thinking about what I'll need...

[Phoenixphire55]

I have been doing a lot of reading about corn snakes and I have a few questions / comments. From what I've learned, I have this basic idea for the setup:
20 gallon long with a regular tube light on top, obviously a really tightly fitting lid, wood chips, probably two different half log pieces or something else for the snake to hide in, and put one on each side of the tank, a fairly large heating pad, a good size water bowl, and the optional decorations (fake leaves or whatever). What else would you suggest? Can I keep two of them in a 20 gallon long? If not, could I eventually upgrade to a bigger tank and then add a second snake?

 

[Floof]

To start, you should never cohab snakes. One to a tank, and that's all. You should do a search; there's been plenty enough discussions on the matter...

You don't necessarily need lighting. You may get a light to enhance the viewing potential, but you need to remember to turn it off at night and get one that won't heat things up.

As for the heat pad, all you say is "fairly large". The heat pad needs to cover no more than 1/2 the tank... If I remember correctly, 1/3 is considered ideal. All heating elements should be on a thermostat, especially heating pads as they can (and often will) burn your snake if left unchecked. The thermostat probe should be set directly on the glass above the heat pad--the closest the snake can get to the heating element.

 

[Corny Noob]

Nix the light it's basically useless, since you will be using a heatting pad for warmth.
I would recommend aspen instead of wood chips, easier to burrow in (unless that's what you meant)
Before this turns into a massive debate I'll just say that the general concensus is don't cohab snakes. No matter the size. If you want you can search the subject on the board, but long story short snakes are not social creatures, you run the risk of premature and stressful breeding, they can spread diseases, if one is sick you won't know which. Like I said that's long story short.

As for what else you need, you need something to regulate the tempature of the heating pad such as a thermostat or a rheostat as well as a digital probe thermometer to measure the temps.


Edit: Damn it took me too long to type lol

 

[ZoologyGirl]

I wouldn't suggest keeping more than 1 in a tank. I have much more piece of mind keeping all mine seperate.

You don't need a light on top either, just a screen top will do if you are using an aquarium. If anything the light may heat up the ambient temps too much, as well as reduce the humidity.

Another thing you wil definitely need is a thermostat for your heating pad. Without it they tend to get excessively hot. I ran one once without a thermostat (without a snake in the tank) and it got over 100 degrees before I turned it off (probably would have went higher).

Also, a probe thermometer (available at wal mart) will help you keep on eye on the temp of the heating pad.

Whoops, looks like I just repeated everything

 

[Floof]

Lol! Repetition is awesome... It just clarifies stuff that much more...

Wanted to add that, yes, a heat pad will definitely get hotter than 100 degrees. I tried it with three separate heating pads of the same brand--two 1-5 gals on separate plastic critter keepers, one 30-40 on glass--and they all reached 140*F. A different brand, 20+ gal size, reached and held steady at around 110*F (didn't have a thermostat the first week after getting my first snake). Those things are crazy when you don't control them!

 

[Phoenixphire55]

I don't have any experience using thermostats so I'm wondering if thermostats ever come with the thermometer probe? Or is it better to just get them separate and rig it all up.

Also about humidity, I live in Denver where its fairly dry, so should I mist the tank / bedding a couple times a day or what?

So, do I only need a heating pad (what size for a 20 gallon long?) or do I need to get a heat lamp as well?

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[ZoologyGirl]

The thermostat should have a probe that is used to acquire the temperature, which the stat will then turn the UTH on or off depending on the temps. Some will have a digital screen that will show you the current temperature...but I still use a thermometer alongside it.

As far as the humidity, I'd just go back how your snake sheds. If your snake has problems shedding I'd look into using a humid hide when it goes into blue. (you can do a search for humid hide on this forum)

And you don't need a heat lamp, just a UTH will be fine. For my 20L my UTH is something like 12" x 10" (around there). 1/3 of the floorspace would be about right.

 

[starship]

Not to steal the tread, but

Is a 20l big enough for an adult Corn?

 

[Nanci]

Yes, 20L is big enough for an adult corn, if it stays in the 400-500 gram size. IMO, an 800-900 gram snake would be cramped.

So I'll put in some furnishing suggestions! Snakes don't seem to like those half log hides too much until they are adults. And even an adult snake can cram into a hide much smaller than you would expect and be happy. For a baby, I'd go with several small fake rock type hides, and a paper towel roll. I myself don't consider leafy decorations optional. Baby snakes are cautious, and if you provide cover they are more likely to be out and about than if they have to dash through a wide open space to the next hide. I put at least a small suction cup vine on each end (they love to perch in those, especially the plastic end that goes through the suction cup!) and on a 20L I'd do a whole six-foot scrunchy vine just laid along the back wall, with the hides semi-concealed underneath. If you buy hollow log type hides, inspect them very carefully for the holes in the bottoms from the manufacturing process, or for hidden openings to blind limbs. One thing that is very popular with my snakes is an upside down small Gladware with a couple doors cut into it, filled with Spanish or sphagnum moss.