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Cage Rearranging Stressful or Not?

centauri_aiuken

centauri_aiuken

New member
Hello! I just got my corn snake yesterday and he seems very comfortable already! I imagine it's hard to get too stressed when you have a nice full belly. ^^;;

Either way, he seems to be favouring a half-log on the cold side of the tank. My cage temperature only goes up to about 81-85 degrees during the day so I was wondering if he just likes the log or if he does want to cool down.

I'm thinking about moving the log to see if he'll still like it when it's on the warm side but it is considered stressful to change his surroundings a little?
 
I've always been big on rearranging the tanks myself, but I always do it while they are out eating. If it's not time for a complete change, I, at least, fluff up the bedding.

You could change it around, but I wouldn't do it until you can be assured that the snake has digested the latest meal... and make sure that there is a hide still on the cool side.

Personally, I think you will find the preference is not for a particular hide, but the temperature to be found.
 
Weebonilass said:
You could change it around, but I wouldn't do it until you can be assured that the snake has digested the latest meal... and make sure that there is a hide still on the cool side.

Personally, I think you will find the preference is not for a particular hide, but the temperature to be found.
Click to expand...

There is still a hide on the cool side (hee, that rhymed), or there will be as I haven't rearranged yet. I'm still givin' him time to adjust (and digest) before I do anything. I will definitely move things around and see what works best but I think you're right about temperature.

I just keep my room so cold it's hard to believe he doesn't want to be under the lamp! xD

Thanks!
~Sami
 
Are you measuring the temps at or under the substrate level? If its an unregulated undet tank heater (UTH), it might be too warm for him on the warm side.
 
Even with a lamp, you need to be measuring the temps at the substrate level, assuming your lamp is secure and that the snake can't come into contact with it.

As for hides, my snakes all show preference for a particular hide. Even if I rearrange the tank, they will go straight back to that same hide.
 
Interesting Becky, my first two never showed a preference for hides. In fact, Kieran's current favorite is under his water bowl.... I have no idea how he did that. It's a big heavy sucker, but apparently there is enough substrate in there to hold it up after he made himself a tunnel through it. Of course, all of him won't fit under there, but the he appears not to realize it :)
 
BeckyG said:
Even with a lamp, you need to be measuring the temps at the substrate level, assuming your lamp is secure and that the snake can't come into contact with it.
Click to expand...

I just need to save up for a thermometer with a probe.I got a sticky one because I hadn't read yet that they don't work as well. D: I don't have -any- money. I'll try using a regular thermometer to check the temperature today and see if that works.

BTW, I have a heat lamp and an UTH, because I keep my room super-cold.
 
I really have to get me one of those edit buttons.... the new girl also changed hides this week when we rearranged her tank. Actually, she's buried underneath the wall of one of the hides, so not even sure if she is picking that hide :)

I use lots of substrate :D :D
 
centauri_aiuken said:
I just need to save up for a thermometer with a probe.I got a sticky one because I hadn't read yet that they don't work as well. D: I don't have -any- money. I'll try using a regular thermometer to check the temperature today and see if that works.

BTW, I have a heat lamp and an UTH, because I keep my room super-cold.
Click to expand...


You can get the other therometers from like Wal-Mart for less than $20 when you are ready. And the UTHs do get very hot. I would recommend sitting the cage up on a couple of paperback books with the pad on the surface of whatever it's sitting on. When I first got my digital one I found out that my cage was often getting up to 99. I put cardboard down between glass and pad, along with the books and I'm still twitching things around when it gets up to high or not high enough. I'll be glad when my thermostats get here.
 
I just took the temperature with a regular thermometer and found that even though my sticky thermometer said 78, the temperature at the substrate was 90 and still climbing! I had no -idea- the UTH made that much of a difference! No wonder Orpheus wants to cool down at night!
 
Much less than $20. more like $8. And if you have a UTH AND a lamp with no rheostat/lamp dimmer or thermostat, then it is definitely WAY too hot. That's why he's always on the cool side. You can get the thermometer at walmart for $8 and a lamp dimmer for another $8 or so. Borrow the money if you have to, it's for the health of your snake.
 
I have no one to borrow money from! >< Oh, how upsetting. Is there any decent alternative? Like, just shutting off the UTH?
Or running it on a schedule or something?
 
well you're in florida so it cant get that cold, I'd shut off the UTH until you have some way to control it and measure it.
 
centauri_aiuken said:
Hello! I just got my corn snake yesterday and he seems very comfortable already! I imagine it's hard to get too stressed when you have a nice full belly. ^^;;

Either way, he seems to be favouring a half-log on the cold side of the tank. My cage temperature only goes up to about 81-85 degrees during the day so I was wondering if he just likes the log or if he does want to cool down.

I'm thinking about moving the log to see if he'll still like it when it's on the warm side but it is considered stressful to change his surroundings a little?
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum!

Since you just got him yesterday and he's just eaten, you should be leaving him alone for at least 2 days. If you start rearranging his furniture just to see if he likes it somewhere else you'll risk him having a nice empty belly.:puke01:

PLUS, being in a brand new home, he needs a few days alone just to settle in. I'd hold off on redecorating for a couple weeks anyway. Just my .02.

With babies, I use the same hide on both sides of the water dish, this way they choose temperature needs over favorite hides.
Hey, that gives me an idea,:idea: if I put a recliner in the work shed too, maybe I'll keep my fat @$$ out from in front of the TV!.....Naaahhh!! :grin01:
 
If you can find a heavy piece of ceramic floor tile, you can put that over the UTH, inside the tank, for now.

My UTHs will easily get to 110 or 120F- that is why I have thermostats on all UTHs.

Nanci
 
Flagg said:
well you're in florida so it cant get that cold, I'd shut off the UTH until you have some way to control it and measure it.
Click to expand...

I don't know where they are in Florida, but in North Central, it's been getting down to the upper 30's at night now.

Nanci
 
Nanci said:
If you can find a heavy piece of ceramic floor tile, you can put that over the UTH, inside the tank, for now.

My UTHs will easily get to 110 or 120F- that is why I have thermostats on all UTHs.

Nanci
Click to expand...

I use UTH's for baby snakes, cause I want to warm them in the night too, but I just use folded towels and/or newspaper on the UTH until the temp of the substrate is ok; no expensive thermostat to buy, no risk of overheating, simple as that :shrugs:
 
Flagg said:
well you're in florida so it cant get that cold, I'd shut off the UTH until you have some way to control it and measure it.
Click to expand...

Well, my house is freezing. We spend a lot of time using the air conditioner to its full extent. My room is about 50-60 degrees at night. If the cage managed to stay so hot, though, I may want to consider turning the air down and monitoring the temperature.

Flagg said:
If you have no money, I hope you have a supply of pinkies to feed him.
Click to expand...

I have no money because I've set aside my pet-sitting money for the mice. DDD: I'll be able to get a couple weeks' worth with my seven dollars, since he's nice and full on two pinkies a week.
 
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