My First Corn Snake

Hello everyone, I am new to forums and snakes period. I have been doing research for months now and just bought Kathy Love's book today. I feel that I am finally ready to own my first snake and am planning on buying an Abbott Okeetee hatchling from a local breeder that I know. I already have a 10 gallon aquarium that did hold fish at one time, but I was told it could still be used for my new snake (with the addition of a screen and clips of course).

I have been reading the forums here, but cannot decide whether to use aspen or Sani chips, any advice?

I know that I will be using F/T mice, but I am not sure how long they take to thaw and how to thaw them.

I have heard so many horror stories about using heat lamps so I plan on using UTH. I was told that the pads can get too hot though and a way around it is to attach the pad to a ceramic tile, then place it under the tank, tile side up. Is there any truth to that?

I am also very confused as to how the thermostats would work for the pad because pet store employees have told me that the pads only heat 5-10 degrees warmer than the room temperature.

I also need some adive about traveling with a snake. I am a college student and will have to take the snake with me for the 18 hour drive. My family and I drive to the campus over 2 days, 9 hours a day. Any hints at all will help as far as heating it and cutting down on vibrations that will possibly agitate the snake.

Any general information that you think I should know about hatchlings and raising corn snakes is GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you for your time

I have been reading the forums here, but cannot decide whether to use aspen or Sani chips, any advice?

Either are probably fine. A lot of people keep hatchlings on paper for a little while to make sure they are pooping properly

I know that I will be using F/T mice, but I am not sure how long they take to thaw and how to thaw them.

Thawing time is dependent on size. I thaw mine in hot-as-possible tap water & pinkies only take a couple minutes.

I have heard so many horror stories about using heat lamps so I plan on using UTH. I was told that the pads can get too hot though and a way around it is to attach the pad to a ceramic tile, then place it under the tank, tile side up. Is there any truth to that?

I am also very confused as to how the thermostats would work for the pad because pet store employees have told me that the pads only heat 5-10 degrees warmer than the room temperature.

All the heat pads I have met run really, really hot without a thermostat or lamp dimmer. Like 110F or worse. So just get a thermostat or a lamp dimmer from the beginning and don't believe the store employees.

I also need some adive about traveling with a snake. I am a college student and will have to take the snake with me for the 18 hour drive. My family and I drive to the campus over 2 days, 9 hours a day. Any hints at all will help as far as heating it and cutting down on vibrations that will possibly agitate the snake.

I don't know a lot about this but I would pack mine in a suitable sized tupperware with papertowels to cushion the vibrations. If the car is really really cold & the heat doesn't work well, a hot pack like is used for shipping would help. But if the car temp is not too hot or too cold for you it would be OK for a snake as long as they haven't eaten in 2-3 days (wrong temps can cause regurgitation which is very bad for snakes).

I hope this helps! Welcome to your new addiction, and I hope you realize this will be your FIRST cornsnake but not your LAST! LOL.

Thank you very much!