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How to heat?

Teddy Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt

i loev cronsankes
Getting my first cornsnake soon (a goal I've been working towards for several years now) and not sure about one thing; how do I adequately heat the viv? All I saw at Petco were heating lamps. I don't know what under-tank-heaters look like or how much they'll run me. What is best for heating a tank, and how big should I buy for one snake that I plan to have for a long time?
 
I would buy a full size 20-30 gal. mat if you don't want to have to buy another as your snake grows. Petco will rape you if you buy one there so I suggest a local herp show or online at big apple herps. You'll need a thermostat to control the temps of the pad though they all get too hot no matter what the package says. Big apple herp also sell a cheapy thermostat for under $40 and the heat mats are under $20 there.

Temps should be 80-85 on your warm side and in the lower to mid 70' on your cool end. The heat lamps dry the cage out too much and still need to be regulated anyway not to mention they don't provide belly heat.
 
danielle said:
I would buy a full size 20-30 gal. mat if you don't want to have to buy another as your snake grows. Petco will rape you if you buy one there so I suggest a local herp show or online at big apple herps. You'll need a thermostat to control the temps of the pad though they all get too hot no matter what the package says. Big apple herp also sell a cheapy thermostat for under $40 and the heat mats are under $20 there.

Temps should be 80-85 on your warm side and in the lower to mid 70' on your cool end. The heat lamps dry the cage out too much and still need to be regulated anyway not to mention they don't provide belly heat.
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It's just that I live in AZ and even though winter is coming, the house itself is usually 70-80 degrees and the snake's viv will be near a window that gets a loooot of light, so I'm leaning towards a heat lamp. Not sure if you mean don't buy the snake from Petco or not, but just for clarification I'm buying the SNAKE from a local breeder. The Viv equipment at petco seems reasonable, probably about $100 for a new tank + heater + water/subs/hides. How do I find a wholesale rodent provider?
 
You can look up the mouse factory, rodent pro, and others for your rodents just google feeder rodents there are many sites.

Petco by far is extremely expensive for herp supplies which is why I suggested big apple herps instead or really any other online pet supply store.

I know its warm in AZ, but you'll still need some belly heat hence the UTH when its cooler than 80. I wouldn't get the zoomed rheostat btw its a piece of crap no matter what its used to regulate. The lamp may also complicate shedding also and AZ is already dry another great reason to get a UTH instead, but thats up to you.

If your looking for a cheap 20 gal. go craigslist or check out local for sale items, or use a plastic see through tub from Walmart- can't beat a cage for less than $20:)
 
Just aside note, you might want to stay away from the window. Don't want it to get too hot.

Heat lamps I would think, are harder to control the temps, meaning the temp/heat that reaches the snake.

As for the item you need hide, water dish you can use something around the house. Paint a food box for a hide. A small cup for a water dish.

Get you mice on line. Much cheaper. Ask to buy some from the breeder until your order come in. Which should be within a week.
 
Lennycorn said:
Just aside note, you might want to stay away from the window. Don't want it to get too hot.

Heat lamps I would think, are harder to control the temps, meaning the temp/heat that reaches the snake.

As for the item you need hide, water dish you can use something around the house. Paint a food box for a hide. A small cup for a water dish.

Get you mice on line. Much cheaper. Ask to buy some from the breeder until your order come in. Which should be within a week.
Click to expand...

Whats a good brand of UTH? What about sterilite tanks I've heard about? What are they, and how do they differ from regular glass tanks?
 
Also on the opposite end of the spectrum... how do I maintain a COOL area in summer? It can reach 110+ degrees here in summer during the day (not that the snake would be outside, but it's not TOO much cooler inside).
 
Sterilite containers are like rubbermaids, big plastic tubs.

I'd recommend the exo-terra rainforest undertank heat mat.

90 degrees or higher is dangerous, get air-conditioning for the room. 110f will cause neurological damage and might kill the snake if it's for a prolonged time.
 
Stars said:
Sterilite containers are like rubbermaids, big plastic tubs.

