• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

does my set up look okay?

santafe55

santafe55

New member
i currently have my new corn snake in a 20 gallon long. i have a repti carpet and then aspen shavings as bedding. she has 4 hides, 1 cool, 1 warm, 1 warmer, and 1 humid (which has moss in it). I also had an extra uvb bulb and a heat bulb that im trying out because my room is about mid 60's and i want the cool end to be low 70's right? i have a stick on temp thing but its not doing that great of a job. i dont want my uth to get too hot so i have it plugged into a rheostat, on the "medium" setting. im going to get an accurate temperature reading tonight but i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions? im also going to get some fake plants tonight too, it looks a little boring right now. Is high 80's an appropriate temperature setting for the hot end? (also is it true your snake should never be warm to the touch?)
 

Attachments

  • image 1.png
    image 1.png
    565.8 KB · Views: 88
  • eee.png
    eee.png
    414.6 KB · Views: 86
Overall it looks good!
A plus with aspen is you can spot clean. The repti carpet cannot. Everything needs to be removed to clean the carpet and it is serving no needed function so I would do without it.
The UVB bulb is totally unnecessary.
The cool end can be in the high 60's and the hot end in the mid 80's. high 80's on the hot side are ok because your snake will find its comfort spot as it thermo regulates between the cool and hot sides.
Compared to your skin temp your snake should not be warm to the touch.
 
Lazer temp guns are very handy and quick for checking surface temps esp backing surfaces. Also, you can get a digital with a probe for about $10. Some measure humidity too. Amazon has them, so does Wallmart, and I haven't seen much difference in quality for a higher price. One of my expensive VE ones failed very soon after I got it.

I glued sew-on Velcro to both the tank and the back of the thermometer so I could take it on and off for battery changes. (I avoid sticky tape stuff at all costs, but your snake is probably safe enough with the stuck on analog for now.) Temp probe should rest on the top of the substrate where your snake is.
 
I agree with daddio. Corns don't need artificial lighting and most of us purposely avoid UVB for our corns. Since your viv is next to, but not inline with a window, that is perfect. Nearby indirect lighting is perfect.

As to skin temp, your snake can feel warm to you if it has been the in the warm hide. My fingers are 78 F so when taking a snake from the warm side the snake can feel warm. I've experienced it.

Love my little infrared Thermometer!
 
Distaff said:
Lazer temp guns are very handy and quick for checking surface temps esp backing surfaces. Also, you can get a digital with a probe for about $10. Some measure humidity too. Amazon has them, so does Wallmart, and I haven't seen much difference in quality for a higher price. One of my expensive VE ones failed very soon after I got it.

I glued sew-on Velcro to both the tank and the back of the thermometer so I could take it on and off for battery changes. (I avoid sticky tape stuff at all costs, but your snake is probably safe enough with the stuck on analog for now.) Temp probe should rest on the top of the substrate where your snake is.
Click to expand...

Great ideas! I got my laser infrared thermometer (I turn off the laser around my snake) on eBay, but same thing. So inexpensive, but very useful. I use it all around the house now.

I recommend the newer ones that take AAAs just cause it's cheaper and easier to change batteries.

I get my digitals with probes on eBay. They usually say "aquarium" on them and ship free directly from China. Same exact thing as in the pet stores for $8 to $10 each. Can't remember the price but less than $3 ea with free shipping. Only thing is you need to allow for shipping time so if you need them faster pay a little more for a closer seller.
 
Just keep in mind that with infrared thermometers they tell you the temp of the object not the ambient temp.
 
I just took a close look at your screen cover. Are there clamps or latches on it somewhere? If it is just sitting on the tank, you WILL have an escape.

0REvL9gl.jpg


I have Velcro straps around mine and screen clips on the ends for insurance. I had an escape in September due to a poor lid design that I didn't realize until it was too late.

If your lid is secure, never mind. I'll just move heaven and earth to prevent the heartache I've had, so bear with me please.
 
Karl_Mcknight said:
why would you need an ambient temp? A corn snake does not fly through the air, it crawls
on its belly along the bottom of the tank. The "Ambient Temp" could be 40 degrees in the room but if the snake is laying on 86 degree substrate that's all that matters
Click to expand...

I explained it in another post but I will be glad to do it again when I get a moment later ;)
 
hey Dollysmom, I just noticed in the pic you posted above.........
LOL is there a Kitty hanging out on that middle shelf? I think I see kitty paws.
 
That's a dog sculpture that belonged to my late grandma. Can't have dogs or cats here due to allergies in the family, so that's one of the big reasons we have snakes :D
 
pretzel66 said:
dont worry dollysmom i just bought some tank clips! i just need to figure out how to put them on haha
Click to expand...

Glad to hear it! Losing a snake is not high on the list of fun. After the clips are on take your finger and push up on the rim of the lid. If you can push it up and there is any crack, your snake can push it up and get out. The little ones can get out through small cracks and the big ones can push up amazingly strong.
 
I have the same screen top. I ordered clips with it, but those are still on the way. Two clips per tank - I assumed that would be enough. Maybe I should have ordered double.

Isn't the Velcro disturbing to the snakes when you rip it off?

(Current set-up for the tops are plastic screens from WallMart. Better than nothing, but I don't like them, and don't trust them!)
 
No, the Velcro sound doesn't seem to be a problem. I really want to get enclosures with sliding lids or when my corn is big enough, locking doors, but for now this keeps the lids on very tightly.
 
That is a beautiful tank.

I like the idea of sliding lids too, but I haven't seen that the lid comes off all the way. My tanks are in tight spaces (will be more so, when the hatchlings grow, and are moved out of the 10 gallons into 40's.) I don't want to have to lean over a foot width of slid out top, to service the enclosure. (Videos by LLL Reptiles commonly have these and the lid is never shown completely off)
 
Distaff said:
That is a beautiful tank.

I like the idea of sliding lids too, but I haven't seen that the lid comes off all the way. My tanks are in tight spaces (will be more so, when the hatchlings grow, and are moved out of the 10 gallons into 40's.) I don't want to have to lean over a foot width of slid out top, to service the enclosure. (Videos by LLL Reptiles commonly have these and the lid is never shown completely off)
Click to expand...

The ones I've seen in person, the lid comes all the way off.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top