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I think I need to rearrange the tank

I

idloveaguinness

New member
...but is it too soon? "Fire Blaze" only moved in Saturday, and the place he likes to hide the most isn't over the heater. (By the way, the thermostat is set at 83, and the thermometer probe fluctuates between 83 - 87, perfect, I think.

I guess it could just be be his preference, but let me try to describe:

We have one of those wooden log corner hides. On the same side of the tank is the heating pad, but it's got about an inch or two of glass all the way around it. Jammed into that corner is this log hide, and so that very back corner is sorta near, but not over, the heating pad. Only the 'mouth' of the log hide is over the heater. But it's that back corner that FireBlaze hangs out in all day, which means that he's near, but not directly over the pad. I wonder if he's choosing no heat for feeling more out of the way. We also have a cave hide that is currently on the cool side of the tank, and with a swap, I could put the cave hide right over the pad, and move the log hide to the other back corner.

That was a long story to ask a simple question: will all this shifting around stress him out? We plan to feed him his first at-home meal on Friday, and was thinking that we need him to be able to have stress-free access to a heat source. Swap now or just leave it?

Other than this, it's amazing the change in behavior that comes with dusk. He was roaming all over the place last night.

Thanks, everyone.

Kevin
 
Your best bet is to leave it for now.. he will go to the heat if needed. I would also recommend that putting 2 identical hides in the tank.. one on the hot side and one on the cool side. That way you know he isn't choosing to feel safe over being warm.
 
I would definitely add two identical hides. I really like using appropriately sized terra cotta saucers. Very cheap, smallish, easy to wash, and you can afford to even through them away if they get really pooped because they are so cheap! :)
 
I wouldn't move the existing one, but I would add more. I know they are not attractive, but snakes _love_ toilet paper and paper towel tubes.
 
jessicalb said:
I would definitely add two identical hides. I really like using appropriately sized terra cotta saucers. Very cheap, smallish, easy to wash, and you can afford to even through them away if they get really pooped because they are so cheap! :)
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On those saucers - do you cut a hole in them, or do they just find their way under? Maybe push the substrate down a little in one spot to help them out?
 
I just lay them on the substrate. They nose around the edge and burrow under.

I also have egg cartons and cardboard tubes in with Mal but he just seems to adore the upside down saucers. :)
 
the place he likes to hide the most isn't over the heater.
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That's completely normal for Corns - you don't have a problem at all.

Most of mine spend their time on the cool side and only move to the warm side to digest or if they feel ill (sometimes not even then).

As long as the floor on the warm side is the correct temp - which yours is - then the snake will thermoregulate as it needs to. There's no need to try and force him to spend time on the warm side when he doesn't need to.

It ain't broke - don't mend it!
 
Thanks all. I placed a 6" terracota saucer directly over the warm spot and left the room. I went back 10 minutes later, and he was underneath it. 30 minutes after that, he was on the vines. At least he has more options now!

Kevin
 
Nanci said:
I wouldn't move the existing one, but I would add more. I know they are not attractive, but snakes _love_ toilet paper and paper towel tubes.
Click to expand...

Totaly agree, my snakes love them and in fact that's what I use for the hide on the warm side. Plus free and always have a supply of them around.
 
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