hi, this is my first time posting here. I am going to get a corn snake. I have never owned a snake before, and i would be getting one that is about 4.5 feet long. I spent alot of time looking through the picture gallery but did not see any pics of the enclosures, mostly just of the snakes. I would like some ideas of how you would make a good corn enlosure. btw i would be putting him in a 29 gallon aquarium, which from what i have read will hold him comfortably for life. Any help would be appreaciated.
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enclosure pictures
- Thread starter scrubbs
- Start date
Er, from what I read, there's quite a bit of variation between enclosures. You can have the natural look, or the more bare-bones, but simpler to care for.
If you don't really care how it looks, just use paper towel as a bottom, as it's the easiest and cheapest way. I'm not sure of hides, but I don't know....a small bucket? You'd have to ask someone else for that. Apparently, a small margarine container works as a water bowl, but you may be better off just getting a cheap ceramic bowl that's not tippy.
If you go for the natural look, repti-bark is okay, but aspen is easier to care for. Live plants for a 4.5 foot snake will probably break rather quickly, so plastic plants would be best. I have no idea what kind of hide a larger snake needs, since I'm using little coco-huts at the moment. You can get water bowls that look like rock, which is what I have. A few branches and such should be fine, as long as you boil/bake them to kill everything.
Now, for placement, two hides is best. You can put one on the warm side and one on the cool side. The water bowl should be put on the cool side. For what I've seen so far, try to make the amount of 'hiding space' about the same on each side. My warm side was totally bare except for the hide a little while ago, and he refused to go near it. My cool side has live plants and such in it, so he seems to prefer that side much more.
Remember, the best temperature on the warm side is 80-85. Both heat pads and heat lamps do this fine, but some heat pads get too hot. I had the Exo-Terra 'Heat Wave', and it was going into the 100s. To make sure you know the temp., have two little stick-on thermometers, one on each side. I believe one inch above the substrate is what i've heard.
I have a pic f my enclosure in this forum somewhere, and apparently it's okay.
If you don't really care how it looks, just use paper towel as a bottom, as it's the easiest and cheapest way. I'm not sure of hides, but I don't know....a small bucket? You'd have to ask someone else for that. Apparently, a small margarine container works as a water bowl, but you may be better off just getting a cheap ceramic bowl that's not tippy.
If you go for the natural look, repti-bark is okay, but aspen is easier to care for. Live plants for a 4.5 foot snake will probably break rather quickly, so plastic plants would be best. I have no idea what kind of hide a larger snake needs, since I'm using little coco-huts at the moment. You can get water bowls that look like rock, which is what I have. A few branches and such should be fine, as long as you boil/bake them to kill everything.
Now, for placement, two hides is best. You can put one on the warm side and one on the cool side. The water bowl should be put on the cool side. For what I've seen so far, try to make the amount of 'hiding space' about the same on each side. My warm side was totally bare except for the hide a little while ago, and he refused to go near it. My cool side has live plants and such in it, so he seems to prefer that side much more.
Remember, the best temperature on the warm side is 80-85. Both heat pads and heat lamps do this fine, but some heat pads get too hot. I had the Exo-Terra 'Heat Wave', and it was going into the 100s. To make sure you know the temp., have two little stick-on thermometers, one on each side. I believe one inch above the substrate is what i've heard.
I have a pic f my enclosure in this forum somewhere, and apparently it's okay.
i ended up getting reptibark for the substrate. I like the look of it. I want to go natural so i dont think i will be using cereal boxes. I am currently eyeing those hides that are half of a log that is hollowed out. i think its made by zoomed. I just dont know what size to get. I know it will either be the xlarge or giant. I just dont know if the giant will fit in the tank even. I dont know how big a hide a full grown corn needs, i read that they like to touch the sides and the top when they are coiled up in the hides. So i think i will buy two of the xlarge ones, one for the hot side, one for the cool side.
Also, i have a heat pad on one side and the temp on top of the substrate is about 82*f, the substrate is about an inch and a half thick. so i assume this is good. Is this all i need for heat? and do i shut the heat pad off at night, and just leave the whole tank to get one temp, then plug the pad back in in the morning? i just measured the glass temperature where the heat pad is and it says its about 100 degrees. So what do i do?
Thanks for all the help, i like when boards dont mind helping newbies out.
Also, i have a heat pad on one side and the temp on top of the substrate is about 82*f, the substrate is about an inch and a half thick. so i assume this is good. Is this all i need for heat? and do i shut the heat pad off at night, and just leave the whole tank to get one temp, then plug the pad back in in the morning? i just measured the glass temperature where the heat pad is and it says its about 100 degrees. So what do i do?
Thanks for all the help, i like when boards dont mind helping newbies out.
Last edited:
hosstheman
I need more space
Scrubbs
I personally don't like the heating pads on small cages. Definitly need to get the heat down The high side should be around 84 degrees I just use a red uv bulb and a towel on top of the cage to control the heat cover it up to keep heat in and unroll it to let heat out.
Also like Wavlyn said the bark is nice, but it can get expensive because the snakes waste can soak in and cause bacteria to grow. Aspen is lot easier and lot cheaper and looks pretty good also.
here is a pic of one of my cages
Hoss
Take a look at my website for more pics of my cages
www.geocities.com/cornsnakeman2003/
I personally don't like the heating pads on small cages. Definitly need to get the heat down The high side should be around 84 degrees I just use a red uv bulb and a towel on top of the cage to control the heat cover it up to keep heat in and unroll it to let heat out.
Also like Wavlyn said the bark is nice, but it can get expensive because the snakes waste can soak in and cause bacteria to grow. Aspen is lot easier and lot cheaper and looks pretty good also.
here is a pic of one of my cages
Hoss
Take a look at my website for more pics of my cages
www.geocities.com/cornsnakeman2003/
Attachments
pinatamonkey
Ophidiophile
I really don't think it matters what side you put the water bowl on. Putting it on the warm side can raise the humidity through evaporation. Unless I want that, though, I try to stick it on the cool side, if only because it doesn't evaporate as quickly.
Alex Dew
Corn and Bp Lover
I only have 1 water bowl in each of my vivs. The water bowls are always in the cool end of my vivs. They evaporate in about 3 days. I have never had a problem with my corns shedding. I do put a second water bowl in with my ball Python when she goes into shed though because she needs more humidity when she is in shed.
Cheers
Alex
Cheers
Alex
