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Burmating Baby? Why?

R

revxus

New member
Here's my cornsnake problem. You may have read my postings before, but here is something new.

After observing my corn's burrowing behavior I decided to figure out why she was doing this. First, I had her in gravel substrate, many suggested I change this to aspen chips and so I did. I placed about 2" deep, and she began to burrow - when she had the gravel, she never did that but instead hung out over by the side of her water bowl. I assumed she was too hot and wanted "cooler" temp.

Ok, so now a few days ago I experienced with a lower wattage bulb for heating. I had been using 50W basking heat bulb, and the lower wattage I was able to acquire was 25W. Any lower wouldn't make any sense as it wouldn't provide much heat. At 25W, the hot spot was at 84*F max, as opposed to 88* with the 50W bulb. This didn't seem to solve her burrowing habit.

Last night I decided to remove some of the aspen, low enough not to allow her to burrow. And right now it is probably at .5" of bedding, she still tries to hide. This morning I noticed she has her nose on the bottom of the glass, as if she was trying to go even deeper but the bedding isn't deep enough anymore. I have no idea why she does this, and I have asked the pet shop breeder about it and he said to bring her in... anyone know what I am doing wrong if anything? I do have her in a 10G tank. Provide a hide hut, but she won't even use it, and a deep large water bowl. All to no avail.
 
Cornpletely normal

Cornsnakes like to burrow. If given enough substrate any I own will do the exact same thing. I use newspaper in most cages and they will typically ignore their hide and stay under the paper. There exists a chance that the shortening of daylight is contributing to this behavior, but I'd imagine she would do the very same thing in the spring.
IMHO, you have no reason to bring her in to the pet shop for a "once over." Burrowing is no sign of illness whatsoever. It's just what many snakes do. :)
 
not to worry

i have a new baby corn myself and he does the exact same thing, although is starting to use the hides. i guess its just something they like to do, and ive been told this was very normal behavior as well.
lina
 
They also feel very secure packed in tight under the substrate.:)

The reason it is not using it's hideboxes might be because their too big- so the snake feels more comfy and tight under the substrate.
 
Try "burying your hides" in the aspen, so that the bottom of the hides touch the glass of your tank, and sort of dig out the aspen where the entrance is.

Also, try misting the tank, or put some wet sponges in there to increase humidity.

I have my own sort of "theory" on why snakes burrow when given a chance, it's partly due to predator evasion, etc, but I think it also has to do with humidity (if you dig deep enough, you'll find water sooner or later).

-Lemur 6
 
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