Snake hides under water bowl...

[Baller99k]

Okay, so my baby corn hides under his water bowl, I personally just fed him for my first time last night.

Today, I go to change the water, and he is under it. Im afraid to set the new water dish back on top of him. Do I? or do I nudge him to make him move?

I tried nudging him and he snapped at me....sad an funny at the same time.

What do you guys recommend when returning the water dish?

[disjunto]

put a hide over him, and move the waterbowl, he obviously likes that spot :)

[chemical69]

the only time when a corn snake hides under the bowl is when there is no other hide for him, and when hes scared of his new environment.. I understand u fed him the 1st day u got him and this is ur mistake where u went wrong the snake is now scared of his environment and prolly stressed out. nudge him off then put it back and hell do wat he has to do good luck

[The_Thunderer]

put a hide over him, and move the waterbowl, he obviously likes that spot :)
Good call. I'd do that too!!! Then you can add water/change water without having to worry about him being under it. I'd also make sure that it is all the way to the bottom of the cage so that your snakey can't get under it (unless it has those cut outs in the sides).

[Susielea]

Have you got a hide on both the cool and warm sides of the tank?
If you have that's great, but, are they too big?

Corn snakes like to feel a little squished in under their hides (they feel more secure when their bodies can touch the sides and roof of the hides) and I've noticed that if they are given hides that they feel are too big and spacious, they will try to find somewhere more to their liking, ie under the water bowl.

Seeing as he is now digesting, I would try what disjunto said and put a hide over him and move the bowl if you are concerned. If he goes back under, then leave him be.
Once he has digested, if you think his hides might be a little too large, then you could always stuff them out with paper towel, to make them feel smaller to him, I've done this for babies before with great success :)

[Lennycorn]

put a hide over him, and move the waterbowl, he obviously likes that spot :)

I agree. Good advice.
Next time change his water when you feed him.

[Baller99k]

I didn't feed him the first day I got him, it was the third day.

Also, i have hides on both sides, one is def too big.

Thx tho.

[elrojo]

I like to use water bowl hides. There are bowls with openings underneath so that the snake can curl up right there if they want to cool off. My black milks seldom leave 'em. They make them in all sizes, I'll check the manufacturer if anyone is interested.

[Baller99k]

Oh ya that makes sense. good idea

[Bear2123]

Mine has 2 hides, a rock opening on the hot side, and a marijuana fake plant on the cool side. And then there is a water bowl in the middle, but for some reason he likes to curl up under it. Occasionly he'll just dig a hole beside it. I'm assuming it's right in the middle and temperature must be pretty decent for him. Hard to say, he's only been with me for a week now.

[Nanci]

the only time when a corn snake hides under the bowl is when there is no other hide for him, and when hes scared of his new environment..

That's not true. My vivs are lavishly furnished, and I still have several snakes that have chosen under or curled around the water bowl as their preferred hide. They must like the cool feel, or something.

[Drewby07]

I agree with Nanci - I have several that like to stay under the bowls. Maybe since they are filled with water and hence heavy and harder to move....the snake feels it's more secure?

[anendeloflorien]

I like to use water bowl hides. There are bowls with openings underneath so that the snake can curl up right there if they want to cool off. My black milks seldom leave 'em. They make them in all sizes, I'll check the manufacturer if anyone is interested.

I've actually been looking for these. I've seen them used by quite a few people but I've never found them for sale (maybe I'm just not looking in the right places lol). Do you know who actually makes them? Do they make them small enough for a 6qt tub?

Also, in response to the OP I've got a couple of corns that seem to love hiding underneath their water dishes. I don't know why that is but hey they're happy, the temps are all correct in their cage they just seem to like having the dish on top of them. It's kind of funny because I use clear water dishes for a couple of them so you can see them right underneath curled up lol.

[Bear2123]

I was at the pet shop the other day and i found the foam logs and snake hides. Think i'ma buy one and see how he likes it. They're intended for lizards and frogs, but you can morph them to anything you wish. And since it's so light, i figure he'll burrow under it and like it more than his dish.

[RobbiesCornField]

Some snakes prefer to hide under their water bowl because it stays cooler under there than the rest of the tank. Some snakes prefer a cooler temperature, while others like it warmer. Remember: Snakes are individuals with their own preferences, too! What might be good for one corn might not necessarily be the best for another.

[Jenstar]

the only time when a corn snake hides under the bowl is when there is no other hide for him, and when hes scared of his new environment.. I understand u fed him the 1st day u got him and this is ur mistake where u went wrong the snake is now scared of his environment and prolly stressed out. nudge him off then put it back and hell do wat he has to do good luck

This isn't necessarily true... I've had my snake for a year and a half and he loves being under his water bowl... He also has two other hides as well, but still chooses the bowl the majority of the time... ;)

[Jenstar]

Some snakes prefer to hide under their water bowl because it stays cooler under there than the rest of the tank. Some snakes prefer a cooler temperature, while others like it warmer. Remember: Snakes are individuals with their own preferences, too! What might be good for one corn might not necessarily be the best for another.

I totally agree...

[Weebonilass]

I like to use water bowl hides. There are bowls with openings underneath so that the snake can curl up right there if they want to cool off. My black milks seldom leave 'em. They make them in all sizes, I'll check the manufacturer if anyone is interested.

I have something like that... it was a dog dish. It sits in the middle of the tank and it's where I almost always find Gunn. He liked the others until I got the dish and now he prefers that one. Who is to question why :) If he's in the tank when I change it, I just move it a little towards the cool end, so I don't sit it back on top of him, but keep it off the heating pad part.

[Eli173]

I agree that there is no fast rule on this. I have a couple that love being under the water bowl and a few that ignore all the various hides they have been offered only to happily burrow around. I even have one silly girl that ignores all the hides offered and will only use an old coconut shell from when she was little. She's so big now only about a quarter of her (if that) fits under it. I guess it's her hat or something... :shrugs: Anyways, all their temps are pretty much the same.

[tesiacoil]

My snakes have two hides and a water dish to hide under, and I only ever find them under one of the two hides or both under the water dish.