new baby corn! but concerning heating mats..

hi, ive written a few times about getting a corn, how to's and all that, and im beyond happy to say i have my very own little baby corn as of today. ok, so things are going good, i have the tank set up with a undertank heating mat and thermostat that clings to the side of the tank and water dish and hideaway thingies on either side.

ah, did you think i wouldn't have a question? but of course. -just would like to know. with heating pads.. should i actually be able to feel a great deal of heat coming from the bottom of the tank if i press my hand against it? i feel some, and the thermostat does say about 80º , only im not sure that is warm enough? also someone out there meantioned a warmer side than the other, as in one side of the tank a smidge warmer than the other side. should i achieve this by placing the mat at the bottom on one side only, or moreso on one side? ive done that and hope that the other side is getting heat at all. the mat is rather about half the size of the tank.

alright i guess im just concerened because its my first snake and i want to take care of it right.

im gettin that book you all reccomended.

thanks immensly,
*~lina~*

Great Start!

You want to provide a temperature gradient from one side of the tank to the other. The Cornsnake Manual says the temps should range from 70-88F.

Place the mat to one end and adjust the thermostat to the desired temperature at the level of the substrate. This provides a suitable range of temps. My hot side is set at 82F, but fluctuates between 80-86F, based on the rooms temp. The cool side is 8-10 degrees cooler.

You will also need 2 hides. 1 in the hot side and 1 in the cool side. I also believe that you only need water on the cool side.

Hope this helps,

--Kevin

Hey, Great advise KevinK

Yeah, water always goes in the cool side.
Its also a good idea to put a roughish rock in there so when your corn goes into shed, it has something to help get the skin off.

Thanks
Alex

I suppose you get could get pretty decent humudity levels by putting the water bowl on the warm side. I don't think you would realy nead it that humid- unless you wanted to help out a shed a little.

may be a little bit off... but

I am using a human heating pad as my heat source and so far it's been great. But lately I'll go and check the temperature of the tanks and the temp. would have increased up to 10 degrees to 40... is there anything I can do to prevent over heating? I've heard of numerous things to use like thermostates etc. but how does that work with a human heating pad?

Thanks,
Kristy

I can only feel some heat from my mat and it's at 85 but a lot of them are radiated heat so it warms the blood but doesn't burn stuff - safety for lil kids and carpet etc i guess

Rach