First time snake owner, looking for help! - Page 2

BlackIndigo · 01-29-12, 10:49 PM

Hi Kylie,
Cheapest way is as follows. Get a small UTH from Amazon.com and a "plug in lamp" dimmer at home depot. You do not need a thermostat for this snake, I don't care what anyone says... Having had king snakes since 1980!!!! Giving the snake room to move, and a hide with access to plenty of water is the key. Take it out often, and you have yourself a very happy snake.

youngster · 01-29-12, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackIndigo

You do not need a thermostat for this snake, I don't care what anyone says...

O_o.... errrrr
You don't "NEED" one, but ultimately the extra 30-40 dollars goes a long way.
Those, "rheostats" are very unreliable.

With thermostats, you set the temp and you're done, with dimmers they don't change with the ambient so you have to keep adjusting it.

KORBIN5895 · 01-30-12, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackIndigo

Hi Kylie,
Cheapest way is as follows. Get a small UTH from Amazon.com and a "plug in lamp" dimmer at home depot. You do not need a thermostat for this snake, I don't care what anyone says... Having had king snakes since 1980!!!! Giving the snake room to move, and a hide with access to plenty of water is the key. Take it out often, and you have yourself a very happy snake.

That's awesome! Can we get pics of your snakes?

sfournier · 02-19-12, 04:36 PM

Shes beautiful. Keep her warm side 75-80 degrees. I find that the heating pads break quickly. Get a clamp lamp (if you buy one from a farm feed store they are cheaper) and get a heating bulb from the pet store. Get a red or blue bulb so it doesnt bother her at night. And use natural light during the day (keep your bulb on for heat). As for baths. Dont give your snake a bath unless shes having shedding problems. If you give her too many baths it will dry out the natural oils in her skin. Get a water dish big enough for her to submerge in, she will soak when she needs too. Aspen bedding is fine. Newspaper is good, peat moss is better looking. I have had my corn for 5 years and shes 5 feet long.

For the size tank shown you should only need a 75 maybe 100 watt bulb. It looks like a good size tank for now.

Lankyrob · 02-19-12, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfournier

Shes beautiful. Keep her warm side 75-80 degrees. I find that the heating pads break quickly. Get a clamp lamp (if you buy one from a farm feed store they are cheaper) and get a heating bulb from the pet store. Get a red or blue bulb so it doesnt bother her at night. And use natural light during the day (keep your bulb on for heat). As for baths. Dont give your snake a bath unless shes having shedding problems. If you give her too many baths it will dry out the natural oils in her skin. Get a water dish big enough for her to submerge in, she will soak when she needs too. Aspen bedding is fine. Newspaper is good, peat moss is better looking. I have had my corn for 5 years and shes 5 feet long.

For the size tank shown you should only need a 75 maybe 100 watt bulb. It looks like a good size tank for now.

this is totally wrong, corns need a hot end temp of 86f - 75f would be ok for the cool end but if the hot end was only 75f then the snake could have issues digesting food and become seriously ill.

Lankyrob · 01-27-12, 04:17 PM

Baths arent overly necessary unless the snake crawls through its own poop.

The hot end should be 86f and cool end no lower than 70f.

Am sure you will but make sure any thing you get from your friend is sterilised before putting into your snakes tank

KEep the questions coming, no matter how silly you think they sound, we have all been there at one time and we are all here to help

Kylie · 01-27-12, 04:35 PM

What should i use to sterilise everything with? And what is the best heat source to use? Is it normal for her to climb the tank? normal for her to Barry her head in the shavings? i just want to know what this all means if shes to warm to cold, im not to sure. I am going out today to get a heat gun to make sure im not cooking her or freezing her.

alessia55 · 01-27-12, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

What should i use to sterilise everything with? And what is the best heat source to use? Is it normal for her to climb the tank? normal for her to Barry her head in the shavings? i just want to know what this all means if shes to warm to cold, im not to sure. I am going out today to get a heat gun to make sure im not cooking her or freezing her.

Getting a temperature gun is a great idea. You'll be able to tell better where her temps are.

Yes, it is normal for her to climb the sides of her tank. Snakes do this out of curiosity for the most part. Yes, it is normal for her to bury her head in the shavings. Sometimes snakes do silly things.

What's the best heat source? Different people have different methods. When I had a corn snake, I used an under tank heating pad on a thermostat. Others use ceramic heat emitters or heat lamps. It doesn't matter all that much so long as whatever you're using is giving the tank the heat gradient your snake needs. Using the temp gun will help you decide what might work best for you.

Kylie · 01-27-12, 06:58 PM

Okay thanks again!!!

Another thing is, what watt light bulb is good for a 2Ft tank? they had a 150 watt bulb in? to much? i put a 50 watt in just from other people telling me its a good choice. Also they are feeding her 3 "hoppers" at a time, my friend who had the boas told me i could probably try 1 reg. mouse?

-Kylie

Lankyrob · 01-27-12, 07:03 PM

The heat source nEeds to be thermostatted whatever you decide on so the wattage of the bulb wont matter as much because the temps will be controlled anyway.

Kylie · 01-27-12, 07:22 PM

Ok, i can not find a thermostat right now, i guess the pet store here does not carry them, only the one i am using now. Also to staralize, just bleach? anything safer?

ladyjustice33 · 01-27-12, 09:31 PM

I have 8 corns and none have a heat lamp. Mine are in 25 qt tubs in a rack system on heat tape and are doing very well. I use sani chips for a substrate and looking at the size of your corn, she can most definitely handle an adult mouse every week. I spot clean every week and clean out the entire tub around once a month with a reptile safe cleaner I got at petsmart, can't remember the name right at this moment. My corns have only one hide over the heat tape and when they want to cool off usually get on top of the hide or hand at the front of the tub. All they have in their tub is a water bowl and hide, but then a tub is a lot different than a glass tank. They also love to burrow under the substrate. All my corns do it, so I think they feel more secure under the substrate. My ball pythons don't burrow, but my rainbow boas do also now that I think about it!

Kayla90 · 01-28-12, 12:00 AM

Welcome to the forum

Very cute looking corn you have

Kylie · 01-28-12, 12:38 AM

Thanks! i love her! i have alot of learning to do tho!

Is it bad to handle snakes often? like i know not to handle her after she eats, and during shedding time, but anytime after is it bad? she sometimes hisses at me and i know its a noise snakes make but what does it mean when she does it when im holding her?

Kayla90 · 01-28-12, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

Thanks! i love her! i have alot of learning to do tho!

Is it bad to handle snakes often? like i know not to handle her after she eats, and during shedding time, but anytime after is it bad? she sometimes hisses at me and i know its a noise snakes make but what does it mean when she does it when im holding her?

Well it really depends.. you have to get to know her personality more.. So like my roommates female hiss when she's pissed.. or we won't let her go where so wants to go lmao...
But some may hiss in a defensive way..

I handle my snakes as often as I can, but not for long periods of time... Once they start to cool down I like to put them back because the cooler temps aren't that good for them..