new home problem

[daniel321]

i have just made a big cage for my snake. the cage is around 4.5 feet long 4 feet high and 2 feet wide and it has 3 levels in it. the cage looks great but i am not sure that my snake likes it. it has bin in the new cage for a little over 1 week now and it just stays in one corner. anyone no y?????????? the cage has heat places and lots of hides but it just sits in the coldest place in the cage that is around 74 degrees. and this place is right out in the open. any help would be nice. i was thinking that it just needs to get to no its new home but i am not sure.

 

[RJM137]

I assume that it's fine. If it's staying in the coldest spot, maybe the rest of the enclosure is a bit humid/warm. Or, just like I find out from time to time, your snake is moving around the entire viv when you're sleeping/nighttime. Half the time I check out my snakes they're on the cool side in their coconuts. But judging by the water consumption and just all of the tunnels they dig around, I'm positive they're moving all over the place at the exact moments I'm not watching.

 

[alan]

Hi Daniel. Couple questions
What is the temperature of the "heat places" and how are they heated?
How are you measuring the temperature?

If you've got pics of the cage you made can we see it?

 

[daniel321]

i will get the pics up soon. there are two heat places one place has a head lamp on the top so my snake gets heat from above and the other is a UTH that is under the plywood the heat places are around 80-83 degrees.

 

[daniel321]

i will get the pics up soon. there are two heat places one place has a head lamp on the top so my snake gets heat from above and the other is a UTH that is under the plywood the heat places are around 80-83 degrees.

plz note that this is the pics before i put all the beading in it lookes the same but full of bedding.

 

[Norwolf]

New cage

Looks great, but from the pic. I don't see any ventilation. Is your snake getting enough air?

 

[daniel321]

i thought the same thing so i cut a hole in the plywood and put a little computer fan with a mesh cover (so the snake can touch it) so that it does blow air into the cage a bit do u think i may need more?

 

[Norwolf]

Probably enough, but i don't know. I do know that snakes have a respiratory system (like us) with a lung and they do need air.

 

[gworfish]

I'm far from an expert, but it looks pretty "open concept". Perhaps a couple more hides, or some fake plants to provide cover, so your snake doesn't feel too exposed/out-in-the-open. Even my boldest snakes like to have plenty to get behind. So definitely make sure there are lots of hides.

Also, not sure how long your snake has been in the new home, but mine always take a while to get used to a new residence. My biggest and boldest snake didn't poke his head out of the first hide he went into (except perhaps at night) until almost a week after we'd put him in.

Ian.

 

[alan]

Oh yeah, another question, how big/old is the snake?
That viv should have enough hiding areas for your snake and if you're temp readings are correct you should have a good range. The lamp at the top is probably unnecessary and probably way hot if you measure a surface that it shines on, add to that being on the top where even the UTH heat rises to.
If you use a vent-fan you might want to turn it so it's blowing out of the viv so it draws air through it. You need an air inlet or holes in the opposite end.
Give your snake a few more days to settle and see what happens. It's possible that your snake prefers colder temps at this time and that's the only place it found. My snake stays in the cooler/warm areas, she only goes in the warmest after she eats and occasionally in the winter if the house gets too cool.
Or, like the first answer post, how do you KNOW your snake isn't moving around when you're not watching?

 

[Asbit]

As well I see you have those plastic thermometer strips on the front of your cage. These are terribly inaccurate as much as 10-15 degrees either way. So if that is what you are relying on to check temps you may have a far to hot home, as you read 83 ish and it may be 93-98ish.

As well I agree about the needing more areas to hide in, give more cover, fake plants etc.

Do the air holes on the opposite side and turn the fan around so you draw air through like Alan said, it will help to keep enough air in the home and to keep it fresh.

I too also would ditch the lamp, it seems very close to the surface you have it above and unless you have a themometer with probe lying right there, you really do not know just how hot that spot is getting!

Just a side thought here, corn snakes are not arboreal, so do not be to crushed if your snake does not make much use of the upper layers of the home, ground space with a temp gradient ranging from 70-85 is what they really need, and it should be provided by belly heat, which is why it is good to hear you have a UTH, is it being controlled by a thermostat or a rheostat?

 

[ForkedTung]

It does look a bit open, but looks like you put alot of work into it, the mirror may also make it feel exposed...the fake plants would be a great idea!
Also if that's sand you might want to take it out, bad for their scales, bacteria factory and can cause impaction if ingested.

 

[daniel321]

Oh yeah, another question, how big/old is the snake?
That viv should have enough hiding areas for your snake and if you're temp readings are correct you should have a good range. The lamp at the top is probably unnecessary and probably way hot if you measure a surface that it shines on, add to that being on the top where even the UTH heat rises to.
If you use a vent-fan you might want to turn it so it's blowing out of the viv so it draws air through it. You need an air inlet or holes in the opposite end.
Give your snake a few more days to settle and see what happens. It's possible that your snake prefers colder temps at this time and that's the only place it found. My snake stays in the cooler/warm areas, she only goes in the warmest after she eats and occasionally in the winter if the house gets too cool.
Or, like the first answer post, how do you KNOW your snake isn't moving around when you're not watching?

my snake is around five feet and i don't no the age surface heat of were the heat lamp shines is 80 degrees right now

 

[alan]

Nice! 5'! You have to get us a pic of your snake.
I have a five-footer also. She's pretty reliable as far as temps go, she picks the lower temp areas more often.
Make sure of the temps, especially the hot parts. I'm a little surprised that the light only makes that area 80°. Since your viv has so many areas you might want to get an infra-red gun-type thermometer to check it.

That's not an easy viv to clean but having only one makes it less of a bother. I only have one snake myself, she takes very little time to care for.

 

[daniel321]

Nice! 5'! You have to get us a pic of your snake.
I have a five-footer also. She's pretty reliable as far as temps go, she picks the lower temp areas more often.
Make sure of the temps, especially the hot parts. I'm a little surprised that the light only makes that area 80°. Since your viv has so many areas you might want to get an infra-red gun-type thermometer to check it.

That's not an easy viv to clean but having only one makes it less of a bother. I only have one snake myself, she takes very little time to care for.

here r is a pic that i just took of the snake he was actually exploring and climbing the logs!!

 

[Asbit]

Nice snake, glad to see that after all that work you have done, your snake seems to enjoy exploring and climbing!! It would have been a shame if your snake was like my motley snow and did not like to do anything except slowly slither on the ground!