Tell me if this heating method sounds good?

[beefstew17]

Ok so im going to buy a young cornsnake in a couple of days and ive been doing some thinking about different types of heating and lighting. I have a ten gallon tank so far. I want to buy a UTH and put it on one side of the tank while using Aspen bedding throughout the whole tank. Right above the UTH should i use a flourescant or incandesant light source or none at all? If i should use two sources should i have them on at the same time, and maybe with the UTH connected to a thermostat? Please help me get the right set up here because this is my first snake that i will own.

[Lennycorn]

UTH connected to a thermostat.
That a very good idea, every one here controls their heat source.
As far as light I have a fish tank light for my benefit not the snake.
So you don't need two heat sources.
You need a cool side and a warm side mid eighty

[DaBachelor]

To agree with lenny, you do only need one heat source. I have a ten gallon tank with a baby in it and i use a day time buld (daylight blue 60wt) its a UVA bulb and i use a nightime buld thats 60wt also (its red in color). The main thing u have to remember with a ten gallon tank is that with it being so small, heat can easily be retained within it. So you dont wanna use two heat sources as it with probably get hot for the little guy.

[beefstew17]

ok cool so only one heat source at a time. What if i use the light during the day and the uth at night?

[measley]

corns need bellyheat to digest so I feel it's better to just stick to the UTH.

[Em Wright]

A light or lamp in the area not so much for heat, but to help regulate a day/night schedule for the snake would be nice. I use the UTH for heating their vivs and we were using a lamp (we ended up having to move it to the bedroom for our use) next to them so they had their own personal 'daylight'. It wasn't anything special, just a regular lamp; for the day/night and so we could keep a good eye on what was going on inside. Since they're in the living room they get plenty of light, so they don't really need the lamp.

Hope that helps some. :)

[tbroaddus]

Maybe this is wrong but this is what I am doing. I have a 20 gallon tall tank. I use UTH on one side, but also have a red basking light above on that side. My Corn loves to get up in the branches under that light. I keep the temps in the low to mid 80's both on the Aspen and under the light. My cool side is probably too cool in the winter time, as my house gets into the mid 60's. I've debated whether to put another UTH on the cool side set to low 70's. Does this make sense?

TB

[alan]

My Corn loves to get up in the branches under that light.
I think it may be under the light for a higher temp. Maybe turn up the UTH(85°?) and observe your snake for a couple days, see if it spends less time at the light. You might find that you don't need the light( bonus energy savings!).

[beefstew17]

ive got uth and 55wat incandesant blub with my 10 gallon tank. Tree right under the light and uth under that. Cave in the middle more towards the left. HE SPENDS ALL HIS TIME IN THE DAMN CAVE ,,,why? ITs wide enough for him to get to the warm and cool spots inside of it,,is that maybe why he stays in there for 2days. IvE HAD Him for only 2days so far and he still tries to burrow understuff just to get away from me. I also put pinkie in there on a huge dish so that he wont swallow bedding,,aspen, but after 5hrs still no go,he wont even go near it, and its been a week? Some help please

[alan]

ITs wide enough for him to get to the warm and cool spots inside of it,,is that maybe why he stays in there for 2days.

I think you may be right. He feels more secure in the cave right now, it's a whole new place for him. Leave him alone for a few days, he'll probably explore it at night.
Give him a hide on the cool side also and he can choose.
Don't be impatient, you'll have him for a while.