HEY!!!

[foxhawk16]

Im new to keeping snakes
I have always wanted one and now i am going to purchase a rosy cornsnake tomorro.

For it's housing im gonna use a 50 gallon fish tank it's 4 feet long. Is this good.
I've got all the lighting
Im gonna make it sorta a terrarium with a pond in the middle.
With guppys

THe snake is a baby about 4 inches long
It's feed off of frozen mice so i don't think i'll have the problems with the snake eating the guppys.
(is this okay to do)

Also i am doing a sand/smooth aquarium pebbles for the substrate with some very short grass i got from home depot.

I made an open area by the night lamp with some flat stones and a tree branch. as i was told that the snake would feel more secure and warmer.



Well nice to meet all of u. And please help me or modify me ideas.
Thankz :]

 

[Rich in KY]

Im new to keeping snakes
I have always wanted one and now i am going to purchase a rosy cornsnake tomorro.

Hi :wavey: Welcome to the forum!

For it's housing im gonna use a 50 gallon fish tank it's 4 feet long. Is this good.
I've got all the lighting
Im gonna make it sorta a terrarium with a pond in the middle.
With guppys

For a baby corn snake, a 50 gallon tank is a little big. If you use that tank you need to make sure to give your snake plenty of places to hide. One thing I use that my little snakes like, are empty toilet paper rolls.

THe snake is a baby about 4 inches long
It's feed off of frozen mice so i don't think i'll have the problems with the snake eating the guppys.
(is this okay to do)

It is better to only feed your snake mice. Some fish can be unhealthy for your snake.

Also i am doing a sand/smooth aquarium pebbles for the substrate with some very short grass i got from home depot.

I am not sure what grass you are talking about. But the sand is not a good idea. The snake cannot digest it, if it accidently eats some. And pebbles can be very hard to keep clean. One of the more popular substrates to use is aspen bedding. It is safe for your snake and easy to keep clean.

I made an open area by the night lamp with some flat stones and a tree branch. as i was told that the snake would feel more secure and warmer.

The tree branch is a must. Corn snakes love to climb. They do need warmth. Many people use Under Tank Heaters (UTH) to keep their snakes warm. Whatever you decide to use, you will need a thermometer and a way to regulate the temp of your heater, either a rheostat or a thermostat.

Well nice to meet all of u. And please help me or modify me ideas.
Thankz :]

I hope I helped. If you have more questions, please ask!

 

[foxhawk16]

Thanks.

With the large tank i wanted something the snake could grow in to.
I made lots of hiding places. :]

I am trying to go for the most natural setup possible.
As i also keep fish.

The "guppys" are Not intended as "food"
are they safe to keep with the snake???

I will be feeding the snake in a 5 gallon under the stand.
:]
(with no substrate in the feeding aquarium)


WIth the sand it is pool filter sand I really wanted to do this.
Pool filter sand is a bacteria blocker in a way.
I use it in aquariums.
Also my neighbor whose a zoologist at SD Zoo said i should use sand and large smooth grave.

please can someone give me some ideas on other natural enviroment simulating substrates?!?! thanks :]

i've been browsing the forum and everyone has beautiful snakes.

THANK YOU RICH IN KY
)))

 

[Rich in KY]

For natural viv setups, you should read “The Art of Keeping Snakes” by Philippe de Vosjoli. He describes how to create natural looking vivs.

The only concern I would have for keeping guppies in with your snake is if you use a pump filter, the snake may get stuck in the pump. But I have never tried. Maybe another member has experience with this.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Be sure to post pics of your snake and the viv once you get them!

 

[diamondlil]

For a corn snake that set-up sounds completely wrong. The snake will go in the pool, probably eat the guppies and definately foul the water. Have a look at the FAQ'S on husbandry for the recommended set-up.
When you say you've 'got all the lighting', what do you mean? Corns don't need lighting, and UV can possibly cause cataracts. What you do need is a regulated heat source, IE thermostat controlling either an under-tank heater or heat lamps.
Sand and gravel are not good substrates at all. A biofilm of bacteria will form around each grain and stone and be a possible source of infection such as scale rot. Also the sand can and will irritate between the scales.
Kathy Love's book is a very good resource to get you started, as well as reading on here
http://www.corn-utopia.com/

 

[snakewispera snr]

