Cornsnake Research Reply PLEASE!

[Fourstrings88]

Well I am looking to get my first cornsnake.Well actually it will be my first snake!So what I need is some help with doing my research phase.First off I am looking to get a baby cornsnake so I am going to have a 10 gallon tank.I would like to use "Habi Chip bedding" from LLLReptile it looks great and I was wondering if anyone has heard anything about it and also how much do you think I need enough for the 10 gallon tank(4 quarts enough?).

I think I might use a heat lamp becuase he seems to be better and make more sense to use so what wattage bulb do you think i need to reach 85 or so?Then I am going to use ProExotic.com`s idea for hides,taking the base or plate from where you sit a pot on(not the bottom of the pot)and just chip a peice off and use that.You can check out the site and look in the FAQ`s I suggest you do that ists a great site and can save time and moeny.

Then I would like to eventually use CRToon83`s (on reptilerooms.com) idea for PVC pipe (YOU GET THE CREDIT LOL).I am still wondering about the water bowl i might just take a dog water bowl and use that and also cut and opening in the fton for a 2nd hide any suggestions for this would be great!ALso feeding....inside the tank or outside i see some people do it in the indise which seems to be fine.Thats abotu it I think that will be my set up besides cage lid locks thats it of course I do think I am forgetting some things but feel free to remind me.

Now besides changing the water,spot cleaning,and fedding ,and a little handeling is there really anything else needed to do?I also need to know if mice can get freezer brunt and if they go sort of go bad in the freezer if not seeled up or in a seprate bag becuase you are going to have to take them out of the airtight bag to open it and put them in a siploc or something right?

OH! AND PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST PICTURES OF YOUR ENCLOSURES THE MORE PICTURES THE BETTER I CANT TELL HOW MUCH THIS HELPS ME OUT WITH MY OTHER HERPS PLEASE!THANKS

LET ME KNOW THANKS!

-Chris

 

[The Reptile House]

I would use an under tank heat pad rather than a heat lamp the belly heat helps them digest their food better they sell them by size so for a 10 gal they come sold as 10-20 gal size. The lights also surge and burn out alot.

If it were me I would not even go the 10 gal route. I would jump straight to a 30 gal size for full term rather than have to upsize the tank in a period of time.

If your frozen mice are kept in a sealed tight container they will not get freezer burn.

If you decide to not go with an under tank heat pad then you would need to base the wattage off the temp of the room. Also check the water often the lights from above will evaporate it quickly.

I have climbing branches in my corns cages mine like to climb but some of my other corns just stay barried and hidden all day.

Hope some of this may help you out. Whoever you decide to get your first corn from enjoy it! Shanell

 

[CRToon83]

I replied over on kingsnake's forum to this post, however I would like to point out one thing. I apologize if he came to understand that I came up with the idea for the scorched PVC perches, as I did not. I never said I did, I believe it was probably a presumption. But, thank you for the kind words.

And on that note....

 

[MorphTiles]

Make sure if your substrate is pine or cedar, thet you don't feed them in there. Well, actually, you shouldn't feed your snakes in their homes anyway, so they don't think that every time your hand comes in, its not holding food. But the pine/ cedar thing is because if ingested, it can cause respiratory problems. Also, small dixi cups work well as water dishes. A small branch from a tree should also be placed in the habitat because they love to climb. One more thing, give them a hiding place. Small cups with holes in them work pretty well. Good luck and glad to hear you're getting into corn snakes.

 

[Wilomn]

You should NOT use cedar at all. Pine is ok.

 

[DAND]

Do Not Use Cedar!!!

I'd suggest Aspen for bedding. Paper towels or newspaper work well for a liner too.

 

[MorphTiles]

Ok, sorry, don't use cedar. I mis typed that. Pine is fine but not cedar.

 

[sircat]

Keeping a baby in a 30g might be too big...I'm worried about my baby ghost who's in a 10g and hope he starts eating regularly...trying different things now

there's no need to even say pine as bedding

aspen, newspaper and paper towel are readily available enough and much preferred...

good luck

 

[cowboyman13]

Well I am looking to get my first cornsnake.Well actually it will be my first snake!So what I need is some help with doing my research phase.First off I am looking to get a baby cornsnake so I am going to have a 10 gallon tank.I would like to use "Habi Chip bedding" from LLLReptile it looks great and I was wondering if anyone has heard anything about it and also how much do you think I need enough for the 10 gallon tank(4 quarts enough?).

