corn snake set ups

[afrojefro]

i was thinking about buying a corn snake dont know what kind yet buy i was just wondering how much would it cost me set up a tank. i alredy have some of the thing like the tank the lide a heat lamp and and flourecent light could you please tell me every thing else i would need and how much it would cost and deterime what kind of corn snake to get thanks. :shrugs:

 

[Lennycorn]

For an adult corn you will need at least a 20L tank, you don't need the heat lamp, fluorescent light is good. A heat mat (Under tank heater) a thermometer with a probe, bedding (aspen) water bowel and some hides. If you have the tank already most expensive beside the corn. Under fifty with out the snake.

 

[Nanyque]

For an adult corn you will need at least a 20L tank, you don't need the heat lamp, fluorescent light is good. A heat mat (Under tank heater) a thermometer with a probe, bedding (aspen) water bowel and some hides. If you have the tank already most expensive beside the corn. Under fifty with out the snake.

seriously, no heat lamp? Everyone keeps saying that, but I can't keep my temps above 72 (of course, I don't have a good thermometer, so maybe I'm off on my temps) without a lamp.

Oh, and here's a question... is the UV light a bad thing for blizzards, being all albino and whatnot...?

 

[Lennycorn]

but I can't keep my temps above 72 (of course, I don't have a good thermometer, so maybe I'm off on my temps)

So, if you know you don't have a good thermometer how do you know where you stand with the temps?? :shrugs:

And I haven't heard anything bad about the fluorescent lights.

 

[Nanyque]

I have cheap plastic things from Petco. they say 72. That's all I know.

 

[snakemom1961]

First of all welcome to the forum. Your best bet is to do a search on a UTH. That is the heat pad that goes on the outside, on the bottom of your tank. The plasic thermometor you have will not give you an accurate temp. You need a good thermometor with a prob that you can place right on top of the glass where your UTH is placed, that will be your warm side. You will need a thermostat to regulate your temps so it is right around 85 for the warm side and low 70's for the cool. There's alot of great information here on this forum if you just look a little. Good luck with your new snake.

 

[bitsy]

is the UV light a bad thing for blizzards, being all albino and whatnot...?

UV isn't necessary for Corns at all, as they are active at dawn/dusk/night in the wild when sunlight is weak/non-existent. They don't depend on UV to metabolise calcium as some other reptiles do.

Anecdotally, UV is dangerous to Corns lacking darker pigments as they don't have any kind of protection from UV. Putting a Blizzard/Snow etc in a tank with a UV light, is akin to putting a red-headed person out in the mid-day sun without any sunblock on.

I don't believe there's any formal research to back this up yet. However, I know of one person who has run a reputable reptile rescue in the UK for years, who is convinced that use of UV by previous owners has contributed to some Corns in her care becoming blind.

Basically, UV isn't necessary for Corns, it could possibly be harmful to them, so I wouldn't consider using it.

 

[texastailfeathers]

Putting a Blizzard/Snow etc in a tank with a UV light, is akin to putting a red-headed person out in the mid-day sun without any sunblock on.

:-offtopic LOL...I love this sentence. Being a redhead and all.

I never thought about the effects of UV on snakes. Do they get sunburned?

 

[afrojefro]

if you need the tank to be 85 how do you get it that if you do not have a heat lamp

 

[tom e]

:-offtopic LOL...I love this sentence. Being a redhead and all.

I never thought about the effects of UV on snakes. Do they get sunburned?

So you're an Amel! :crazy02:

 

[tom e]

if you need the tank to be 85 how do you get it that if you do not have a heat lamp

I don't think you need the tank to be 85.. That's a misunderstanding. What you need is a spot in the tank that is 85 on contact. A big enough spot that the snake can place his whole body on that temp and rest there, AND it has to be cozy and secure enough that he feels comfortable laying there for extended periods of time. In other words it needs to be covered.

The temps in the rest of the tank are also a concern, but generally if the tank is in your house and you can stand the temps in your house, the temps are probably fine.

Please keep in mind that someone will probably comment after me with corrections that I will probably defer to. LOL..

 

[afrojefro]

so what you are saying is the air temp. doesnt have to be 85 just the bottom part of the tank has to be right

 

[Corny Noob]

so what you are saying is the air temp. doesnt have to be 85 just the bottom part of the tank has to be right

Not the entire bottom, only one section.
This is where the Under Tank Heater comes into play.
Judging by whatever size tank you get, you would get a heater to match that say one meant for a 10-20 gallon tank. They do not cover the whole bottom, as they are not ment to. You affix it to the tank (or to something else if you don't want to stick it to the tank) and put it underneath one side of the tank. To properly regulate this tempature you will need a thermostat, because unchecked this can easily go past 100*F and kill your snake. In addition you will need a thermostat with a probe to acuratly read the tempatrures.

 

[scorch84]

UV isn't necessary for Corns at all, as they are active at dawn/dusk/night in the wild when sunlight is weak/non-existent. They don't depend on UV to metabolise calcium as some other reptiles do.


the people at petco said that the UV/V light was needed because it helps them to shed...it is like 32 bucks i think...so you dont need it?...i know i need a day light and a night light and an undertank heater but no UV?...

 

[Chris Steele]

People at petco generally don't know what they're talking about. I don't think you need any lights for your cage at all>?? just an undertank heater(uth) this will be placed on one side of the cage so that that one spot on that one side is about 85 degrees.. you want the other side of the cage, the air temp to be 70ish maybe higher. The people at petco are there to sell stuff. If you want to help your snake shed get it a sanitary stick/log, etc.

 

[Nanci]

You NEED the UTH. You do not need a heat lamp. You might want, but do not need, lights for you to view the snakes.

Nanci

 

[scorch84]

oh wow i was gonna get a hood with a UV light,day light and night light..i dont need any?...it was 70 bucks..so it is relativley cheap to set up...?

 

[Nanci]

What you need is a UTH that will cover 1/4 to 1/3 of the bottom of the tank, on one end. http://tinyurl.com/25osyg I personally have not used this mat. It looks exactly like what I put on my new cages, though. I like ExoTerra mats, and Zoo Med mats are all right but get hotter.

You then need a thermostat to regulate it, or it will get up to 130F and burn your snake. http://tinyurl.com/ypgu4s

Then you need a nice, reliable thermometer so you always know what the temp is. http://tinyurl.com/yqd3xt

These are just suggestions of brands that I am very happy with.

What you need for the top of your viv is a lid that won't come off!! Like the Critter Cages with sliding screen lids.

Nanci

 

[scorch84]

thanks-i was about to spend a huge chunk of money and i think all of that just saved me tons...thanks

 

[Corny Noob]

People at petco generally don't know what they're talking about. The people at petco are there to sell stuff. QUOTE]

*cough*Lets not forget that some forum members work at petco, and not all idiots working should speak for all the employees