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Cheap but effective ways to heat?

Daenerys

Daenerys

Mother of Dragons
Just a few weeks ago I got my first baby corn snake! Really the first reptile I've ever owned, before this I've only had dogs and cats. So, I have done some research but I happen to be very limited on money and access to things to care for reptiles with. For example, my baby corn snake (Drake) lives in a plastic tub that is normally used for storage of inanimate objects rather than living organisms. Don't worry, I put holes in the top so he gets plenty of air, and the lid is locking so he can't escape on me. He's not strong enough right now, he's only about 12-14 inches long. Anyways, I use a towel for substrate, he really enjoys being able to burrow into that. And for humidity I sometimes place a shallow plastic cup-type thing with a thin layer of water in it inside his box.

I don't know what to do for temperature, though. I keep him in a locked cupboard because I live in a dorm building here at college and technically we're not allowed to have snakes. He stays in his cupboard and I only take him out for maybe 5 minutes a day when my roommate isn't around (she's scared of snakes). I'm not really sure what the temperature is in my room, though, because the thermostat doesn't say. Its settings are just "warmer" and "cooler" with the option of the fan being on or off. -__- So, what is the best temperature for keeping a corn snake? Do you think being able to burrow into a towel helps if the room temperature isn't perfect? What are some cheap but effective ways of creating that gradient warm-to-cool temperature environment that is supposed to be good for corns?
 
First off, I'm not trying to offend you, but that is an entirely inadequate way of keeping a corn snake, or any living animal. Did you even bother to read it's requirements before hand?

I dont even know how to respond to your questions because you're basically doing everything wrong that you could. I feel bad for your pet. I would advise reading some of the FAQ and searching online for information.
 
You may not like this answer at all, but I'd say take the snake back. Wait until you have the money to keep one properly, you'll get a lot more pleasure out of seeing it thrive and grow under your care than watching this one fail and die.
 
Oh its not as bad as you're making it out to be! I am in the Herpetology Club and there are a bunch of other experienced members who have successfully kept snakes like that while living in college dorms. Just because he doesn't have an expensive glass terrarium with fake plants and whatnot doesn't mean its inadequate.

I did some research before I got him, I'm not stupid. I just don't know what a good temperature is for corns. All the websites I looked at said different things.
 
I can't take it back. I have no car, no way to get off campus. And its not going to die! :mad: He has been doing fine for 2 weeks now. He eats, and he is active. He's not sickly.
 
Ok, can you get a digital thermometer to monitor the temperatures? Can you get a thermostat and a heatpad? And how come your herp club members haven't told you what temp they keep their corns at and how? How do you think burrowing into a towel will help a reptile to maintain it's temperature?
 
It's NOT fine, living in a closet isn't a good thing. It doesn't matter if it isn't an expensive glass aquarium, because you're not even giving it good basic care. A towel for substrate is a stupid idea. You apparently are stupid if you decided to buy a cornsnake when 1) it's illegal in your dorm 2) you dont even know the basic care of it.

Any web site giving you the BASIC care of a corn snake will tell you exactly what temperature it needs to be.
 
I can in a week, probably! My cousins are coming to my college to visit me, obviously they have a car. But I don't know exactly what I am looking for! Instead of being judgmental, could someone maybe give me some advice? If you don't want the snake to die, maybe you should be helping instead of condemning.
 
1) Maybe you should help yourself instead of telling us how you aren't stupid about owning a corn snake. 1 search on Google will give you all you need to know about owning a corn snake, it's not that hard.

2) A towel isn't even close to what a corn snake needs. It doesn't hold heat, you can't clean it effectively, it isn't natural for a corn snake. Even paper towels is better than a towel.
 
I have given you advice. My first you didn't like at all. My second is to buy the means to monitor and regulate the heat for the snake. Mine all live in a home-made rack system in tubs, so I don't see fancy vivs as necessary, but they do have regulated heat and I do monitor the temperatures.
As for the humidity with shallow water dish, please tell me there is water for drinking always available?
 
I did search on google, apparently you skipped that part! I spent a whole afternoon researching on google about corn snakes but I seemed to get a lot of conflicting information. I remember one site said that heating wasn't necessary. Would you rather me go with that? I am TRYING to help myself here, by asking other experienced corn snake owners how THEY care for their corn snakes. And diamond, none of the Herpetology Club members have corns. They have pythons and boas and lots of lizards.

