Feed my brain, please.

Alright, I looked around and it seems that a lot of the members here keep their snakes in plastic tubs. Other then the price, what are the pros and cons or a tub rather then a tank?

I'll most likely end up with a tub, so what would be best for a corn size wise? Heating? I see things about a heating pad, what are the pros and cons of a heating pad vs a heating lamp?

What sort of grounding should I have? I have read about many kinds, which is the best in your mind? What extra things should I have? I know about the hide aways and water, but what can I add to make sure my corn will be happy?

Come on feed my brain.

I really enjoy being able to see what my snakes are doing when they are out and active in the evening. I don't think I'd like them stored in a tub. I know you can maintain them that way, but it's pretty Spartan, IMO.

Nanci

Well I suggested a tub to her because it's cheaper for her, and as we all know just getting the set up can add up in certain ways.

I'm not quite sure how you would even heat a tub with a lamp, I don't think it's an option.
But the general useage on this forum is heat mats for everything lol. And with the use of a thermostat you regulate the under tank heater so you never have to worry about it getting too hot to warp the plastic.

Nanci, I can understand why you would. At a later time I might be able to either find a tank that I can buy or talk my boyfriend into helping me out but until that happens the tub is at the top of my list for the moment.

Are heat mats sold at any pet store or do I need to go some place to get them?

Also about how much did you all pay for your corns?

Well I got all of my supplies (I already had the house) from www.reptilesupply.com In stores the thermostat costs around $40, at petco for example. When you can get it for $20 at reptilesupply.com

And the prices greatly vary, as you've already found out seeing corns for over $100

A tub in my town cost £2, thats a large one big enough for a fully grown corn, however I started with a X-aquarium fish tank, although Damien was getting a little too big for the tank and he didn't like coming out when i reached in from above, now I have a Viv I got flatpack from ebay for around £70...

I suggest anything that will keep your corn happy : ) as long as there lots of space and your corn is getting exercise i don't see any problems with tubs, you find alot of breeders use tubs, I think its because they fit best with racks and generally there tubs are pretty large : )

Just do what you think will be best for your corn, maybe a tub will be best if your going for a hatchling first, since its cheap so you don't need to spend too much on the hatchlings Viv just for it too grow up fast and become to big


Good luck : )

NFS07 said:

Nanci, I can understand why you would. At a later time I might be able to either find a tank that I can buy or talk my boyfriend into helping me out but until that happens the tub is at the top of my list for the moment.

Are heat mats sold at any pet store or do I need to go some place to get them?

Also about how much did you all pay for your corns?

Click to expand...

Honestly, if you're going with a tub, I'd look into getting a 4" wide piece of Flexwatt. It's literally very easy to assemble and it's FAR cheaper than a heating mat. Since you're getting a thermostat, you'll be all set in that regard, too (Flexwatt has no internal regulator like some heat mats do).

http://www.beanfarm.com/store/agora.cgi

The parts will cost you about 9-10 bucks or so, iirc. So you'd save 7-8 bucks depending on where you bought the heating pad. If you're not mechanically inclined, might be best for you to just buy a heating mat, hehe.

Yes, heat mats are sold at just about every pet store.

As for how much I paid for my Corn, Tootse was $50.

Good luck.

Plastic tubs hold heat and humidity better than glass tanks, which may be good or bad depending on the snake and the ambient conditions.

I was using glass tanks until recently, then I bought an Animal Plastics economy rack that holds 6 32qt or 12 15qt or any combination of the 2. I currently have 4 32qt tubs for adults and 05s and 4 15qt tubs for 06s and my one baby ball python. The tubs are much easier to clean and access the snakes but I do miss the easy viewing with the glass tanks.

I went scouting at a few other pet stores and I was kind of shocked that another store that is link under the same name as the one with the $149 snake has snakes for $79.99. Then I remembered, the $149 ones were larger snakes and this single snake is a hatchling. I was not really about to see the snake, it was in a holder thing toward the back of the cage and the way the lighting was it just gave off a shadow of the snake. I also went to Petco, I was able to see two of three snakes. Both were moving around when the lady took them out, one tryed to bite her. They both seemed well enough and the third one was in his water bowl. All in all I am happy with petco right now. The bettas looked amazing, the lady who helped with the snakes also is in charge of the fish. She is new but wow, the change is amazing. It was not even a new shipment and they looked great. -dances- So I'm thinking that when it comes down to it I'll get the corn from Petco, of course we will have to see how things look next month.

Just so everyone knows, I'm not planning to buy the snake before June 14th, which is grad for me. While I would like to I know that I'll be to stressed out and never home. So you guys have a month to teach me! Yay!

Oh, thanks for all the replies. They really helped. Matthew I'm not sure I could put it together. lol.

Woot! So I have a tank now to start the corn off in. It's about 10 g I'm guessing. That will be enough until it grows more right? It was used as a rodent cage before so how should I go about cleaning it? Same as I would if it was a fish tank? Bleach, let it sit, wash it, and let it dry.

Precisely! Where on earth did you have an extra tenner laying around?

yeah, like everyone said. With tubs it's cost vs looks. Tanks look nicer, tubs cost less.
Also it can be about space. Tanks are usually quite tall, since corn snakes don't need much hight you can stack tubs much easier. Check out the rack systems people have posted (see my own in the link in my sig). I have 7 tubs in a 6 foot stack. That's a lot more snakes in a small area than you'd get with glass tanks.

Lights vs heat mats is about space, heat control and safty.
Lights are nice because they are easy to find and low cost. Also they give you nice viewing.
UTH (under tank heaters) or heat mats are nice because they don't take up the space lights do, you won't antecedently burn down your house with them (i smoked up
my house with a light that was too close to wood once) and can be left on all night.
I use UTH heaters for my rack and only have one set up that still uses lights. Lights are also nice because you can get the heat up or down by moving the lights where as you must use a rheostat (dimmer switch) or thermostat to control a UTH so it might end up costing a good deal more than lights. You can put lights on a 24 hour timer to turn them on and off, the cost as little as $2 at wal~mart.

Lol. A vet at my work was getting rid of it and I jumped at the chance. Of course my thinking was that even if for some reason I don't get the snake a tenner means more fish! So either way I'll be a happy camper.

Thanks antsterr. If I feel the need to get another one afterthe first then I might just have to pay to have to come here and build me a rack! lol. Just kidding. I think I could handle it.

Should I have plants in with the corn? If so what kind?

NFS07 said:

Should I have plants in with the corn? If so what kind?

Click to expand...

I use a couple different types of silk plants. Available at Wal-Mart for a few bucks each and they're a breeze to clean.

Live plants tend to up the humidity a tad too much, unless you've got a well ventilated enclosure.

Just remember everything you put in there is another thing you have to take out and completely santize each time you clean the enclosure.

If I went with live plants what kind are ok?

So my little check list is as follows:
Water bowl
Aspen chips
Undertank Heat Pad
Hiding spots
Things to climb on

Anything I should add? Any comments?

How would I go about sexing the corn when I get it?

Unless you can find a plant that doesn't need earth and water I'd keep clear on real plants. All that heat and light and humidity = BUGS

Did not think of that. I don't want bugs. So live plants are out.

Also other then pinkies and mice what can a corn eat?