Hello again! I've named the snake Ruby. I will be taking pics this weekend. I didn't want to shock her so soon!!! I do have some questions, though... I'm concerned about temperature. The warm end seems to be at a steady 82 and the cool at 70-75. Is that okay? Also, I fed her for the first time yesterday. She took a thawed pinkie immediately when it was offered to her. I was pleasantly surprised!!! I did put her in a "feed box" because I've read that you shouldn't feed them in their enclosure. Is this necessary? By doing this I'm handling her right after she ate to put her back in her home so I wasn't sure about that whole thing. Also, I think she was still hungry... how do I know how much to feed her? I don't know how old she is. She's about 12-14" long. Thank you in advance for your help!!!

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Steph
<t><
I am too blessed to be stressed! The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything!

1.0.0 Husband; 3.1.0 Children; 1.1.0 Corns; 0.1.0 BP; 1.0.0 C/BRB; 0.1.0 Rabbit

Your temps are fine.

Corns aren't usually as fussy about some snakes and generally feed well right from the start. That is one of the reasons they are suggested as a good starter snake.

The main reason for feeding outside the enclosure is to prevent the snake from accidentally swallowing the substrate. Picking them up and returning them to the cage is fine. When we talk about not handling them after feeding we are talking about "playing" with them.

You should feed one prey item about the size of the snake at the widest part of its body every 7 days. Corns are little gluttons and if you allow it they will eat themselves into obesity. Or regurgitaion!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I used to worry too about "handling" them after they ate just long enough to put them back....but I soon found out, as Merlin says, that it's no problem at all

Of course, being the world's biggest worrywart when it comes to my babies, human, reptile or otherwise, I found plenty of other things to worry about after that!!!

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~Juliane~

Thank you both, for your advice. I am using the green "turf" as the substrate so I won't have to worry about her swallowing anything. I bought two pieces so it's easy to keep her tank clean. I will also heed your warning about corns being gluttons!!! I did feed her again today but will follow your advice, Merlin, about feeding her just once a week. Thanks again!!! I'll be posting some pics later!

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Steph
<t><
I am too blessed to be stressed! The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything!

1.0.0 Husband; 3.1.0 Children; 1.1.0 Corns; 0.1.0 BP; 1.0.0 C/BRB; 0.1.0 Rabbit

I would increase your temps by a few degrees on the warm end, to 85f. For now continue with one pinkie every 5-7 days, and after the next shed try with two pinkies every 7 days. Increase the food item as the snake grows. Good luck.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004