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complete beginner- many questions

C

Clairlevee

New member
I don't have my snake yet- won't until midsummer.

How much should I expect to pay for a 20 G vivarium? (just the tank)
I live in central Texas, if that helps. I'm frustrated trying to buy them online, because I can't look at them, or tell if they have clips and ugh. They seem to go from nearly $200 [do NOT want] down to questionable-looking $50 ones.

How the heck do climbing vines work? Do you stick them to the tank? o_O I definitely want some, but I'm afraid to buy those online too. But I'd like to save money.

I'm confused about UTHs (the heating pads)
Where do you put them? I thought they stuck to the tank bottom, but I just saw a picture of a viv with one actually inside and a cord coming out, and that just seems terribly inconvenient.
Will a size "small" most likely work for a 20 G tank? (another just in case I buy it online question)

What are the advantages of having a light as well as a UTH?

Know any particularly awesome places/websites to buy hides/dishes and backgrounds?

Does anyone know off the top of their head if there's a San Antonio Reptile show in the summer? Or been to one (that's kind of a shot in the dark)

Gah I know I'm ahead of myself, but I'm so excited. This is my list so far of things to collect:


20 gallon tank
Cover/lid
Clips
Bedding
pinkies
Water dish
Heat pad
2 hides
Climbing vines?
Shed rock
Background
Artificial plants
Suction cup artificial plants
Rolling bench for window exposure/shelf
Thermometer (digital)

Let me know if I should add/change anything
Thank you
 
check out petmountain.com for supplies, they have really good pricing and right now free shipping at $75 - I've seen it at $50 before - sign up for emails and you can watch for sales.

I buy aspen there, hides, bowls, thermostats and probably could have gotten other stuff too.

I think sometimes Petco has on sale a 40gl set up for snakes/reptiles - usually someone (maybe Nanci) will post when they are on sale. You might want to just start with that and it will last you a lot longer and you can pick it up at the store. I'm thinking around 100 on sale but not sure on that. If you do go with a larger tank like that, you will want more hides and probably vines and stuff so the snake feels hidden well.

Look in the fish department if you want to buy shed rocks. That's where I got all of mine. I like the reptavines for my snakes. They are 6' long and you can drape them, or suction cup to the sides of an aquarium. I think they give the snakes a secure feeling. 6' sounds longer than it seems in the viv, I have one in each of my 24 x 24 vivs. Draped over a grapevine. The suctions won't work in my viv unfortunately.

Check that sight out and see what you find, I am sure you'll like their prices! I just placed another order.

You really don't need UVB lights for snakes. They are fine with normal lighting as long as some light gets in the room. I don't think most people here use it.

No doubt, you'll get lots more advice! good luck when you get your snake :)

UTH - goes under the tank, not in the tank. I'm not sure about size for that size.
 
You might want to try craigslist for tanks, it is not unusual to find them for a dollar a gallon. Generally they are cheaper than in a store, and it's a great resource, as long as you don't mind buying a used tank!
 
Clairlevee said:
How the heck do climbing vines work? Do you stick them to the tank? o_O I definitely want some, but I'm afraid to buy those online too. But I'd like to save money.
Click to expand...

Good question! My corn loves the vines and is constantly climbing around and prowling the tank, but he's a particularly active one. I looped a thread around the vines, tied it to those plastic suction things that come with the vines and stuck it to the glass. The vines have held strong ever since.

Clairlevee said:
I'm confused about UTHs (the heating pads)
Where do you put them? I thought they stuck to the tank bottom, but I just saw a picture of a viv with one actually inside and a cord coming out, and that just seems terribly inconvenient.
Click to expand...
Small one works fine for my 30 gallon tank, it covers a quarter of the tank.
Clairlevee said:
What are the advantages of having a light as well as a UTH?
Click to expand...
I use both. The UTH covers the northwest quarter of the tank, and the infrared bulb covers the southwest quarter. Even on the coldest day, they combine to create a *hotspot* pushing beyond 90 degrees which helps the snake digest larger meals. I can switch the infrared bulb on and off at will, which gives me greater control over the temperature if I'm afraid it might get too hot, in case the snake might burrow and burn himself over the UTH section which has never happened yet.
So whenever I look at the thermometer, if its under 80 degrees I'll switch the bulb on, and if its pushing towards 90 I can switch it off. The UTH is always there to provide the minimum of 70 degrees and I have high range of temps which my snake seems to greatly enjoy. Even if one section gets a bit hot, he can always slither over to the cooler eastern portion of the tank, which can get as low as 65 degrees. I also think the very hot/very cold/anywhere in between options stimulate nature better.

Enjoy the excitement, I'm still excited. Corn snakes never get old :)

-from one beginner to another
 
You'll need a thermostat to use with a UTH. Uncontrolled, some makes/models will easily reach 120 degrees when 90 is a Corn's safe maximum. Thermostats mean that you don't have to do any manual adjustments - you just tweak it until you have the heat range you want, then leave it.

UTHs are generally used outside and underneath the tank and the UTH needs to heat about one-third of the floor surface.

I don't use lights in any of my tanks but then I use UTHs and I don't have overhead heating. If you want a light just so that you can see the snake better, then some folks here have found LED lights helpful - they provide a good light but give off minimal heat to any UTH setup isn't disturbed.

I also have more than the minimum 2 hides and I add extra ground cover in the form of plastic foliage. Looks great and lets the snake move around whilst think it can't be seen!
 
"Does anyone know off the top of their head if there's a San Antonio Reptile show in the summer? Or been to one (that's kind of a shot in the dark)"

There will be a Reptile show at the Live Oak Civic Center June 2nd and 3rd. TEXAS REPTILE EXPO I have been to the last 2 that have been here.. Nice items and reptiles from affordable to wow....
 
There will be a Reptile show at the Live Oak Civic Center June 2nd and 3rd. TEXAS REPTILE EXPO I have been to the last 2 that have been here.. Nice items and reptiles from affordable to wow....
Click to expand...

Awesome! I ended up googling it. I definitely want to go! Do you know if they usually have young snakes? I really like the idea of raising one up myself :3
 
All ages, all types... some very affordable and everyone there is so nice! It is worth a drive down here to see~
 
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