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Habitat Change Preparation

LoveHolic

LoveHolic

Ultra Maniac!
I noticed my Ultramel Motley acting very strange the past couple days she's constantly on top of the cage attempting to lift the lid. At first I thought it was a way she wanted to come out to play so I would take her out, and handle her or I would see her poking nose through the little grate holes so I would touch it lightly and she would pick another hole to do this on after I touched her (like a cute game of snake whack a mole except without the whacking hahaha!) but then I noticed shes doing it a lot more often and I'm getting concerned... I think it's time for a tank change. She's up there and only comes down for a drink of water. She ate not too long ago too so I know she's not on the hunt.

Her current is a 15-20 gallon tank... I have a 50-55 gallon tank and I wanted some advice on what the tank should include since it'll be so huge and have a lot of space? Her current tank has, A log hide, a few coral rocks to help her shed and she can hide under. a long branch for her to climb on, her water bowl, lighting, and Zoo Med Repti Bark bedding.

If I transfer her now I'd have to change bedding because the bark isn't enough... I would have to use Reptilite Calcium Substrate (which I seem to have a LOT of) I'm going to get new supplies and wanted some professional advice on what I should improve on and include in her tank. I know one thing I should get for sure is a new thermometer because I had those stupid little stickers! It never works even though I never had to worry because my room is always super hot and I mist often if it seems too dry :angry01:

I can't really tell if she's too big or too little for an upgrade. But I know she's a June '08, and eats peach fuzzies/fuzzies. She won't let me measure her she squirms too much and I still don't have a product to weigh her... (another thing to add to stuff I need for my snakes) I have a shed but I heard shed sizes are off to measure.

I'm still new to this and would love to learn a lot more about having the healthiest habitat for my corn... So, advice? help? Add to my need to buy list? Best brand/type of product to buy for the list? Pictures of other enclosures? :)


Need to buy list:
  • Thermometer
  • Something that tells humidity
  • A lot More Repti Bark
  • Product that weighs in grams
 
What heating do you use and is it possible your tank is too warm? From the size of your meals, I don't think your current tank is too small
 
As many hides and as much ground cover as you can fit in. I always think the bigger the better when it comes to tanks and vivs, but you need to make sure that a larger floor area still feels secure to them.

You don't have to use bark or aspen. You can use newspaper substrate successfully. It won't look as nice but it'll be fine until you can get more bark. If the Reptilite Calcium is a sandy texture, I personally wouldn't use it. It's generally thought that it can get under their scales and cause irritation.

An accurate thermometer would be great. If you're using an undertank heater, make sure that it still covers one-third the floor area of the new tank. You may need to upgrade your heating equipment as well.
 
I'm a little concerned about her size. She's two and a half, eating peach fuzzies or fuzzies? My July hatchlings are eating that size. How often do you feed her? have you had her that whole time?

I agree with Bitsy; any type of sand substrate is generally not recommended for cornsnakes, because it is thought to irritate them.

Lots of vines would be nice. You can stick vines on the sides and back, and then get one of those bare bendy vine things, and wrap a six foot scrunchy leafy vine around it, and then take the whole thing and put a bunch of bends in it and lay it along the back. She would probably like a couple paper towel tubed. Maybe a hammock, if she likes to climb. I like the large size for snakes. Oh- they love slabs of cork bark, too.
 
It sounds to me like you have the best interests of your little one at heart. I applaud that :) Like Nanci, I am just a wee bit concerned about her size as well. My 08s are now on either hoppers or adults. Maybe she is hungry! I know you have a digital scale on your list, that is a really good idea. Just remember that whatever you feed her should be 1 1/2 times the width of her widest area.

Sorry about not answering questions about your set up. I use tubs with a heat strip in the back of a rack myself, but I am sure others that are more familar with your type of set up can help you in that regard!
 
Johan13 said:
What heating do you use and is it possible your tank is too warm? From the size of your meals, I don't think your current tank is too small
Click to expand...

I use a Exo Terra Sun Glo 120v 60hz 40watt. It has a little stand so it's not sitting directly on the tank cooking her :)

bitsy said:
As many hides and as much ground cover as you can fit in. I always think the bigger the better when it comes to tanks and vivs, but you need to make sure that a larger floor area still feels secure to them.

You don't have to use bark or aspen. You can use newspaper substrate successfully. It won't look as nice but it'll be fine until you can get more bark. If the Reptilite Calcium is a sandy texture, I personally wouldn't use it. It's generally thought that it can get under their scales and cause irritation.

An accurate thermometer would be great. If you're using an undertank heater, make sure that it still covers one-third the floor area of the new tank. You may need to upgrade your heating equipment as well.
Click to expand...

Oh wow, I never knew it could irritate their scales... I thought it was good though I still do prefer bark. How many watts would I need for a 50 gallon tank?

