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Want to be new snake owner... but...

M

mahoro

New member
I been thinking about getting a snake for the past couple years, i just haven't figure out what kind to get, i end up getting turtles and fish and shrimp, but now i am ready, i decided to get corn snake, i found this site while searching for more info about corn snake... i've kept water dragon before, so i figure their needs should be almost the same minus the water part...
 
i cracked my 55g aquarium the day before Ike hit us, i was trying to clean it up and store water in it... i want to use that for the snake...
 
Welcome, a cornsnake is pretty easy to care for(I don't know a thing about water dragons). The basic requirements for keeping a cornsnake are posted at the top of the Husbandry and Basic Care forum.
You can find out everything you need at this site, or ask if you can't find it.
 
my biggest question is, are they just like turtles and other lizards? they need both uva and uvb light, because for my turtle, i have both of those lights, same with the water dragon...
 
No, even better, cornsnakes don't need a light. For heat get an under tank heater. You can use a light for heat, I've used one for a temporary snake, but a heater on a thermostat does a great job of keeping even and safe heat.
 
ah really?? how about those heater pack for med. use? i see those at walgreens/cvs/walmart all the time, it has timmer and everything...
 
mahoro said:
ah really?? how about those heater pack for med. use? i see those at walgreens/cvs/walmart all the time, it has timmer and everything...
Click to expand...

A lot of sites and caresheets will say those can be used.

BUT, they can't. For one reason, they aren't made to stay on at all hours like a reptile heating pad is.

Secondly, almost every one I've seen nowadays has a 2 hour auto shut off, which means unless you reset it every two hours, it won't keep your snake warm.
 
mahoro said:
ah really?? how about those heater pack for med. use? i see those at walgreens/cvs/walmart all the time, it has timmer and everything...
Click to expand...

Hi :wavey: welcome to the forum!

No, those heaters can run way too hot for a snake. And I do not believe they are intended to be use for constant heat that is needed for snakes.

You would need the under tank heater and a thermostat for your aquarium to safely keep a corn snake.
 
Better to get something made for reptiles. There are different types. Look at the ones at your pet store, they probably have the ones that stick on the bottom of the tank. There are different ones at The Bean Farm Store.
 
I know you probably already have some ideas in mind, but if I could make a few suggestions it would be this. I would go with a 2-pack of 50 watt Zoo-Med Basking bulbs, leave one as a spare just in case, along w/ fixture, which should run you to about 20$. Then I would go with Aspen bedding, a ceramic water dish, and maybe a hide cave, or vines for cover. You can buy all of these things at your local petco, and it should run you to about 30-40$, but it will make you a practical, and very appealing set-up for your first corn. I don't know what your looking at for a Corn snake, but their are loads to choose from, and most Petco's sell babies as well, including snows, hypos, and sometimes ghosts. If you want a morph on-line, I would check out cornutopia.com, because they have beautiful corns at really great prices. Also, southmountainreptiles.com has great prices, too. Below is a picture I just took 5 minutes ago of my brothers corn snake set-up, and it is what I prefer. If you have any questions post on this page and I would be happy to help. Good luck with your search and I look forward to hearing about your purchase. If you need help posting pics I can help you with that too, but good luck!.
BabyCorns.jpg
 
thanks guys and gals for the reply, right now i am thinking housing 2 baby corns in my 55g tank, i am thinking about using a basking light, on for like 4 hrs, off for half then on again for 4 more, kinda like my turtle setup i guess, minus the uvb setup... and i want to place a big o piece of rock under that light, a place for the snake to hang out i guess...
 
My light/heater runs for 6 hours, from 7am to 3 pm, then I have the underneath heater that runs 24/7. Usually, during 7 am to 3pm, the snake will sunbathe in the leaves or if she gets to hot she'll simply go to the cooler side and chill there for a little bit :).
 
i don't know how to explain it well, but i run all my aquariums with oppsite day/night, i keep lots of planted tank and they need lots of light, since i am mostly at home at night, which is the only time my ac is on, to save electric bill, they are on from 10pm to 8 am, same with my turtle tank, morning time in tx is kind of hot so it keeps all my stuff warm to cool...
 
It's a metal screen lid, because plastic would melt underneath the basking light. I don't know if your aquarium has a lid, but you would be good to go with one with metal screening. You may not be able to find a lid that pulls out, or clips in, but they have ones that are pre-fit to rest on top of your tank. You can probably find a good lit at petsmart, because we have a 55 gallon aquarium for our Leopard Geckos and we found a perfectly fit lid for 22$. The only thing about those lids, is that you should find a heavier one, or put something kind of heavy on it so the lid can't be lifted by your snakes, though this probably won't be a problem for you with Babies in a 55 gallon tank. I'll keep checking in if you need more help, and again, good luck with everything!.
 
By the way, 2 babies is a great idea. Their relatively easy easy to care for, and very great pets. I would try to get a male and a female so that you don't run into problems later on, but even then that shouldn't be a problem.
 
Are you going to house both snakes in the same tank? It is highly suggested that you do not house two snakes together. Please before you buy 2 snakes do a forum search on co habbing
 
i read about that already, i was thinking only house them in the same tank while they are young, once they get big enough, i am going to divide the tank in 2...
from what i understand, adult snakes don't need lots of room at all, so i figure 2 in a 55 should be okay...
 
do some more research. adults need way more room than hatchlings do. 55 gallons is too big for babies unless you have a bunch of hides. and housing a female and male together can also be a bad idea if they breed before the female is big enough to and she will become egg bound and die. please do some more research. you should house them in 2 separate 10 gallon tanks. they are only 10 bucks at a pet store. the minimum recommmended for adults is 29 gallons. and to me that seems cramped.

please do more research
 
michael couture said:
By the way, 2 babies is a great idea. Their relatively easy easy to care for, and very great pets. I would try to get a male and a female so that you don't run into problems later on, but even then that shouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...

2 babies is not a great idea. yes they are easy to care for. but housing two snakes together, is first of all. stressing to the snake, disease can be spreaded way to easily.

housing a male and female together isnt smart at all. if you dont seperate them at the right time.. they could breed as i said earlier. so i dont see how that wouldn't be a problem. thats a major problem if it kills the female.
 
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