy space in your freezer, maybe snakes are not for you. Also keep in mind the time honored method of 'braining'...can you do it?? 3. Snakes have salmonella in their digestive tracts. If you are not 'real careful' about washing your hands and keeping enclosures clean, you could be visiting the porcelain more times than you care to. 4. Snakes CAN escape and will if given the chance. Be sure to 'snake-proof' any container you keep them in. 5. Shy snakes have a really neat defense mechanism...they poop on you. 6. Snakes will poop on anything, including you......usually right after you've spent a considerable amount of time cleaning their cage. 7. Snakes will vomit if their environment is not correct. Snake vomit (or regurg) is a stinky, slimy mound of partially digested mouse (see #2). This usually occurs within 48 hours after their meal. 8. Snakes refuse meals. It's a fact of snake keeping. Sometimes you know why, sometimes not. 9. There are some great books out there to help you along....The Cornsnake Manual and The Cornsnake Morph Guide are 'must haves'. 10. Not everyone who sells snakes is honest. As with any purchase, be educated about what you are getting. Ask questions. Visit the Board of Inquiry to 'check out' your seller. 11. Snakes need room to move and places to hide. They do best when kept alone and are not 'crowded' by other snakes--kind of like 'in-laws'. 12. Did I mention mice??? 13. Shy snakes will rattle their tail and strike at you if they feel threatened.... 14. Snakes are wonderful animals and require very little maintenance compared to dogs: snakes don't have to be housebroken, they only eat once a week, and they won't hump your leg. 15. Snakes turn opaque or 'blue' when they're getting ready to shed and are almost blind at that time. (see #13 ). 16. Cornsnakes DON'T eat crickets, grasshoppers, or any other insects. 17. Aspen, Birch, paper towels and newspaper are suitable substrate for your snake...Stay away from Pine, Cedar, dirt, etc. 18. Your friends might think you're weird for having snakes--mine do. 19. Please don't think you will get rich breeding cornsnakes..Keep your day job for now. Unless you are able to breed hundreds at a time, with the most popular morphs, you will probabaly not make the Fortune 500. Most of us do it because we love it. 20. I can't have a survival guide without giving credit -or heeding warning- about Murphy. His laws dictate breeding, keeping, and hatching snakes...See this thread in the Cornsnakes.com forum. Thanks to Rich Z (Serpenco) for putting it so well! 21. Snakes are VERY addictive!! Prepare yourself to want more than one. |