As for a towel not being what a corn snake needs, how is a paper towel any better? How does a paper towel hold heat better? And I can was a towel in a washer and dryer, just like my clothes. Paper towel and shredded paper are other things I have seen on here used as substrate. How is that any more natural for the snakes?
 
Drinking water is the water in the dish.

And yes I saw that, that advice part was more aimed at quetzel, as he is being much more rude...
 
Corns really love to burrow, so aspen is the usual substrate. I can't get it at decent prices, so I've used chopped barley straw for the last 3 years, but am just changing over to shredded paper because my cats keep trying to shred into the bags of straw! Heating won't be necessary if your room temperatures are suitable and stable. This FAQ says all you'll need to know
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28341
 
queztacoatl said:
1) Maybe you should help yourself instead of telling us how you aren't stupid about owning a corn snake. 1 search on Google will give you all you need to know about owning a corn snake, it's not that hard.

2) A towel isn't even close to what a corn snake needs. It doesn't hold heat, you can't clean it effectively, it isn't natural for a corn snake. Even paper towels is better than a towel.
Click to expand...

Okay, first off, you're being very rude. The OP came here for help (yes, more research could have been done prior to asking, but no need to attack).

Second, how is a towel any different than the 'cage carpeting that is used by keepers? As long as it is changed when soiled, it really shouldn't cause any problems. The snake can burrow in it. And since when does the substrate need to 'hold heat'? Aspen sure doesn't...

To the OP, please pick up a copy of Kathy Love's book, Corn Snakes: The Comprehensive Owner's Guide. It will tell you everything you need to know. There is also a FAQ section here that has helpful info, and the search option is a valuable tool for finding information that you need.

Now, to your husbandry. There is nothing wrong with keeping your corn in a tub. Out of my 50 some snakes, there are only 3 that live in aquariums. You should get some different substrate. If the snake is a reliable feeder, get something like aspen and move the snake to a feeding tub to eat in (to prevent ingesting substrate). If the snake is not reliably eating yet, paper towel is a good choice, inexpensive, easy to clean, etc. This way, you won't need to move the snake to a feeding tub and risk him/her not eating. Make sure your corn has water at all times (it wasn't clear as to whether or not he/she has a water bowl). He will also need place to hide. Toilet paper or paper towel rolls work very well and they seem to love them.

Like Janine said, you should get a thermometer (preferably with probes) to monitor the temps in his/her tub. You won't be able to establish a temperature gradient in the tub very easily, so you'll be wanting a temperature between 76 and 80 degrees. Ideally, you'd want a cool side in the low to mid 70s and a warm side in the low 80s. If the temperature in your room isn't above 75 at all times, then you will need to get an under the tank heater with a thermostat to prevent it from getting too hot.

Edit: Janine beat me to it (and even included the link to the FAQs). And a few of the things I asked you already answered while I was typing, so no need to answer again. :)
 
I read in everything I found on the internet that things that can't be accidentally ingested like aspen are not recommended for substrate, so I figured a towel would have worked just fine since he can't accidentally eat it. The towel I keep wadded up so there are always lots of fold he can burrow into. I think it works perfectly because the folds sort of form a snake burrow like you would see in the wild. I often find him snuggled up in the center of a wad of towel when I go to hold him.

As for room temperature, I suppose I shall get a thermometer when my cousins come to visit. The thermostat in my room does not give a numerical temperature as I said in the opening post. It just has the settings written on a dial as "warmer" or "cooler"...
 
Btw how do you edit your post? I don't see an edit button anywhere on the page...all the other forums I go on have them.
 
Daenerys said:
Could you maybe say WHY a towel for substrate is a stupid idea?
Click to expand...

Bacterial growth? :shrugs: If your corn knocks over the water bowl, all that water is going to absorb into the towel. If it's already gone to the bathroom, it's going to make a big mess of everything, and a the cool temperatures plus a soaked towel can very easily lead to a respiratory infection, not to mention the mildew growth if it goes unnoticed for a day or so.

If you want to go the "towel" route, paper towels are much better because they dry quicker, and are easier to replace in case of spills and whatnot. You can throw them away when they get soiled, and can just put in a new one. Many keepers use paper towels. I use them for small tubs.
 
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