Unplug the heat mat on the night? is this substrate Ok?

Hello.

I just got a corn snake for the first time.
Using a exo terra small heat mat under 1/3 of the cage.
Should i unplug it every night so it get low temperatures all over in the petbox or could i let it be plugged in?
He sleeps inside a coconut hide place and the heatmat is under there.

Next question is that substrate ok for a baby corn snake?
I add a pics of it.

Tomorrow Im going to offer him pinky for the first time.
Should i add him in a empty box because the pinky is sticky and he could get some wood bits with the food?

Here is a pichture of the bottom substrate.

Hi Snooki I leave mine on but George is in a big viv
I have got a heat lamp
I've got a heat lamp and a heat mat I turn the lamp up to 35c in the day and turn it down to 23c at evening and my heat mat is left on 24c all the time
I hope that helps
Pat


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1. Are you using a thermostat along with the heat pad?
If you're not, be aware. Some of those heat pads can hit 130 degrees or more. You want the temperature to be about 85 inside of the coconut hide. You'll need a thermostat to do that. There is no need to unplug it at night. The thermostat will keep it at that temp all the time.

2. What kind of wood chips are those?
If they are a Fruit wood or Hard wood it should be ok. If they are any form of Pine, which includes Cedar, and Spruce, they are not the best woods to use. Pine (all pines) have a resin that is toxic to most snakes. It can affect their nervous system.

3. You really should add another hiding place on the cool side of the cage, and maybe add some of those fake vines and leaves, etc. Your cage is basically wide open, and your snake is probably scared to death because they like to be able to hide. If it's too hot under the coconut where is he going to go? There is nowhere else for him to go, so he will stay under there and basically cook in the heat.

Yes it was only a pics on the half side.
I show you my hole cage now.
I will add more thing to climb on?

Tried to remove the coconut and take him out now but he runned to the other cage, and when i slowly lift it he was rolled around with head up ready to strike.
Should i just let him be and wait to pick him up when he is out by himself?
Going to find out what wood type it is. It was bought in a petstore for reptile/mouse and hamsters..

Yes i use a tempgun to check temperatures
Im not new to reptiles i have a bearded dragon.
But snakes are completly new to me

How long have you had him ?
When we had George we left him alone for the first week
When they are young snakes there instinct is to hide from predators that you
When you firs start holding them they are not keen
When I first got George I put my hand in his box he rattled his tail at me I left him alone for a bit then tried again
Now he is so tame so laid back
My grandchildren love to hold him
Good luck just have patience
Pat


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My George has got 4 hides but he still goes in his coconut hide remember his is 11 months old now and he weighs 111g
He loves his coconut hide I have tried to get a bigger one no luck
Pat


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Hey.

I have only had him for 24 hours.
We hold him in the petstore and when we got home i hold him for some minutes before i moved him into the new cage. He was calm but today he seems very afraid.
You recomend me to not toutch him in a week from now?
I have a long pinsette/tweezer, could it be a good idea to just use it as a hook and carfully lift him up from the middle like i do with my finger? When he is like a ball with the head up.
I really want to handle him but i dont want him to be afraid or stressed.
Could put my hand under him but the cage is small and have only opening from top..

Please don't use anything else but your hand he will get use to your smell
I said leave him a week to get use to his new home
If you so fear the snake will sense it and that will stress him out
Go in from the back if you can
If he looks at you it doesn't mean he will bite you
I have got another snake called zusee I have only had her for about 5 weeks now she is about the same age as George but she has not been held very much so I left her for a week to settle in she is not keen when I hold her she is getting better she still try's to get away sometimes
Once you get to hold him without fear it's great just go slowly
Pat


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