My first snake.. Advise??

[Ashleigh:]]

Hi, I'm new.
I went & looked at a childreni today at a local petshop and there was about 12 of them, & the lady got me out the most placid, and it was just adorable.
Nothing at all bothered it, & i am head over heals for it.
But i have to get a license first, I was wonderin gif anyone would be able to tell me how long it takes to come back once you send it away, as I will most likely be getting one tomorrow.
And also i know by reading all of the other threads, that snakes personality's are individual.
So i guess that the one i handled today is good??
And i have seen alot of pictures of Corn Snakes.
What is their temperment liek & can you even get them in Australia??

Sorry if i sound like an idiot.
Some advise would be greatly appreciated.

[Mayo]

It takes around 10 days give or take.

[bredli84]

u cant get corn snakes or any other foreign species

[cris]

Welcome to the site Ashleigh

In general petshops charge between 50-200% more than breeders have you already paid for it?
corn snakes and all other exotic(foriegn) herps are illegal in queensland except asian house geckos, cane toads and axolotls. However your question was can you get them though and the answer is yes but dont.
your licence should take about a week.
Most childrens pythons are placid it isnt really anything special.

Read through the caresheets on this site(anteresia) and look through the forums a bit and google stuff so you know how to look after your snake before you get it.

[Ashleigh:]]

Awwww
Thats 10 days til i can get him...

[Ashleigh:]]

Yes i have googled for about the past 2 months and have been reading so much on this forum.
Thanks for all of the help.

[junglepython2]

Not sure about Qld, but I'm pretty sure it takes a bit longer then 10 days down in Vic.

And to repeat what chris said much cheaper going through a breeder and you will get much better advice then a petshop.

[Ashleigh:]]

Well does anyone know of any Childreni bredders located Sunshine coast??

[blurb]

i'm in nsw and it only took 3days to get my licence..you'd have to just keep an eye out and see if anyone advertises them for sale.

[Ashleigh:]]

Okay thanks.
I've heard its sometimes dodgy buying snakes from pet shops? is that true?

[Mayo]

Don't know about childreni, but can locate stimmies

[pavlova]

Where can you get the stimmies from then, i am also waiting for my licence to get my first snake. I would very much love a stimmie.
Nikki

[rodentrancher]

Here in South Oz(unless the rules have changed?) we don't have to have a permit for only one snake. We have two so had to get a permit.

[Ashleigh:]]

I am going out later to look around all of the local shops for enclosures, but the one i was at yesterday has a complete enclosure, with everything in it, its wooden on stand, dont know the size, but it was medium size, will try to find a similiar picture.
And it was everything for $450.
Is that a good price??
Cheers

[cris]

For a hatchling snake the easiest way to give them a good setup is to keep them in a small plastic tub(often refered to as "click clacks"). It is possible to keep them in a larger enclosure but it is alot harder and you generally wont see you snake much at all. $450 sounds expensive to me but i have never bought an enclosure like that.

You should be able to get a snake and initial setup for under $250. You will need to buy a larger enclosure in a year or so though.
All you need to start with is
a hatchling snake $150-$200
a plastic tub $5-$15
a heat cord(4m 15watt) $20-$26
You should also get a thermometer a digital one witth a probe should cost about $20(?)

Some petshops are dodgy and wont even be looking after the snake properly to begin with, others look after them well. Most petshops will also give you advice on how to have an expensive setup rather than a good one.

Contact Expansa1 (go to members list) he had some childreni advertised not to long ago. He lives near the sunshine coast and they were less than half the price of any petshop ive seen.