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Do I need a heat lamp?

Zimmer

Zimmer

New member
For the most part, what I have read seems to indicate that corns shouldn't have a heat lamp. I have a UTH set up at 84 degrees, so she does have that available 24/7, but the ambient temps elsewhere in the tank are about 65 degrees at night, and maybe up to 68-70 in the day. Is that acceptable? I have a red or black heat lamp I could set up if needed.
 
You do not need a heat lamp. As long as she has a warm spot, the ambient temperature doesn't really matter (unless it's really extreme or something). You may want to bump up your UTH to around 87ish.
 
Thanks! Awesome. I know belly heat is the most important, wasn't sure how much ambient temps could be affecting her. I really don't want to use the heat lamp, they are such a pain in the butt!!!!!! Will increase the UTH temp as well. She isn't really using it that I can tell, which is kinda why I was concerned about the temperature of the rest of the enclosure...
 
if your snake is eating on a schedule, pooping on a schedule, and to the best of your knowledge, healthy and acting like a corn snake should, then you probably do not need additional heat.

Corn snakes do best with a heat gradient so they can choose for themselves. The highest temp should not exceed 88 and the lowest should not go below 70. (Most Corn snake owners shoot for about 85 & 75, but if it varies a few degrees, no problem.)

So you are concerned about temps lower than 70....... especially at night. (Remember, a corn snakes temp should not go below 70).....

So what happens to corn snakes in the wild if the temp goes below 70? It obviously does, right?

A snake will become sluggish if it gets too cold, it could slow down its metabolism and might even hibernate if it gets cold and stays cold. But you were referring to the "Ambient Air" around your snake. As long as he has that "Hot Spot" he can go to that is 84, then there should be no worries.

Remember, it's "His Choice" if he hangs out in 65 degree air, sits in a 85 degrees Hide box, or soaks in a water bowl. As long as you provide all 3, he will pick out where he goes.

Now having said that, I was also concerned with temps getting "Too Low" as you are. So I actually have 2 heat pads under my tank. 1 is set for 85 (the hot side) and 1 is set for 74 (the cool side). That way even if my room air gets cooler I can rest assured he does not go below 74. But a lot of people get by with just 1 heat pad and they do just fine.
 
Karl_Mcknight said:
if your snake is eating on a schedule, pooping on a schedule, and to the best of your knowledge, healthy and acting like a corn snake should, then you probably do not need additional heat.

Corn snakes do best with a heat gradient so they can choose for themselves. The highest temp should not exceed 88 and the lowest should not go below 70. (Most Corn snake owners shoot for about 85 & 75, but if it varies a few degrees, no problem.)

So you are concerned about temps lower than 70....... especially at night. (Remember, a corn snakes temp should not go below 70).....

So what happens to corn snakes in the wild if the temp goes below 70? It obviously does, right?

A snake will become sluggish if it gets too cold, it could slow down its metabolism and might even hibernate if it gets cold and stays cold. But you were referring to the "Ambient Air" around your snake. As long as he has that "Hot Spot" he can go to that is 84, then there should be no worries.

Remember, it's "His Choice" if he hangs out in 65 degree air, sits in a 85 degrees Hide box, or soaks in a water bowl. As long as you provide all 3, he will pick out where he goes.

Now having said that, I was also concerned with temps getting "Too Low" as you are. So I actually have 2 heat pads under my tank. 1 is set for 85 (the hot side) and 1 is set for 74 (the cool side). That way even if my room air gets cooler I can rest assured he does not go below 74. But a lot of people get by with just 1 heat pad and they do just fine.
Click to expand...

I guess part of the concern is that I don't have any behavior to judge her comfort by. I have yet to feed her, or see her have a bowel movement, or really do anything at all except hide (which is typical, I know). I feel like her current setup doesn't have much "gradient" to it, it's just a warm spot and everything else is a bit chilly! My house runs on the cool side.

2 heat mats is a really good idea! If nothing else, it would make me feel better LOL (and she would probably appreciate it as well!)
 
hypnoctopus said:
You do not need a heat lamp. As long as she has a warm spot, the ambient temperature doesn't really matter (unless it's really extreme or something). You may want to bump up your UTH to around 87ish.
Click to expand...

Yes^^^ :)

Now if the ambient temp on the cold side drops any more than 65 then add a regulated second UTH as Karl said or use your heat lamp.
Belly heat is more efficient not most important. Ambient temps with the proper heat gradient is most important. More so it the temperature of the air surrounding the snake is most important especially the hot side. How you achieve that is up to you.
 
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