HELP! Silly Newbie is Confused

[laura_loomis]

OK, I am very new to all this reptile stuff. I origionally got the snake for my classroom, but have decided to keep it home till after the holidays since she's pretty small (I say she, but she is not sexed, so....)

Anyway, I got her a little more than a week ago, on wednesday. She had apparently been feeding on thawed pinkies on saturdays, so I bought 2 ( a 2 week supply....) to continue the routine.

When I got her, the guy at the store said that they needed a lamp on one side of the aquarium and on the otherside I should put the thermometer on the floor. The "cool" side temp should be around 80-82. Ok, says I, the silly newbie.....

Get home, set up snake. On saturday, thaw mouse, try to get her to eat. No go. eventually, give up, pitch mouse.

Next night, thaw other mouse, put in deli cup with snake over night. Next morning, still no go.

Wait a week.

Today, I went to a different store to get more mice (as I am now out) and am not close to the origional snake store. I mentioned that the snake hadn't eaten the last weekend, and did they have any suggestions.

They told me that corns don't need a heat source. Room temp is fine for them. That the snake probably didn't eat cause it was too warm. Bought more frozen pinkies.

Get home, this time, snake eats fine (immediately and fast, she must have been hungry).

My question is, is this person at the new store correct? Should I remove the heat source?

I also have a newfoundland dog, and keep the place on the cold side because of it (around 60 degrees F). The "cool" side of the tank reads 80 all the time.

Does this sound right?

Laura

 

[RyanR]

No! Warm side should be 80-83 cool side should be low 70;s with the heat source on one side of the tank that will be the temp on the cool side and the heat is probaly the reason why he/she didnt eat

 

[pinatamonkey]

Right, the -warm- side should be around 84 or so. If you have a warm house (like 80 degrees) they don't need extra heat. In a 60 degree house, they sure do.

 

[laura_loomis]

thanks

Thanks guys, I rearranged the cage last night and now the warm side is in the 80 degree range. She immediately curled up in the hide on that side (she had eaten). So all is well. Again, thanks, you may have saved my snake...

I did double check the handwritten instructions I was given to make sure I hadn't misunderstood... Nope, they said 80/82 on the side furthest from the heat source. Guess I won't be going back there. And this is a pet store that specializes in herps...we're not talking petland, here....sigh

Laura

 

[RyanR]

your welcome and good luck with your snake

 

[carol]

A cool side of 80 isn't really all that bad for a corn, it just depends on how hot the warm side was. I think the more important concern is whether or not your warm side was above 88 degrees, which could be dangerous. However, if you range was 88/warm side to 80/cool side the set up is fine. Your snake probably was just adjusting to its new home, it is fairly commen for a snake to refuse food while getting adjusted. Good Luck!

 

[paulh]

And I like an ~80 F cool end to ~86 F warm end during the day. At night I cut the power to let the whole cage drop to room temperature (~70 F). IMHO, this mimics the day/night temperature cycle they would encounter in the wild.

 

[revxus]

I do the same as paulh - works for me and the snake. =)