Nanci said:
I'm a little concerned about her size. She's two and a half, eating peach fuzzies or fuzzies? My July hatchlings are eating that size. How often do you feed her? have you had her that whole time?

I agree with Bitsy; any type of sand substrate is generally not recommended for cornsnakes, because it is thought to irritate them.

Lots of vines would be nice. You can stick vines on the sides and back, and then get one of those bare bendy vine things, and wrap a six foot scrunchy leafy vine around it, and then take the whole thing and put a bunch of bends in it and lay it along the back. She would probably like a couple paper towel tubed. Maybe a hammock, if she likes to climb. I like the large size for snakes. Oh- they love slabs of cork bark, too.
Click to expand...

I had her since she was half a year old and fed small pinkies twice a week. As she got bigger I upgraded to normals pinks, to large pinks, to peach fuzzies and fuzzies... I now buy them from the pet shop and I notice whether I say peach fuzzies or fuzzies... I see no difference in them.

There was a time long ago she ate rat pups but I noticed sometimes she would take a long time to digest them so I down graded to be safe... she looked like she was struggling to swallow it.

She eats once a week... maybe sometimes a day before a week. She seems to be eating great but I noticed she will never eat right before she goes into shed and while in shed... She's really agressive when in shed and wants to be alone. When I leave the food there she doesn't touch it. As soon as she sheds she eats like no tomorrow... Does this mean I may have to upgrade her food?

Where can I find the vines and cork bark? This sounds really cool... like making her tank a jungle! :D


starsevol said:
It sounds to me like you have the best interests of your little one at heart. I applaud that :) Like Nanci, I am just a wee bit concerned about her size as well. My 08s are now on either hoppers or adults. Maybe she is hungry! I know you have a digital scale on your list, that is a really good idea. Just remember that whatever you feed her should be 1 1/2 times the width of her widest area.

Sorry about not answering questions about your set up. I use tubs with a heat strip in the back of a rack myself, but I am sure others that are more familar with your type of set up can help you in that regard!
Click to expand...

Thank you! I'm trying my best to improve everything... I want her to be happy and healthy and plan to breed her later next year so I thought maybe she is unhappy with her enclosure... but everyones bringing me to realize maybe it's time to upgrade her food size... hmm
 
Oh yeah, I forgot to ask... how much should she weigh for her age? I plan on getting the product that weighs in grams tomorrow or Sunday when I go to K-Mart
 
LoveHolic said:
Oh yeah, I forgot to ask... how much should she weigh for her age? I plan on getting the product that weighs in grams tomorrow or Sunday when I go to K-Mart
Click to expand...

I've learned from everyone hhere there is no definite weight. They all grow at their own rate. Some could be lengthy and lean, others can be shorter and stocky. As long as you don't see a spine (where the snake is shaped like a triangle) and as long as you don't see fat hips or rolls your snake should be fine. Your snake should ultimately be in the shape like a loaf of bread (flat on the bottom and a 2 small round mounds on the top and a small indentation where the spine is). LoL I hope that made sense?
 
Here's a pic of the "loaf shape"

Hopefully this pic can show you what I'm talking about regarding the "loaf shape" lol

1st pic is the top of the loaf second pic is where your snake should be flat on the bottom...hope this helps!
 

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its been a while since i kept corns (getting again soon as i build vivs) but at 2 1/2 the diet shoukld be adult mice.

My amel used to eat a full grown mouse no problems, bear in mind an adult corn can quite easily eat a food item that is twice the girth or the snake...
 
Sarah1228 said:
Hopefully this pic can show you what I'm talking about regarding the "loaf shape" lol

1st pic is the top of the loaf second pic is where your snake should be flat on the bottom...hope this helps!
Click to expand...

She does kinda look like that... But I'm gonna upgrade her food anyway, maybe that is the problem... :(!

Thanks for the pic, it helped! :)
 
Your very welcome! The moment u switch your snake to hoppers & small mice...it will start growing like a weed!
 
As she's used to small meals, don't move to larger food suddenly. There's no harm in gradually increasing food size over a number of weeks. This will minimise the risk of regurgitation and should ensure a smooth transition to bigger food.
 
Should I try rat pups again first? Those are bigger than Fuzzies right? Or should I go to hoppers? How should I go about gradually increasing?
 
Meaning...try 1 fuzzy, each feeding. If everything goes normal for 3 weeks/feedings (behavior, poop, etc.) Then on week 4 try 2 fuzzies. If everything seems ok for another 3 or 4 feedings w/ 2 fuzzies. Then try a small hopper. Try spacing out every 5 days for a single fuzzy, then when u double up space it out to every 7 days. If you would like to feed every 7 days then that's fine. And let us know how its going?
 
Alrighty! She eats today, so ill feed her normally. Or is a rat pup a lil bigger than a fuzzy? I have those too
 
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