Howdy gang. I just got back from a pet store (“specializing in reptiles”) and am the proud owner of a 6-month-old male corn snake. I bought him with the excuse he’d be a great classroom pet–and he will be–but fact is, I like snakes. A lot. I had a ball python in college, and though I love that species, corns are better “beginner” snakes, and thus better for the classroom.
Anywho…he needs a name. Now, nothing too adult-literary or obscure; my students are 5th graders for whom English is a second language. I’ve thought of Nixon, and then Clinton (after all, they’re both snakes, aren’t they?), and have been calling him Slither. But…y’all are a pretty creative lot, and so I thought I’d turn to you for further ideas.
What he looks like: He is approximately 20" long and the diameter of a Sharpie marker (can you tell I’m a teacher?), but will be roughly 5’-6’ long as an adult and the diameter of a half dollar. He is the “normal” color variety–a bright mixture of red, orange, yellow, and black, with a white underbelly. A picture of this color variety can be found here: http://www.planetpets.simplenet.com/cornsnak.htm
So far, I’m really liking Cornelius. (It’ll remind me constantly of Planet of the Apes, but the kids will have no idea.) What else yah guys got?
Sunbear–I won’t be taking him to school to show the kids; he will be living in the classroom with the kids. I’ve had rats for the last three years, but they’re stinky, neurotic, and a little too clever for their own good–every one of them found new ways to escape their cage.
Now, I have something that will eat rats. MWAH HAH HAH!
i say you name him spot and teach him how to fetch sticks. or other snakes. or you could name him leopard. or arthur dent, but then again, that’d go over their heads.
Skillet Biter
Tornado Jones
Lex Headgear
Automatic Toenail Clamp
Cheese Doodle Dandy
Shemp
Pete Monkey-foot
Laxative
The Head Waiter
Henry Winkler
Peanut Shrimp
Lasertronic Bastard Fish
Umberto
Those are just a few off the top of my head…I can come up with more if any of those won’t work.
(…now where did I put that pipe???..short-term memory loss my ass)
Of course, Maize is appealing too… <exploitative native american stereotype mode on> “We call it maize!” </exploitative native american stereotype mode off>
