a little help?

[Jojoisunbreakable]

I am planing on getting a baby corn snake, I was wondering if this is all I need? if not what else do i need to add to my shopping list?

I have a 2ft x 12in x 15.5 in (61cm x 20.5cm x 39 cm) tank.I will be getting a bigger one in the near future.

* Vivarium- About 3ft for a fully grown corn

* Heat source- heat-map or lamp

* Water dish

* Substrate, e.g. kitchen roll, newspaper or bark(NO CEDAR)

* 2 hides, one for the cool end, one for the hot end

* Artificial plants/ decorations.

* 2 Digital thermometers, one for hot end one for cool end

* Hydrometer

* secure lid

* Tongs(for food)

 

[Shiari]

Don't get a heat lamp, use an under tank heater. You need to add a thermostat to the list. Also, considering you live in washington, don't bother with a hydrometer. I live in California and despite the drought my corns are all still shedding without issue.

 

[jagodzinski]

Like Shiari said, definitely a UTH controlled with a thermostat. Also you might want to consider another Rubbermaid bin to feed outside of the viv. if you are getting a baby a deli cup will work well.

congrats on getting a snake. they are amazing!

 

[Nanci]

I'm not sure what you need the tongs for. All you have to do to feed the baby is put it in a feeding container with the mouse.

 

[Karl_Mcknight]

You'd be better off with a Heat Mat or Pad under the tank. Snakes need Belly Heat. The heat lamp is better than nothing, but a Mat or Pad is better than the Lamp. The Mats and Pad get pretty hot. Mine heats up to about 113 degrees when plugged in. There is not built in thermostat or switches. It's either on or off (plugged in or unplugged). You absolutely need a regulating device, either a thermostat or rheostat to safely adjust the temperature in your tank. The Hot side should be between 82 to 88. About 85 is perfect. A 113 degree unregulated pad is an accident waiting to happen.

 

[daddio207]

I recently mentioned this in another post. I realize stating that "snakes need belly heat" is a simplistic way to state the easiest and most efficient way to provide heat to a snake. The fact of the matter is it is not a "need" for a snake to properly digest its meal and/or maintain correct body temperature. As many others do, I provide the proper heat gradient and ambient temps without the use of UTH's. My collection is large and mostly kept in racks but even some of the individual specimens in their own Vivs are not on belly heat. The few years I've been on this site the statement "snakes need belly heat" has been perpetuated over and over. As I mentioned earlier. UTH's are the easiest and most efficient way to provide the correct ambient and gradient temps for most snakes but not because snakes need belly heat.

I'm going to skip the "UTH's must be regulated" discussion due the that topic being beat to death in many other past posts LOL :cheers:

 

[LittleFrog]

I'm not sure what you need the tongs for. All you have to do to feed the baby is put it in a feeding container with the mouse.

I use tongs for feeding all of my snakes. It's easier, and essential for feeding my more enthusiastic feeders, like Kaa, without getting bitten, lol. I'm also not a huge fan of touching dead mice, lol, so they're handy for that too.