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Corn Snake care sheet
An Introductory Information Leaflet on Keeping a Pet Snake
Medium sized rodent feeders
e.g. King Snakes,Rat Snakes,Corn Snakes,
Bull, Pine & Gopher Snakes,Small Boas & Pythons
From Reptile Ranch in association with Europe's Premier Reptile Product Company
Food: Items that should be offered are mice, from pinkies to adult and rats from
pups to small adults. Do not feed anything
of unknown or dubious history such as wild or pet rodents or cat and road kills. One of the easiest food for captive snakes
of this type, however, are the sausages of
blended nutrients especially formulated for
snakes. Cut into lengths of one or two sausages and offered on a clean surface this food should provide a complete diet.
Cleanliness and Hygiene: A routine cleaner for all non-porous surfaces could be Vetaclean followed by a thorough rinse. Anything that cannot be easily cleaned should be thrown away and replaced. Any little graze or blemish on the animals themselves would benefit from the first aid afforded by dabbing the wound with Vetadine. As far as human hygiene is concerned, Vetasept Surgical Scrub will clean hands and surfaces while Vetasept Hand Rub will allow adequate cleansing and disinfection even in cases when water is unavailable.
Cage Decor: Use Rain Forest Substrate or Savannah Substrate as a base as these will blot up and 'clump' any fouling by the snakes. Clumps of waste can be removed without cleaning the whole tank out. Cork Bark or Curio Wood could be used to make an interesting three dimensional display. While draping Repti-Vines in the cage will provide refuges the snakes can hide in or move through to loosen shedding skin. Repti-rock caves and water dishes would lend even more functionality and security.
Cage Set Up: The cage should be set up to allow an active snake plenty of scope to climb, bask in a hot spot, move to a cooler spot, drink and hunt for food. The snakes should also be able to secrete themselves into refuges and rub themselves against something when shedding their skin.
Optional Hot Spot: A local area of higher temperature can be created, if desired, with a ceramic heater or basking spot lamp. Use them in conjunction with the appropriate HabiStat thermostat for precise control. Hot spots should be maintained for the same day-length as the lights, fourteen hours in summer, eight in winter. Or use a Sun Switch for day/night and seasonal timing.
Background Heat:
Use a heat mat between half and two thirds the size of the cage to provide background heating. The hottest spot in the cage should not be above 32ºC while the coolest should not be below 20ºC. Use a HabiStat Mat - Stat if the temperature is too hot but put the whole cage in a cooler place if the temperature is not
cool enough.
Lights: Snakes do not seem to need artificial lights when kept as pets. They will thrive in cages illumi-nated with just the room lights. Either a spot or fluorescent lamp could be added as an optional extra.
Simple set up for beginners: A moulded plastic cage is set up with a heat mat taped to the base. The mat should be about half the size of the cage. On to the floor of the cage, Rain Forest Substrate or Savannah Substrate is spread a very thin layer of no more than 1 cm. (A thicker layer will act as an insulator and block the heat from the mat.) Check with a thermometer that the cage is within the acceptable temperature range. Cork Bark or Curio Wood could be used to make hide or a Repti-rock cave could be used. A Repti-rock water dish would be the only other essential. When satisfied everything is OK,
add the snake!
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