From Ball To Corn....

I had some ball pythons but had to sell them.... (well my dad did)
But i was allowed to get a corn.... The first feeding went great but i need help with tank set up... right now shes in a 30 gal tank with a rock and dish I dont have a thermometer yet but im working on it and i have the aspen bedding.... is there any greenery that i can buy online that will last a while or logs or anything like that and are these things needed???

I have a lot of greenery in my viv, but it's only a temporary so I'll need more when I move him into his new digs. Personally, I prefer silk plants from a hobby or craft store over a pet store. They're much cheaper and craft stores have a wider variety than the pet stores IMO. I like them because it gives a lot more "cover" for security, and my guy seems extremely active, possibly because he has so many places to retreat to other than just his hides, which, actually, he rarely uses. Note that I'm a total newb in snake care, but you'll see lots of posts here discussing necessary security to make your snake less stressed.
With that in mind, if you have a Michaels or Hobby Lobby or even a JoAnn's fabrics near you, you should be able to find lots of greenery for good prices. Best of luck!

Do you have an under tank heating mat? It's a definite must. And hooked up to a thermostat (not thermometer) so you don't need to be checking the temperatures all the time. Heat lamps aren't really needed, since corn snakes absorb heat through their bellies, not from above.

A good climbing stick or faux-vine would (I would think so, anyway) be found at any nearby pet stores. If you bring in wood from outdoors (rocks too, I think) bake them to kill any insects or mites that might be inhabiting it.

For my viv, I just bought one of those kits and it came with a few reptile faux climbing vines and a faux plant.

Oh and make sure there's a place for your snake to hide. Like a little cardboard box or something. I cheated and ripped up some papertowel into strips and covered the corner where my snake spends the most time. I also made one by knocking a hole in a small clay pot.

Welcome to the forum, too!

Welcome to the forum!

Before I swiitched over to using a rack system, I used to house my Amber corn snake in a 29 gallon tank. Here's what it looked like:



Corns are nocturnal and enjoy places to hide. They'll burrow in the aspen too. Along with the plastic plants, I had a hide on the cool side and the warm side so the snake could be comfortable where ever it decided to hang out. I'd also recommend that you get yourself a thermostat to help keep the temperature on the warm side comfortable but not too hot for your snake. There are a ton of posts on this forum regarding how to properly set up your tank.

All the best! :spinner:

The main difference between corns and BPs is the warm side temp needed, Corns only need a warm side of 85 while BPS need 92 or so.

If you are using a heat rock with no thermometer and nothing to regulate the temp then you risk burning the corn snake.

You need a UTH regulated to 85 on the glass, under the substrate.

Good advice so far. In response to your original q's, yes, you need more hides which can be plants, logs, or other things. Yes, those items are available online. Many pet shops carry these things. Chances are, you don't actually HAVE to buy anything, though. Lots of items you probably have around the house make admirable hides.

Depending upon the size of your snake, you can use paper towel tubes as "hollow logs." These can be cut in half, flattened a bit, or not, whatever you like. Small boxes that didn't contain anything toxic or too smelly are good, too. Butter boxes are good. So are small plastic containers.

Clean rocks and hardwood sticks are good. Fake plants of any sort work as hides and as decor. Flower pots, decorative bowls, ceramic items - be as creative as you like! I've had fun shopping at thrift stores and yard sales for funky things for my vivs. Just be sure you position any heavy or climbing items safely, in case they are knocked over as your corn explores. You don't want him/her to be injured. Items like this can be anchored in place with hot glue or aquarium sealant if you so choose.

Bottom line - as long as you're meeting the snake's needs for correct temps., food, hides, and substrate, the snake will be happy with whatever decor choices you make.

AlbinoRedBoy said:

30 gal tank with a rock and dish

Click to expand...

Your corn will prob feel quite vunerable like this. Id get plenty of plastic/silk plants, logs, hides, and things for him to hide in. He should have a minimum of 2 hides, 1 in the warm end, 1 in cool end. Although the more the better