I can't work out where your from,so I can't be specific with brand names...
Why not put Jr in a small contico/sterite? tub.
It can stay in there for 6-8-10 months.. Kitchen towel for substrate a small hide, job done. It will feel safe and secure, and you won't have the worry of what ifs cropping up.. I know they are not the most attractive of things but they do an excellent job in the first few months
MIKE

 

[Nanci]

I agree you should read The Art Of Keeping Snakes if you want to set up a naturalistic cage. Snakes and fish won't mix well- the snake is for sure going to use the pond as a toilet. Sand is a bad substrate for snakes. Cornsnakes don't need any type of lighting whatsoever, but they do need under tank heating on a thermostat.

If you want to set up the 55 with fish and something- have you considered a toad?

Or maybe just revise your plan without the fish. And the sand.

 

[susang]

I totally agree with everyone, but you. Not that my vote will count more, but I'll be blunt about it. This is a corn snake not a fish. They don't like sand it is not their natural habitat. Just because you don't want them to eat the fish, doesn't mean the snake won't. Snakes drink water so he will be drinking nasty fish water. Is you zoologist take care of reptiles? How do you plan to keep the viv clean, change the water a few times a week, pick up poo, clean urates... The other odd thing is a 4" corn snake, that is unbelievably small, is it eating? What is it eating?
You talk about a night light, do you have a source of heat, thermometer, regulater for the source of heat? So you have this great looking set-up for what because it is not suited to a corn snake. susang

 

[foxhawk16]

ya i have done some more research
and i have asked my zoologist friend about the substrates

what u guys have said is right, i know that.

NO fish at all will be with the setup, that was just an idea.

I will be looking for some other substrate that i like. But i don't know what i want, i'll probably just do the SAFE TYPES of wood chips.

I have a heat lamp.
My house is always warm so im not concerned all to much with needing a thermostat.
I got a low uv light so it wont hurt the snake.

I have a humidy meter or whatever its called and an in ground thermoniter.


So thanks for the advice.
Please be understanding though. This is my FIRST snake, YES i have done research.

I totally agree with everyone, but you

I am just beggining so i will make mistakes.
But there is no need to be rude.
Just say "here are some tips"

Thanks Everyone

 

[susang]

OK here are some tips, some repeated, you don't need a UV light not good for corn snakes. If you have done your research you would know corn snakes require a warm side and a cool side, warm 80-85 cool 70-75. I doubt the ambient temp in your house is 80-85 on a regular basis. If the heat lamp is a red one it can get hotter then 85 at the substrate level.The reason I said I didn't agree with you as you seemed to question the advice about the fish and substrate even saying your zoologist friend said you could use gravel or sand.
Just one more question which may change this whole thing "rosy cornsnake" what is a rosy cornsnake? Because if you mean rosey boa. Some the requirments would be different. susang

 

[ghosthousecorns]

Rosey rat snake as in keys corn, would be my guess..

 

[Weebonilass]

Rosey rat snake as in keys corn, would be my guess..

At one point in time, I believe Kathy Love referred to her hypos as rosys if I remember right (in the first book). Don't have it in front of me to clarify that, but I know she mentioned them in there.

Yup... from her website:

ROSY (HYPOMELANISTIC) CORN SNAKES These brilliantly colored corns have almost no black, which allows their true underlying brilliance to show through. They’re the ideal “rosy rat” substitute, and even prettier! This genetically recessive trait breeds true. I formerly called this trait hypomelanistic, or just `hypo’, on older lists and articles.

 

[Roy Munson]

At one point in time, I believe Kathy Love referred to her hypos as rosys if I remember right (in the first book). Don't have it in front of me to clarify that, but I know she mentioned them in there.

Yup... from her website:

ROSY (HYPOMELANISTIC) CORN SNAKES These brilliantly colored corns have almost no black, which allows their true underlying brilliance to show through. They’re the ideal “rosy rat” substitute, and even prettier! This genetically recessive trait breeds true. I formerly called this trait hypomelanistic, or just `hypo’, on older lists and articles.

Yep. "Rosy Rat" used to imply an Upper Keys snake, but "Rosy" was also an alternate name for hypos. Of course the "even prettier" comment is a subjective one. I prefer most Keys corns to the average outcrossed-with-everything hypo.