Light Bad for Snow Corn Snake?

[neuroticmeeps]

I just recently got a snow corn snake, only a hatchling. And I have noticed he only comes out when it is dark in my room. Is this because he is albino like? Do I need to get him special lighting? Currently I have a UV light and a heating spot light.

BTW he looks exactly like this guy:
http://www.exoticpetvet.com/cornsnake snow 1 small.jpg

 

[leper65]

My Okeetee and Creamsicle do the same thing, they are mostly nocturnal by nature.

 

[PnyKlr]

Your snow comes out at night because it is nocturnal, not because of light sensitivity.

 

[neuroticmeeps]

Alright, just wanted to make sure since I read that somewhere. THanks

 

[Checkerbelly]

I don't think a UV light is good for an albino. There's a thread somewhere around here about it. Anyway, two reasons:

1. Corns don't need it.
2. Albinos are generally more sensitive to the harmful effects of UV.

 

[neuroticmeeps]

I don't think a UV light is good for an albino. There's a thread somewhere around here about it. Anyway, two reasons:

1. Corns don't need it.
2. Albinos are generally more sensitive to the harmful effects of UV.

See I thought I read that somewhere and yet the pet store told me to get one. Probably just wanted me to buy more stuff. ::sigh::

 

[bitsy]

Probably just wanted me to buy more stuff. ::sigh::

If only they'd sell thermostats that enthusiastically! Sorry you've been given bad advice, but you're in the right place to get the good info.

Corns are crepuscular rather than nocturnal, which means they're most active at dawn and dusk. In human terms, that means we tend to see them out and about most in the evenings. Of course, they're all individuals and you do find the odd one who will be active during the day.

Because Corns only come out in the wild when the sunlight is weakest, they've never evolved the dependency on UV that some other reptiles have.

There is a suspicion that UV can actually cause blindness in the lighter Corn morphs, because they lack the dark pigments that give natural protection against the harmful aspects of UV. Putting a UV light in a Snow Corn's viv is a bit like putting a redhead out in the midday sun with no sunblock.

Don't think there's been any formal research on this yet, but I guess that's enough for me to avoid it. My 18 year old has never had UV and he's doing pretty well on it.