A 10 gallon will do just fine for a year or so and then you can pick up a 20L. A corn does just fine in a 20L for the remainder of its adult life. Hold on to the 10 because once you get one corn more are soon to follow. If you decide to go with a larger size tank make sure you include plenty of hides. You want hides on both the warm and cold side of the tank so you corn can move around to find the temp its looking for without getting scared. Alot of folks including myself use paper towel rolls for a means of hide. You can postion it so it sits partailly over the heated area and partailly in the cooler area. Belive it or not corns love them.

I use Lizard Litter plus it is safe for corns. I have been using it for a couple of months now and my snakes seem to like it, But the majority of cornsnake owners use aspen. You are looking for a depth of about 2 inches to 1 inch. A small bag of substrate should have no problem filling a 10 gallon tank.

I think I might use a heat lamp becuase he seems to be better and make more sense to use so what wattage bulb do you think i need to reach 85 or so?Then I am going to use ProExotic.com`s idea for hides,taking the base or plate from where you sit a pot on(not the bottom of the pot)and just chip a peice off and use that.You can check out the site and look in the FAQ`s I suggest you do that ists a great site and can save time and moeny.

I would highly suggest using a Under the tank heater. A corn needs belly heat in order to digest its food properly. You can pick up a UTH for about 12bucks that will fit under one side of a 10 gallon tank. You adjust the amount of substrate over the UTH to control the temputure in the tank. You are looking for 80-85 on the hot and 75 on the cool. The plus side of an UTH is the heat is where the snake needs it. Your not replacing bulbs all the time, and there is no fear of the snake getting to close to the bulb and burning itself.

If you decide to go with a light then make sure it is on the outside of the tank where your corn cant press its body to it and risk getting burned. I would suggest a 50watt bulb for a ten gallon tank. I use a 50 with my turtel and am able to get the hot side of a ten gallon about 90 degrees.

I am still wondering about the water bowl i might just take a dog water bowl and use that and also cut and opening in the fton for a 2nd hide any suggestions for this would be great!ALso feeding....inside the tank or outside i see some people do it in the indise which seems to be fine.Thats abotu it I think that will be my set up besides cage lid locks thats it of course I do think I am forgetting some things but feel free to remind me.

Dog water bowl idea sounds good just make sure it is something big enough for your snake to get in if it needs to soak. And heavy enough that it cant be turned over. I use the rock looking water bowls made for reptiles. If you set it on top of the substrate with about an inch or two of substrate under it. Your snake will be able to burrow underneath and hide there. The rough outside edge all so gives the snake something to rub against during sheeding.

As far as feeding inside the tank. I have seen alot of debate. They say you shouldnt do it because then your snake will associate your hand entering the tank as time to eat. This may cause your snake to strike at you when go in to clean and mantain the tank. The biggest reason you dont feed in your tank is to elimante the chance of your snake ingesting substrate by accident while eating. This can be very bad for your snake causing a blockage internally. You could offset this by laying down something on top of the substrate and then putting the food on top of that. I personally take my snakes out to feed them in a seprate container. I dont have to worry about them ingesting anything and it forces you to handle your snakes getting them used to you and you use to them.

Now besides changing the water,spot cleaning,and fedding ,and a little handeling is there really anything else needed to do?I also need to know if mice can get freezer brunt and if they go sort of go bad in the freezer if not seeled up or in a seprate bag becuase you are going to have to take them out of the airtight bag to open it and put them in a siploc or something right?
-Chris

I would suggest picking up The Corn Snake Manual. It will help with any other questions you might have, and teach you things you didint know to ask. A quick search will show you where to pick it up. Get a good thermomter most use digital, but the stick on ones by Flukers work good to. Just remember to get two so you can stick one on both the cool and hot side of the tank to keep tabs on temps. Remeber your checking temps at the substrate so put your guage there. Get you a hygrometer one is all you need comes in a pack with temp guage from flukers all so sticks to side of tank. It will help you track humidity at times of shedding so you can increase it when your snake is getting ready to shed. I average about 50% most of the time and increase to 80% during shedding times. Corns dont need high humiditys all the time and 50% to 60% should be fine.

Sorry kinda of long winded there but i hope this gets you started in the right track. This is pretty much the basics i learned when i started my research. Some more experinced folks might be able to add to it.