What to do with my snake over class breaks?

[NoleDevil]

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I have a corn snake that I'm planning on taking with me up to Iowa. I'm pretty sure we get about a month off for winter break, the typical week off for spring break, etc. My dilemma is that I don't know what to do with him over these breaks, considering I'll most likely visit my bf and family via plane (they're many states away from Iowa... I would really rather not have to drive all the way to see my bf and family over breaks if I could help it). I don't know if airlines allow "snakes on a plane" (haha) - I know I could check with them, but then I also have the issue of lugging his terrarium around and it would most likely get demolished if I had to put it in checked baggage!

I've thought about getting someone to babysit him (hopefully someone who's really familiar with snakes!), but I think it might be somewhat burdensome. Especially over winter break - I'm not sure how many people would be sticking around Ames over Christmas and such! I'm not sure what would be the best course of action and I really don't want to have to give him up over this situation! 🙁

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

 

[TCVM808]

I'm pretty sure you could find a petsitter (snake sitter!)....it just might take some looking. A lot of vet techs do petsitting, so maybe find a few reptile-friendly practices and ask at the front whether they know if any techs do petsitting. If you pay someone, I don't think they will consider it a burden at all. 😀

 

[pressmom]

People email out to the classes here looking for pet-sitters all the time. If your family is in the area and you don't leave for breaks, you can make a killing pet-sitting. You'll probably be able to find a classmate who can help you out!

 

[Steelmagghia]

I was having the exact same problem with my corn snake.
Just so you know, planes will not let snakes on either in cargo or in the cabin. Also, I haven't found a single shipping company (even those that deal especially with animals) which will take snakes, though other reptiles are fine. 🙄

I'm resolving the issue by having my sister's boyfriend foster him for the first year while I make friends and get into a schedule. Then I can feel comfortable asking people to pet sit a snake.

Also, I know a few vets here at least will board exotics like snakes if you have to go with the last resort.

At least we have easy to handle snakes. Can you imagine finding someone to sit a reticulated python?!?!

 

[dartfrog]

I don't think you will have any problems finding someone to care for your snake during the breaks. . . . particularly if it is accustomed to feeding on F/T mice. Corn snakes are really low maintenance. . . . even for snakes🙂 With the right set-up (lighting/heat set on a timer), all your snake will need is someone to change the water a couple times a week and thaw a mouse now and then. 🙂

 

[NoleDevil]

I was having the exact same problem with my corn snake.
Just so you know, planes will not let snakes on either in cargo or in the cabin. Also, I haven't found a single shipping company (even those that deal especially with animals) which will take snakes, though other reptiles are fine. 🙄

I'm resolving the issue by having my sister's boyfriend foster him for the first year while I make friends and get into a schedule. Then I can feel comfortable asking people to pet sit a snake.

Also, I know a few vets here at least will board exotics like snakes if you have to go with the last resort.

At least we have easy to handle snakes. Can you imagine finding someone to sit a reticulated python?!?!

Hooray for fellow corn snake owners! 😀 You're right, they're pretty easy to handle. I just wish they were more lazy... like ball pythons. I've talked to people with ball pythons that take naps with their snake and it doesn't move at all! 😱 I have to have my eyes on my corn at all times when I take him out of the terrarium. He's so cute though. 😍

Anyway, thanks for the advice, everyone! I'm thinking I'll try to find someone to watch him (I mean, by winter break, I should be aware of someone who's willing to do the job!)... b/c there's no way I want to give him up!

 

[nyanko]

Corn snake owners who play ice hockey unite! 😀

I don't really have that much to add except corn snakes are pretty low maintenance so it'll probably be easy for you to find someone to tend to your wiggler while you're gone for breaks. What color morph is he?

 

[NoleDevil]

Corn snake owners who play ice hockey unite! 😀

I don't really have that much to add except corn snakes are pretty low maintenance so it'll probably be easy for you to find someone to tend to your wiggler while you're gone for breaks. What color morph is he?

Hmm... corn snake owners, ice hockey players, and future vets? Nyanko, were we separated at birth? 😛

My snake (aka Earl Grey ) is a pretty common morph - amelanistic. I would love to have a bloodred. Earl G suits me just fine, though, he's beautiful! He'll be 2 years old in August and is right at 2.5 feet!

 

[Electrophile]

Oooh, I've always wanted a bloodred! I think my very favorite would be a "true" lavender or sunglow motley. 😍

I've got a jungle carpet python and an anerythristic boa constrictor imperator. If I have to leave for a week or two, I just feed them before hand, make sure the temperature and humidity is still good, double check the water, and that's it. My dogs are a much bigger hassle to take care of! 🙄

 

[Steelmagghia]

Hooray for fellow corn snake owners! 😀 You're right, they're pretty easy to handle. I just wish they were more lazy... like ball pythons. I've talked to people with ball pythons that take naps with their snake and it doesn't move at all! 😱 I have to have my eyes on my corn at all times when I take him out of the terrarium. He's so cute though. 😍

Anyway, thanks for the advice, everyone! I'm thinking I'll try to find someone to watch him (I mean, by winter break, I should be aware of someone who's willing to do the job!)... b/c there's no way I want to give him up!

Oh man, you're telling me! My little guy sleeps in my room and when he decides he's going "hunting" (which is hilarious since he doesn't recognize food unless it's dangling from tongs) he can wake me up from a dead sleep. He hangs from the internal locks and then falls off. Or he lifts the decorations in his cage and rearranges the whole thing.

I have a hypomelanistic (he's basically a rosy...just a little grey where there should be black). His name is Lukas. 🙂

It is so crazy how fast he's grown....30 inches in a year and a half.

Gotta love the corn snakes.

 

[nyanko]

Hmm... corn snake owners, ice hockey players, and future vets? Nyanko, were we separated at birth? 😛

My snake (aka Earl Grey ) is a pretty common morph - amelanistic. I would love to have a bloodred. Earl G suits me just fine, though, he's beautiful! He'll be 2 years old in August and is right at 2.5 feet!

Mine's an amel who will also be 2 in August. I got him from a breeder near Tampa. 😳

His name is Zelos Wilder, from a videogame (Tales of Symphonia). I think he's actually managed to hit three feet by now, even with his more infrequent eating over the winter here (it was quite different than winter in Orlando and he slowed down a little bit, even with the UTH it was a little cool for him).

 

[NoleDevil]

Mine's an amel who will also be 2 in August. I got him from a breeder near Tampa. 😳

His name is Zelos Wilder, from a videogame (Tales of Symphonia). I think he's actually managed to hit three feet by now, even with his more infrequent eating over the winter here (it was quite different than winter in Orlando and he slowed down a little bit, even with the UTH it was a little cool for him).

Omg! That's so weird... I bought mine in Tallahassee, though (he was from a breeder in GA). Speaking of UTH's, I'm a bit concerned that the heating lamp I have now won't be enough heat for him in Iowa! Up in Tallahassee, I had just a normal heating pad under his tank that I would put on low at night, but I don't think that'll be enough for him up North. Do you think a UTH for reptiles would provide enough heat?

 

[Electrophile]

I've had three snakes (the JCP, the boa, and a Brazilian rainbow boa) and all did great in Missouri temperature wise. Well, except that I forgot to prop my 40 gallon tall glass tank for the JCP's cage and the UTH broke the glass cause the heat got trapped. I'm going to have to go to the next herp show in St. Louis to get a new one for her. But with a plastic sweater box especially, that should be plenty. A beardie (or other lizard that needs special light) would need probably higher temps.