New Corn Snake Questions

I just bought a corn snake from PetCo 2 days ago. He is a baby one and he is in a 10 gallon tank. I have a few questions

-Is this screen cover good enough for the snake or can it escape? I am worried about them escaping. It is plastic but comes with plastic clips that lock it in place, but it can still move a little if I pull up on it. http://www.lnt.com/show_product/54910/?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=datafeed&utm_term=54911.

-Why does my snake hide all day? He also only hides under the substrate and is rarely in the log or coconut home that I bought him. It is reptibark and I find it very hard to find him sometimes and get worried. Will he grow out of this and is it because I only had him for 2 days? I don't want him to hide in the substrate all day =/. But right when I turn off the lights at night time he comes out instantly and moves around the tank.

-I have the zoomed UTH and it gets very hot on the glass so I just ordered the zoomed rheostat. It is on its way. Has anyone used this rheostat and is it good? Any reviews?

-Finally, should I use aspen bedding or reptibark? Which is recommended? I find it very hard to find my snake in reptibark. Thanks.

That lids is probably not escape proof.

Aspen is better IMO

he hides because thats what snakes do during the day He might hide less as he puts on som' size.

I have used that 'stat and it worked fine for me...your right the zoomed pads are very hot on their own.

I had regular ten gallons with screen lids and screen clips at first and I didn't trust them either so I put books on top on each end as well. That seemed to hold it down. If there is any give in that lid that snake will find a way out. It is amazing what they can sneak out of.

Look on your local craigslist for the critter cages that are 10g but have the sliding locking lid to them. They retail at about 40.00 at the pet store but I have picked up five of them here and there from 10.00 to 20.00 from craigslist sellers.

I think aspen is the way to go and I have three little ones that just totally love to bury. I have tons of hides but they just like it under the aspen sometimes. I think they like to make the tunnels, keeps all the energy channeled to something

Great job on getting that stat on order, that is key for sure for regulating your UTH, warm side temperature, to help ensure healthy digestion.

Oh and almost forgot....congrats on the new little snakey

Kad/Sharlene

Looks like those two previous users answered your questions already. On a side note, don't buy snakes (or any animals for that matter) from Petco. Contact a breeder or find a reptile convention near you. That way, you'll be able to speak with the breeder or a snake expert before making the purchase. I realize this information is useless to you now, but just letting you know when you buy another one.

10 gallon tank is fine for now
Aspen is much much better then repti-bark (all opinion of course)
He's hiding because he is still not used to his new home and because he is still very young, he will grow out of it as he gets bigger (some still burrow up to adult hood)
I would get a thermostat instead of a rheostat..especially when it comes to ZooMed..I have heard a lot of bad reviews on the ZooMed rheostat..but that is just my opinion...

Best of luck with your new snake! And we would love to see pics of the little guy

themichaelchoi said:

Looks like those two previous users answered your questions already. On a side note, don't buy snakes (or any animals for that matter) from Petco. Contact a breeder or find a reptile convention near you. That way, you'll be able to speak with the breeder or a snake expert before making the purchase. I realize this information is useless to you now, but just letting you know when you buy another one.

Click to expand...

Yeah I know but I couldn't find any local breeders =/. Also, can someone recommend me a specific 10 gallon screen top with very tight clips?

At this point, I don't believe in the myth of the "escape proof cage," having had a very fat boa escape from just such a cage last month.

That being said... I'd get a metal screen from Petsmart or PetCo... Zilla makes them. Use tight clips, IF you can find them... it is getting hard to find 10 gallon clips. The other thing you could do is buy small bungee cords and use those to wrap from one side to the other... use as many as you need. This works best if your stand has a "lip" or edge to hook the bungies too.

Books can work, too, but only so long as they are 1) heavy enough to keep the snake in and not so heavy to collapse the screen, and 2) always replaced when you put the snake back.

Myself? I'd buy a slide-lock ten gallon. They are expensive at PetCo... but you want your baby snake to stay where you put it.

Good luck to you!

(Also, in case you did not know when you bought a snake as a pet... they hide. It's what they do)

I thought the exact same thing when I got my first snake. She just never came out of her hides. But both of mine are like that. They do love to come out at night though. Ive gotten used to it, now i find it weird if I see them come out at all during the day