I'd recommend the exo-terra rainforest undertank heat mat.

90 degrees or higher is dangerous, get air-conditioning for the room. 110f will cause neurological damage and might kill the snake if it's for a prolonged time.
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The room is air-conditioned and there's a fan if the AC isn't enough, but how can I be sure its comfortable inside the tank? Freeze a brick maybe?
 
No freezing of bricks if you can't keep your room temps in the 70's a corn may not be for you. It gets 100+ here too, but our AC keeps the home in the 70's without issue.
 
As long as you use an A/C, you don't have to worry. You always need to make sure there is plenty of fresh water for your snake. But especially when it gets warmer, so it stays hydrated.
 
Pepper said:
There are plenty or corn owners and breeders in Arizona. I'm sure not all of them are unfit owners?
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Of course there are and I didn't use the term unfit btw. You stated even with AC and fans your home is still always hot- so I said given YOUR homes temps maybe a corn isn't the best choice thats all. If you can keep your home in th 70's the temps outside don't matter:)
 
Ok, so my advice would be to get a couple digital thermometers. That way you can SEE what the temperatures are. This is how you will know it is comfortable in the tank. I really DOUBT your house stays at 110* for long in the summer, with air conditioning. If it does, you yourself would probably spend most of your time dieing with heat, right?
so...just a couple of digi thermometers. They take all the guess work out. Like Rich said, make sure theres lots of water.
As for heating, go with a UTH. its heat where the snake wants it, and can use it. Its much easier to control, and will make your humidity easier to control also. Dont buy online if you dont want to, but it IS cheaper. But, if you would rather the comfort of having everything ready (i understand, boy do i ever!) then just go for it at petco. :)
Good luck! your going to be hooked, i promise. these neat little critters are so much fun...and addicting. and the community here is great. keep us posted!
 
Ok, just got back from Petco. bought a 20x10x12 glass tank with a sliding/locking top (so hopefully no escapes that'll happen while it's closed!), three hides (small coconut, small hlaf-log, and a plastic/driftwood plant), a big ceramic bowl he'll be able to submerge in if he desires, aspen bedding, and a small/medium sized UTH by Repti-Therm, as well as a digi-thermometer and a humidity gauge.

Things I still need:
-the snake itself
- pinkies

How do I find a wholesale rodent seller? I've heard Petco will suck me dry for them and I'm leery of ordering online since, if all goes as planned with the breeder, I'll have my snake by the end of this week.
 
i think that the more popular ones do two day shipping. Remember you wont be feeding your snake for about a week after it arrives. That gives you roughly two weeks. and if you did get mice online and they for some reason were going to be three weeks before arriving, you could get one or two at petco...just to hold you over.
 
You'll also need a thermostat to control the heat your UTH puts out, the themometer only gives the temps, but can't control them. Your best bet for feeding one snake is reptile shows where you can buy pinks in either 25 count or bags of 50 count. Online rodent places sell in bags of 100 and charge a minimum of $40 just for shipping so its only worth it if your near filling a box or sharing an order with someone:)
 
Yeah... I have one snake and it really is too expensive to buy mice online. Also...i feel kind of bad, as it seems like i'm advocating petco here...which isnt the case. Just sometimes its the easiest option. For me, the shipping is so expensive to get things to me that i save little to no money by ordering online.
Dont like to support the big chain pet stores when i dont have to though.
 
danielle said:
You'll also need a thermostat to control the heat your UTH puts out, the themometer only gives the temps, but can't control them. Your best bet for feeding one snake is reptile shows where you can buy pinks in either 25 count or bags of 50 count. Online rodent places sell in bags of 100 and charge a minimum of $40 just for shipping so its only worth it if your near filling a box or sharing an order with someone:)
Click to expand...

The bottom of the tank (and the rest of the house, right now) is about 82 degrees. I don't anticipate needing to use the UTH more than a couple hours a day in the deepest part of winter at most. Should I still spend the big bucks on a thermostat?
 
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