A couple of questions...

[RedAlbino77]

Here are my two questions:
1) Do I need to simulate the winter season for my corn, or will keeping normal temps be fine? I've never had a snake, and wasn't sure if keeping seasonal temps was essential to natural development.

Also,

2) Petey is kept in his tank in my bedroom. Is this ok? I see most people have a separate snake room. My bedroom light doesn't stay on a 12/12 schedule, of course, and I was curious as to if this will pose a problem for him. I try to keep an overhead daylight lamp on during the day over the tank, and always keep it off at night. My overhead light in the room has a 7500K bulb (green-blue color) in hopes that Petey doesn't see this as a "hot" source/something to be afraid of.

Any suggestions/answers is appreciated!! Thank you!

 

[captainjack0000]

I have cloth covers for my tanks, and at night when it is dark outside but not in the apartment, I use the covers to help make them dark. Sometimes I leave a part up so I can see inside, but it gives them an "extended dusk" period. You could try that.

 

[ladymagpie]

Most people have a whole room spare for their snakes?! Who? Lol

I keep my corn in my bedroom. Why are you stressing about the 12hr daylight/night thing? Do you have a window in your room? Problem solved! My corn isn't directly facing the window but positioned close to the wall where the window is, so plenty of natural daylight lights up her viv during the day, at night I keep the curtains open so that she gets a natural dusk too. If at night I'm gonna have my bedroom light on for an extended period then I cover her viv with a blanket.

My understanding of brumation is that its essential if you intend to breed your snake, but that's all I know for sure about it so ill wait until someone more experienced comes along.

 

[RedAlbino77]

I have the tank near a window, so that's good! I guess I just need to get a blanket to toss over the tank when I turn my light on. Petey LOVES exploring at night, so anytime I turn the light on he's crawling about, and then BAMM!! He stops. Until I turn the light off again haha Thank you for your input!

 

[captainjack0000]

I have the tank near a window, so that's good!

I have seen a number of posts and care sheets that caution against this because the sun coming in from the window during the day can greatly overheat a tank. Kinda like leaving a dog or baby in a car in the summer sun. Bad things happen.

 

[RedAlbino77]

I've heard this, so I put up curtains so the light that does hit the tank is minimal, but still provides light. My temps stay regulated between 70-75 cool side during the day and 65-70 at night.

 

[ladymagpie]

I have seen a number of posts and care sheets that caution against this because the sun coming in from the window during the day can greatly overheat a tank. Kinda like leaving a dog or baby in a car in the summer sun. Bad things happen.

In my post I said I do not keep my corn in direct sunlight.

 

[bitsy]

1) Do I need to simulate the winter season for my corn, or will keeping normal temps be fine? I've never had a snake, and wasn't sure if keeping seasonal temps was essential to natural development.

No, they're fine without a seasonal change in captivity. The main reason they evolved the semi-dormant state (brumation) in the wild, is because their usual food sources aren't available during colder months. However, this isn't a problem in captivity as we guarantee their meals.

My understanding of brumation is that its essential if you intend to breed your snake

Nope, Corns breed quite happily in captivity without brumation. There's some discussion about whether brumation increases fertility or produces larger clutches of eggs, but nothing conclusive seems to have emerged from the few people who've tried both with and without.

I try to keep an overhead daylight lamp on during the day over the tank, and always keep it off at night.

Corns don't need any artificial light. As long as your room has natural sunlight then he'll be fine. If you're using a different heat source, then I'd switch it off. Corns are naturally most active at times of low or no light, so having a daylight bulb on might inhibit him from moving around the tank (rather like a red-headed person with no sunblock avoiding the midday sun!) That's one reason why he might freeze or scoot off when you switch the room light on (probably just momentarily startled as well).

2) Petey is kept in his tank in my bedroom. Is this ok

That's absolutely fine. Mine are kept in my lounge and watch TV for several hours a day!

 

[RedAlbino77]

Thank you Bitsy for ALL of the re-assuring advice! I would call you a connoisseur when it comes to Corns because of the posts I've seen your comments on. (Not to mention the fact that you've been "owned by corns since 1991" when I was born lol) The undertank heater I have gets WAYYY too hot, but I couldn't afford a good thermostat, so I went with a rheostat (should've saved up for the therm). In the meantime, I have a timer plugged to the rheostat which is set on low... It keeps it between 80-85. I know it runs a little hot, but now that you told me to turn it off during the day, I think he'll like it more! Once again, thank you!

 

[Nanci]

I have up to 80 snakes in my bedroom at any given time- they are all fine!

 

[bitsy]

I know it runs a little hot, but now that you told me to turn it off during the day, I think he'll like it more! Once again, thank you!

Oops! Sorry, I wasn't being clear there. I meant to turn the *light* off permanently and leave the heat source as it is, and at the same temp all year round. It's very important that they have that heat source constantly, but the artificial light is unnecessary.

Whilst I've been keeping Corns for years and have been breeding on a small scale, I'm learning new things all the time. Compared to folks like Kathy Love or those who've been breeding professionally for any length of time, I have very little experience. I can't compete with Nanci's 80!