Needing some help with my little guy. I have a male albino, I got him in sept.'14. He used to feed perfectly a pinkie a week then four weeks ago he went off his food. I try him once a week to see but he's refusing. I got him fuzzies cuz he has grown since I got him he's about 14-16 in now I think but he doesn't want those either. I do take him out of his tank to feed. He has a 20 gallon tank with a heat pad and a hide at the warm end, and water dish and tree at the other. He always hides under his water dish or in his tree. I'm wondering if maybe my room is too cold for him and it's making his tank cold, temp in my room probably 18•c. We re in Canada so it is winter so I'm not sure it that's why he's off food. I'm wondering if I need another heat source or maybe a new heat pad? The thermometer is near the bottom on the warm side and it looks like it's in the mid to high 70's which I know is not warm enough. I do a lot of reading but I'm at a loss as to what I am supposed to do for him now. I see a lot of people with heat lamps and lights uv or otherwise but from what Ive read they don't need all that and some of it can either dry them out or bother their eyes especially with albinos. Not sure what to do
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Help with corn not eating
- Thread starter Cvossos
- Start date
SnakesMcGee
New member
Those temperatures are definitely too cool for the warm end, and because snakes use external heat to help digestion that probably has something to do with it. Recommended warm-side temps range from 80-85 up to 85-90F; it depends on who you ask, but either way your place is too cold.
For heating solutions, a lamp (with guard!!!) that uses either a ceramic bulb or a red light which doesn't bother the poor little albino snakey would be a good start. If you have concerns about the humidity, a hygrometer along with regular misting, an extra water bowl on the warm side, or even a humidifier (if your place is REALLY dry) can help - just make sure you have the hygrometer! Too much humidity is just as bad if not worse than not enough, when it comes to corns - it can lead to respiratory infections.
The other thing to consider is that snakes can go into brumation, where they fast in preparation for the breeding season. Because the days are shorter and the temperature is low, that might be what your corn is experiencing, although generally brumation will happen at even lower temps than what you are providing. I also don't know how old your snake is - if it's a baby, odds are brumation is not the issue lol.
For heating solutions, a lamp (with guard!!!) that uses either a ceramic bulb or a red light which doesn't bother the poor little albino snakey would be a good start. If you have concerns about the humidity, a hygrometer along with regular misting, an extra water bowl on the warm side, or even a humidifier (if your place is REALLY dry) can help - just make sure you have the hygrometer! Too much humidity is just as bad if not worse than not enough, when it comes to corns - it can lead to respiratory infections.
The other thing to consider is that snakes can go into brumation, where they fast in preparation for the breeding season. Because the days are shorter and the temperature is low, that might be what your corn is experiencing, although generally brumation will happen at even lower temps than what you are providing. I also don't know how old your snake is - if it's a baby, odds are brumation is not the issue lol.
smigon
Old enough to know better
I agree, I think your UTH is too small. Invest in a larger one that covers 1/3 of the bottom underneath the tank.
Instead of the lamps which have many negatives, try using a little room heater near the cage. It will only warm up that room and help raise the UTH temps.
Instead of the lamps which have many negatives, try using a little room heater near the cage. It will only warm up that room and help raise the UTH temps.
He was just a little little guy in sept when I got him so I'm assuming he's only four months old. My UTH should be a 1/3 of the tank but I may get a different one because it must be faulty or something. I'm going to get a hygrometer and I'm thinking about a digital mat thermometer for the UTH and since I can't raise the temp in my room because my husband likes it cooler to sleep I'll need to get him another hear source. Smigon what are the negatives of lamps?
Lamps are fire hazards, they reduce humidity dramatically, UK light emitting bulbs can cause damage to snake's eyes (especially amel morphs), bulbs have to be replaced frequently, and can't really be regulated well by temperature (thermostats) and are instead regulated via intensity (dimmer). In full disclosure, I use heat lamps for ambient temp. because it works best for me. But there are some downsides. My corn Jax just had an awful shed because he decided to forgo his humid hide and hide under the heat lamp instead (he did get it all off except for the tail tip though, which I had to help with).
K so I went and got him a new heat mat which is heating up the substrate much better, a thermometer with temp probe, and a low watt red hear bulb to bring up the ambient temp. I also got Him another hide. He is still refusing food I tried him yesterday and he's hiding in his tree instead of the warm side, temps seem good in tank