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Newbie with some ?'s

rain_man

rain_man

"It's Hammer Time!!"
Hello, I am new to corn snakes and need some help with a few questions. Over the last month or so I have been researching corns, there have been some questions that I keep getting different answers to, but they all just say that their answer is the best answer.

Here are my four questions:

1) Is a regular 20 gallon tank okay for a full grown corn, or do I have to get a 20L?
2)Do 20 gallon and 20L tanks cost the same, or should one cost more?
3)Is aspen bedding or cage carpet better?
4)Do you need a moist hide all the time or just before a shed?
 
1) Although they are good climbers, corns are more "terrestrial" than "arboreal". A 20L is the recommended enclosure size.

2) Last I checked, I 20L is a little more than a 20H.

3) Generally speaking, aspen is the preferred substrate. It's absorbent, and it gives corns the opportunity to burrow, creating a little tunnel system. Those who do use cage carpet usually have two for each enclosure, one that is in the enclosure as the other is being cleaned/dried. They are notorius microbe farms.

4) A moist or humid hide is used only when the snake is in the shedding process. Some opt to mist their vivs during this time. You don't want constant humidity in a corn's enclosure; they're not a "tropical" species, and high levels of humidity is the perfect environment for more bacterial growth.

Be sure to check out the FAQs in the forum. Hope this helped.

regards,
jazz
 
rain_man said:
Hello, I am new to corn snakes and need some help with a few questions. Over the last month or so I have been researching corns, there have been some questions that I keep getting different answers to, but they all just say that their answer is the best answer.
Click to expand...


Keep in mind that there are no hard and fast rules with cornsnakes. DIfferent people do things different ways, and they work. Each person will think that their way is the best, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be best for you.

rain_man said:
Here are my four questions


1) Is a regular 20 gallon tank okay for a full grown corn, or do I have to get a 20L?
2)Do 20 gallon and 20L tanks cost the same, or should one cost more?
3)Is aspen bedding or cage carpet better?
4)Do you need a moist hide all the time or just before a shed?
Click to expand...

Here are my four answers:

1) A 20L will be better for your corn because if the increased floor space. Adult corns tend to stay terrestrial, so a longer tank will be better than a taller tank. Also, remember that a 20L is the minimum size needed. If you can get a bigger tank, it will be even better.

2) I don't know.

3) I think aspen is better, and most of the people on this forum will agree with me. If you do a search on this site, you will find threads discussing why aspen is the better bedding for corns.

4) A moist hide is only necessary before a shed, and only if you have a history of bad sheds. In many locations, the ambient humidity is all that is necessary for good sheds. However, and moist hide won't hurt if you put it in there. If your corn wants to use it, he will.

There are my answers. They are my opinion, and what I've found works for me. You may even get different answers on this site as well. Just do whatever works best for you and your snake.
 
thanks for the answers, and i would also like to now if i can put hatchlings in smaller cages. If i can, what size, and what would the inside look like? I haven't been able to find many pictures of smaller Viv's, most are of sterilite containers, but i was looking for something that looks better on my dresser.
 
Hatchlings can go in 10 gallon vivs. They work very well and that is what alot of people use for hatchlings until they get big enough to move into bigger vivs. Here is a pic of my 20 long. A 10 gallon could look just the same only on a smaller scale. :)
 

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I just read here that moist hides should only be present during shed and wonder if I am doing this wrong. Both of my snakes have a moist hide available at all times. I use a small plastic container with sphagnum moss that I change out regularly (about once a week). Ivory, my snow seems to "live" in hers but my creamsicle has never been in his that I can tell. Both are healthy and have good sheds. I haven't had any respiratory problems. I think I am ok being as both snakes are in good health but what is the concensus on moist hides? All the time? or Just during shed?
 
I've personally never used or had the need to use moist hides. I would imagine that as long as the humidity isn't too with them present that it wouldn't be a bad thing. But then again I can't imagine the humidity not being high in a "moist" hide. I don't know how long it takes respiratory problems to become evident or at what humidity levels problems begin to occur, but if you have been doing things the same for a long time with no problems I would think that what you are doing is probably okay. :)
 
1)20 gallon is fine (confuses me a bit because every one says 20 gallon even here in the UK although our 20 gallons are a bit larger than yours) a 20l is smaller than a 20 gallon I think.

2) Can't help you there living in the UK.

3) My personal preference is beech chips but aspen is perfect too. I can't be bothered with the hassle of carpet and i don't think it looks right.

4) I have just started using a moist hide and I believe the best thing to do is keep it in all the time but only moisten the moss when in shed.

Hope that helps.
 
rain_man said:
thanks for the answers, and i would also like to now if i can put hatchlings in smaller cages. If i can, what size, and what would the inside look like? I haven't been able to find many pictures of smaller Viv's, most are of sterilite containers, but i was looking for something that looks better on my dresser.
Click to expand...

You have seen how my hatchling is housed. I particularly like that way because
1)you can still light them up.
2)double escape proof
3)Cheap and the main viv is big enough to become their home when they get big enough
4)Much easier to heat
5)looks alright and is still quite attractive.
 
jazzgeek said:
2) Last I checked, I 20L is a little more than a 20H.
Click to expand...
huh you mean 20L is more than 20 Gallon? But 1 Gallon=3.7 liters or something. Or is it different when talking about tanks? :shrugs:
 
Kvlt said:
huh you mean 20L is more than 20 Gallon? But 1 Gallon=3.7 liters or something. Or is it different when talking about tanks? :shrugs:
Click to expand...

I believe his answer was about cost, not volume. :)
 
Kvlt said:
huh you mean 20L is more than 20 Gallon? But 1 Gallon=3.7 liters or something. Or is it different when talking about tanks? :shrugs:
Click to expand...
Mary-Beth is KoRny said:
I believe his answer was about cost, not volume. :)
Click to expand...
Indeed, I was referring to cost. There may have been a little confusion with the nomenclature, too. "20L" refers to a 20-gallon "long" tank, not a 20 liter tank. Along the same line a "20H" refers to a 20-gallon "high" tank, which obviously by inference, is taller in height, but has a smaller "footprint" (width X depth).

regards,
jazz
 
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