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extended photoperiods after meals?

tradernick

tradernick

Just another Florida guy
My new pet Mouser has taken pinkies 3 times since coming to live with me and seems to be doing great, thanks largely to reading the threads here.
:cheers:

I know that he will seek a warm basking spot after a meal to raise his body temp and thus facilitate digestion. Is there any benefit (or danger) if I keep his overhead lamp on a few hours longer for a day or two following a meal?

Nick
 
Heat lamps are mostly just there for viewing purposes ideally. Corn Snakes prefer belly heat for digestion (provided by a under tank heater)
 
Hi Nick, what kind of lamp are you using? I have a ceramic heat emiter that stays on all the time, but it doesn't produce light. You can use a red light during the night without bothering the snake. But no, they don't want a visible light on during the night.
 
Just a simple overhead lamp. The daytime temp is normally 80-85, and down to 72-75 at night. I think my temps are ok...Florida seems to be a good climate for Corns. I thought that it might be a good idea to keep the temp up for a bit longer after feedings but if it's more important to turn it off at dusk that's what I'll do. I'm glad you guys are here :)
Thanks,
Nick
 
I do think the temp needs to stay up after feeding so that they can digest. I would get a uth to keep the warm side up all night, without having a light on. So, yes the temp needs to stay up. No, they don't like lights on at night. Like I said, a uth would be the best. Also, a ceramic heat emiter would work too.
My snake really stays on the warm side all the time. I keep the warm and cool side temps constant all the time. I don't do the dip at night.
 
ok I'll shop around for a uth. So constant temp, rather than a dip at night and no lights on in the viv after dusk. Got it.
What temps do you keep (warm and cool) and how much do you adjust it after feeding...and for how long?
Nick
 
sandybunny said:
I do think the temp needs to stay up after feeding so that they can digest. I would get a uth to keep the warm side up all night, without having a light on. So, yes the temp needs to stay up. No, they don't like lights on at night. Like I said, a uth would be the best. Also, a ceramic heat emiter would work too.
My snake really stays on the warm side all the time. I keep the warm and cool side temps constant all the time. I don't do the dip at night.
Click to expand...

IMO I think its important to have a dip in the temperatures in at night, as this mimicks the wild which we want to do as much as possible for our snakes. I would recomment keeping your lamp on all day as you are already doing, as well as a small UTH covering about 1/4 of the tank with a hide over it. During the night keep the UTH on but the lamp off. If you do this you should be able to keep it like that whether you have just fed or not - then the snake will always be able to go the hide over the UTH if he feels like extra warmth for digestion. :)
 
beaniebopps said:
IMO I think its important to have a dip in the temperatures in at night, as this mimicks the wild which we want to do as much as possible for our snakes. I would recomment keeping your lamp on all day as you are already doing, as well as a small UTH covering about 1/4 of the tank with a hide over it. During the night keep the UTH on but the lamp off. If you do this you should be able to keep it like that whether you have just fed or not - then the snake will always be able to go the hide over the UTH if he feels like extra warmth for digestion. :)
Click to expand...

Note taken. That sounds like good advice. I think I may give that a shot. Thanks. :)
 
Actually with just the lamp the temp in the entire viv is 80-85 during the day...should I get a uth and just set it to stay in the low 80's around the clock? That way there would be a warm spot at night in case he needs it.
Nick
 
tradernick said:
Actually with just the lamp the temp in the entire viv is 80-85 during the day...should I get a uth and just set it to stay in the low 80's around the clock? That way there would be a warm spot at night in case he needs it.
Nick
Click to expand...

Exactly. I hope you meant the warm side instead of the entire viv. There should also be a cool side for the snake to go to to cool off. Just make sure you have a rheostat to control the temp of the uth, and a digital thermometer with probe down at the glass under the substrate so that you know the temp is appropriate. Good luck.
 
Well, I keep the thermometer under the overhead light and that's where it's 80-85. On the far side of the viv there's a hiding spot that he never uses...it's a bit cooler on that side but he's normally under the lamp, either basking on or hiding under the hiding spot just under the lamp. Tomorrow I'll move the thermometer under the hiding spot furthest from the lamp and see what the temp is there. I did that before and it seems like it was 5-10 degrees cooler but I can't remember for sure.
I haven't yet bought a uth because I thought that in FL it wasn't as important.
Nick
 
You only need to put the probe down at the glass under substrate if you are using a uth. With only an overhead light, just put it on the surface of the substrate. The point with the uth is the snake may burrow down to get warm. If this happens, you need to know he will not get burned if he reaches the glass.
 
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