Was I over-thinking warm temps?

Okay, so lately I"ve been getting discouraged about my plans to own a corn snake because the summer temp in my room reaches low 90's during the day (93F recorded highest).

I just finished re-reading the FAQ and I'm starting to think I was just over thinking the temperature thing, and that I have nothing to worry about.

Corn Snake FAQ said:

Q: Do I need to supply a temperature gradient for my snakes?
A: No, you do not. It is not necessary to supply a gradient for your snakes. However, would you enjoy being in a place where you could not control the temperature? Letting the snakes choose it's optimal temperature is best, if possible.

Q: What are good temperatures?
A: 75-80F for the 'cool' side, and 80-85F for the warm side. Try to avoid temperatures below 70F and above 90F.

Click to expand...

So now that I've got a good idea of the temp of my room while I'm at work, I believe that yes, the snake would be mildly uncomfortable, but it could always get into it's water bowl if it feels too hot (where it will be about 85F).

I am planning to buy a box fan for my window as suggested by jccpusa, which will draw in cooler air outside faster, and quickly cool my room.

I'm going to put the fan on a timer so that it turns on 1 hr before I get home (when temps start to drop outside) which would mean my snake would be exposed to 90 degree heat for appx 5 hrs a day (which it could always spend in it's water bowl keeping cool).


Was I wrong to think I can't keep a corn snake in my situation?

I have a suggestion. How about you wait until it cools off a bit to get your snake. There will be plenty on the market as we move into autumn. You can keep it at optimal temperatures through the fall, winter, and spring, and by the time it gets to be summer again, you will know your snake well enough to determine whether it's really uncomfortable and you need to do something to cool off your room.

Again, a small fan pointing into the viv will do wonders to keep it cool.

Desertanimal's right, and patience is a virtue. Not a virtue I commonly demonstrate myself, but I do stand up for it's value. :dgrin: Each snake is an individual, and you can get to know yours well enough to interpret its behavior.

If you just can't wait, or find "the one" and fall in love with it, I have another suggestion for keeping it comfy. I've tested out this idea because I live in hurricane country and want to be ready to keep my snakes healthy in the event we lose electricity for an extended period. It's possible to chill a sealed cold-pack, wrap it in a towel, place it at one end of a viv, and provide a temperature gradient that's acceptable.

This DOES require extra monitoring on the human's part while you're figuring out the temperature range produced by your setup. It also requires that the viv be large enough for the temperature gradient to occur. How large is large enough? That depends on various factors; your air temps, humidity, air circulation, substrate, size and temperature of the cold pack are some of the things that affect the temperature produced.

It's not ideal, but it is workable.

Thanks for the advice desertanimal and Caryl

I had thought about waiting, but then I sacrifice peace of mind in the long run because I will eventually have to deal with the same problem.

I would rather rise to the challenge and solve the problem now, and get it out of the way.

Thanks again