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Just need a little help.

C

Classic_Fizz

New member
Ok, I am sort of new to this whole snake thing. My friend and I got really interested in owning a snake but my mom wasnt too keen on the whole idea. So, we went in half-and-half on a snake and the supplies for it and it lives at my friend's house. My mom came and saw it and said she actually really liked it and wouldn't mind me having one at my house. So I am going to get one too! At my friends house, we have a 10 (i think) gal. tank, with that reptile-astroturf stuff for substrate. We are using a heat lamp because I don't really know how to regulate the temp. with the under-tank heat pad things. The snake is doing good and is really people friendly. It has been eating just fine and all that good stuff. I just have a few questions before I get the next which will be staying with me.
Is that astroturf stuff good? It seems to be working fine and I like it. I know that you should keep another piece handy and a that good stuff. I plan on using it unless anyone has any major problems with it. I have a 20 gallon tank that I picked up last night. I need a lid still. Keep in mind I dont have the snake yet. Would a heat lamp be good enough. Everyone seems to like the under-tank pads better, but I really have no idea how to use those and I like the idea of having light. Should I change my mind and use the UTH, can I still put some sort of light over tank, and if so what kind of light should I use? Also, for an adult corn snake, what is the ideal tank size? Thanks so much! :)
 
Hi Fizz
Astroturf is not the greatest for substrate. the bacterial builds up if not clean all the time. Even with switching mat you must sterilize them real good. Aspen is what most here would reamend and the snake love to burrow in it too. Heat lamps are frown on too because corn need more belly heat to help with digestion and it tends to lower the humanity in the tank. But you can use a low wattage light to see in the tank if you need.
A UTH or heat mat with a thermometer with a probe (indoor/outdoor type) is the way to go. to regulate the heat (temp) you can get a thermostate or a rheostat. There is a link below for making you own.

Good with the 20l tank you have, just check out some pet store that sell fish to a lid for it. Get some clips too to lock it down. Corns are known to escape.

Here a few links to help out. Good luck :cheers:

Husbandry and such
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28341
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28342
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17224
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/sh...?p=133428#post6
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28343
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17939&highlight=jello+butt

Free Herp Software
http://www.serpwidgets.com/Apps/apps.html
http://www.proherp.com/
http://www.cornsnakes.nl/
http://home.comcast.net/~spencer62/cornprog.html

Setup
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/t.../bltanksize.htm
http://www.mgreptiles.com/VIROSAN.html
http://www.anapsid.org/blacklight.html
http://arbreptiles.com/cages/flexwire.shtml
http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/tips.shtml
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19168

Miscellaneous
http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/
http://www.moreptiles.com/cornsnake-lifecycle.htm

Cohabitation
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17308
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31192

On-line frozen mice suppliers
http://www.themousefactory.com/
http://cajunmice.com/
http://www.rodentpro.com/index.asp
http://www.bigcheeserodents.com/htt...m/htm/mice.html
http://peticebox.com/
http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk/frozen-mice.html for the UK
 
Lennycorn said:
What......are you just lurking today?? :grin01:
Click to expand...

Mostly...

I've had a lot going on lately, and don't really even have time to read. I'm just doing it anyway.
 
Thanks a lot!
Now, I will probably go with aspen (sp?). What sort of container should I feed it in then? Do I just put the food in and the put the snake in and then just remove him shorty after? There are fairly large containers (for storage, kind of remind me of tupperware). Would that work or should I just go buy another tank? Would 10 gal. work ok? Also, do the UTH things have typically have thermostats built in, or is it hard to find one with it? Thanks for all the help, as I am still kind of new to this. I will also apply these tips to the other snake too.
 
Ok, so I am a little confused after reading some things about UTH units. Can you set it a certain temp? And will they automatically adjust? I am assuming not because of the thermostat things. The ones I have looked at on this website are pricey. Are there any that can just be left on? I don't want to have to constantly be checking the temp. because I would feel like I would have to check it every 5 minutes and worry when I wasnt home. And with the thermostats, do you put the probe inside and just leave it or put it underneath? Sorry, I am being sort of a pain, but I just want to do all of this right. Thanks again.
 
Classic_Fizz said:
Thanks a lot!
Now, I will probably go with aspen (sp?). What sort of container should I feed it in then? Do I just put the food in and the put the snake in and then just remove him shorty after? There are fairly large containers (for storage, kind of remind me of tupperware). Would that work or should I just go buy another tank? Would 10 gal. work ok? Also, do the UTH things have typically have thermostats built in, or is it hard to find one with it? Thanks for all the help, as I am still kind of new to this. I will also apply these tips to the other snake too.
Click to expand...

Tupperware will work, just a vented lid with it.(being low the snake will crawl out of it) You have to make small hole in it yourself. But you can use any thing. a 10 gallon will do too. I use a brown paper bag myself but my snake are just starting to crawl out but they seem to know that it feeding time when their in there. and yes just take him out with care when the lump has settle in and put him back in his Viv.
I haven't used or seen any uth with thermostate built in them but I sure they make them. The last link in the Setup section will give you a help to make your own rheostat.

Good luck :cheers:
 
You can plug a UTH up to a rheostat (ZooMed makes one) that will allow you to dial the heat output up or down to get the correct temperature. :)
 
cka said:
You can plug a UTH up to a rheostat (ZooMed makes one) that will allow you to dial the heat output up or down to get the correct temperature. :)
Click to expand...
After that, will is (for the most part at least) stay regular?
Thanks again everybody! Your input is really helping!
 
Yup, jjust make sure you use a thermometer to measure the temps directly over the UTH at the substrate level...
 
I got a ZooMed rheostat and I didn't like it. It didn't get my temps low enough. They were staying in the low 90's which is too hot for corns. I put it on my ball python's tank and got a plug in lamp dimmer from Wal-mart. It works better for me.
 
You can always place the UTH on a heat resistant piece of tile and raise/lower the aquarium above it to get the desired temperature, w/o directly affixing it to your tank :)
 
I prefer thermostats rather than rheostats/lamp dimmers. With a dimmer the temp changes with the room temp so you have to check it frequently. With a thermostat you just set it to the proper range and don't really have to worry about it again. Best deal is the Zoo Med 500R for $22.99 plus shipping at reptiledirect.com.

A digital thermometer with probe is also essential. What I do is zip tie the 2 probes together and put them under the substrate directly over the UTH so it measures the hottest point the snake can reach.
 
If you are getting a hatchling, make sure you use at least 4 of those clips on the screen. Six and a rock on top would be better. The small ones can slip through the tiniest of cracks...

Good luck, and welcome to the site....

Scott
 
The rheostat should be on the outside of the tank - when you see it, you'll understand.
Any UTH will work fine. Be aware of a couple of things:
#1 - Don't adhere it to the glass of your tank - it never comes off. Instead, affix a sheet of aluminum foil to the sticky glue. That way you can move it around as desired.
#2 UTHs break after a few years. They kind of "burn out."
#3 UTHs can get burning hot. Be careful.

I prefer heat tape, which is a self construct (you have to follow simple electrical connections directions - all very easy), available through several herp-supply houses.
 
ok, will it still work if I just dont take off the the sticker that reveals the adheasive crap and just set it under the tank? Also, I am getting the thermostat someone reccomended a couple of posts ago. Don't the probes go on the inside of the tank? And if so, dont the wires make the lid rise a little? If not, where do you put the probes? Thanks!
 
I was always worried that the sticker - being made of a flammable object - would heat up so much it became a hazard.

As for the rheostat - maybe you're right. I'm not ffamiliar with the one you're describing. Follow directions and ask more questions if you can't figure it out.
 
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