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A few final questions: mice, temp...

nebby3103

nebby3103

You're right, I want more
Hey everyone. Just a few more quesitons and I think I'll finally be ready to pick up my first corn.

1. I've read a lot about the snakes being able to smell mice on your hands even after you wash them several times. Is wearing latex gloves while handling the mice to defrost something anyone does? I can get my hands on all of the gloves I need for free, I just don't know if it's ever done, a good idea, etc., etc.

2. I plan on using a thermostat to regulate the temperature. I've found two brands. What do the folks here tend to prefer? The Repti-Temp 500R and the Electronic Temperature Controller by ESU (both found here: http://www.turtlesale.com/heating-accessories.html) are the tow I'm looking at.

I think (hope) that's it. I really can't wait to get the snake, I just need a bit of advice on those two things. Anything else you want to throw in about those two items is welcomed and appreciated. Thanks everyone.
 
you don't need gloves to feed, i never do, my corn doesn't strike me when ive been handling mice, maybe use tongs hold mice if you want but its extra expense really that isn't that neccessary. and both the thermostats look fine to me.
 
my tallulah goes a bit crazy when she smells the moosies on my fingers... she kinda wants to eat them instead of the nice fat pinkie thats getting waved about in front of her. i still wouldnt wear gloves though, especially latex ones... they smell really really awful!

i do however use tongs, because of the crazy thing um yeah :shrugs:
 
Like everyone has suggested, the mouse smell usually isn't a big problem. I keep a bottle of odorless hand sanitizer nearby and use that if I've touched mice or sometimes will do a quick rinse at the sink. I've never had a snake bite on account of smelling like a mouse. If you do experience this, you will know to wash better the next time. No big deal.

I'm not familiar with either of those thermostats. I do know that I've seen/heard different people on the forum who have used both of those. You might also do some searching over on Fauna about thermostats. I know I've read some stuff over there about different ones (I think maybe the ESU).
 
Hey, I didn't want to start a new thread just for this. Hopefully more people will take a look. I only plan on using a uth for heat, but is it ok to use a regular black light bulb in a regular ol' lamp for viewing the snake at night, or will that disturb him? I imagine it wouldn't be on for very long periods of time, just to watch him slither around. And, it would be a low wattage bulb/lamp that wouldn't be placed in what I would call "heating position." Kind of like a black flashlight is all. In fact, I could just get a small black bulb for a flashlight... Any opinions? Thanks, folks. :)
 
I use a 25 watt red bulb in a desk lamp for viewing my snakes at night. They don't seem to even notice when the light is on, and it doesn't affect the temp unless I leave it on for days at a time.
 
I'm not very familiar with lights, but I've heard a lot of people using 'red' lights for night usage.

I have my corns in my bedroom at my apartment. At night, the only light present is that put off by the TV and my computer monitor, and I can easily see my snakes out and about. So I guess I'm saying that it doesn't take a lot of light to see (for me anyways), and you may not even need an extra light source depending on where your snake is located.
 
I have not herd anything good about the cheap thermostats. i always hear of them over heating. I would go with a Ranco as my cheapest and it is 65. you can just use a rheostat.
 
cornsnakekid92 said:
I have not herd anything good about the cheap thermostats. i always hear of them over heating. I would go with a Ranco as my cheapest and it is 65. you can just use a rheostat.
Click to expand...


Does anyone else have any thoughts on this? Becuase I was definitely planning on going with that ESU thermostat...
 
nebby3103 said:
Does anyone else have any thoughts on this? Becuase I was definitely planning on going with that ESU thermostat...
Click to expand...

I've already mentioned that I don't have experience with either of your proposed thermostats, but I do have thoughts on thermostats in general.

1) No matter what thermostat you choose, there are always going to be people who have had bad experiences with it. Conversely, there are going to be people who have nothing but good to say about it.
Of course, some have more problems than others and doing a little research/digging is the only thing that can reveal this information.

2) Ultimately, it's about what you feel safe with using.

Personally, I would feel much safer spending an extra 40, 50 even 60 or so dollars now to get something that I feel is very safe and capable of working properly for a long time. For me, it's worth a few more dollars to get a reputable product rather than one that has even a small history of having problems.

Then again, I'm a bit more cautious (paranoid) than some...
 
In the Uk the best ones to buy a HABISTAT. They've got excellent range available, i'm sure if you searched on internet for them you could find them. I don't know if they are available in America. But i trust the whole habistat range.
 
I really can't justify a proportional thermostat or anything too expensive for just one snake, and I know I haven't the slightest idea how to wire a Ranco or Johnson thermostat if I were to buy one. Just to put this beast to rest, I've done a bit of research, and according to some, Zoo Med's Repti-temp 500R is the most reliable economy thermostat out there. I think that's what I'll go with.

One guy has been using at least 7 for 5 straight years without any malfunctions, some even on incubators. So, I think that's the route I'll take. We'll see how things go.

I want to do what's best for my snake, but I can't afford something too outlandish. I'm sorry if anyone thinks I'm being negligent, but I'm a poor college kid and I'm doing my best. I've done a ton of research. God willing, this is the last bit, becuase I don't think my brain can hold any more information right now.

Thank you, everyone, for your help. I posted a whole bunch of stuff on this site in the first 5 days atfer I discovered it, and everyone was a lot of help. I'm sure I'll have many more quesitons soon and as I start to acquire more corns (right after I graduate and find a job :) ). I'll let you all know how the little guy is doing once I get him all set up at home in May. Thanks again, folks.
 
use of gloves for feeding

I have an unlimited supply of gloves also. I use just as I do at work. They aren't really needed but it keeps your hands clean and not smelly. And you can keep sanitation problems to a minimum.

Bob
 
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