little.bit18
New member
What's the best way I can make my 5 ft corn snakes tank comfortable for him?
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My almost 5 ft corn snake
- Thread starter little.bit18
- Start date
little.bit18
New member
I'm picking her up tomorrow ! I have a 55 gallon and 40 gallon tank, I'm setting up the tanks before I get her. I have a heating pad, screen locks, & I didn't get a light yet cause the people at the store weren't really helpful
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little.bit18
New member
& thank you !!!!!
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DollysMom
It never gets old!
You don't need a light. You definitely don't need a light for heat. I use light only because my room was dark. I use an LED light on a dimmer and a timer. In most cases your room lighting or natural daylight will be plenty. Make sure that direct sunlight does not hit any of your tanks.
I would set your snake up in the 55 gallon. You need at least three hides in a tank that big. You should have one over the heating pad. You should have another on the cool side. And you should have one in the middle. Your hides do not need to be store-bought. They can be cardboard boxes or cardboard tubes although your snake is a little large for a toilet paper roll. The one in the middle could be an artificial plant or flower to as long as it gives your snake enough coverage. If you have any suction cup vines those always are nice for dressing up the viv.
Now back to the heating. You're going to want a thermostat. I don't have the link handy right now but go on Amazon and search for Hydrofarm jump start thermostat. It costs around $30 or a little more and is the best investment you can make for your snake. While it is an on off style thermostat it will hold the temperature close enough. You can get thermostats that hold an exact temp but they start at around $100.
As for substrate, I highly recommend Aspen. I find that it makes poop cleanup very easy. And it is important that your corn snake does not have too high a humidity. Some of the other natural substrates can hold more moisture which is great for a tropical snake but not for a corn snake. There are other appropriate substrates, but starting out with aspen is a safe bet. Do not use pine shavings under any circumstances.
If you haven't already gotten a water dish, make sure whatever you get cannot be tipped over and that is big enough for your snake to soak in. For large snakes like yours some people use dog water bowls. However there is nothing wrong with the large decorative bowls either. Make sure whatever bowl you get that it can't be tipped over. Make sure you change the water every two days or whenever it is dirty whichever comes first. The water always goes on the cool side of the viv
I hope you get I've given you some ideas. Proper temperatures, clean water, and hiding places along with a good substrate are the essentials. Well, good locks, too.
Be sure to search some threads here, too. Many pictures of nice vivs have been posted.
Best wishes.
I would set your snake up in the 55 gallon. You need at least three hides in a tank that big. You should have one over the heating pad. You should have another on the cool side. And you should have one in the middle. Your hides do not need to be store-bought. They can be cardboard boxes or cardboard tubes although your snake is a little large for a toilet paper roll. The one in the middle could be an artificial plant or flower to as long as it gives your snake enough coverage. If you have any suction cup vines those always are nice for dressing up the viv.
Now back to the heating. You're going to want a thermostat. I don't have the link handy right now but go on Amazon and search for Hydrofarm jump start thermostat. It costs around $30 or a little more and is the best investment you can make for your snake. While it is an on off style thermostat it will hold the temperature close enough. You can get thermostats that hold an exact temp but they start at around $100.
As for substrate, I highly recommend Aspen. I find that it makes poop cleanup very easy. And it is important that your corn snake does not have too high a humidity. Some of the other natural substrates can hold more moisture which is great for a tropical snake but not for a corn snake. There are other appropriate substrates, but starting out with aspen is a safe bet. Do not use pine shavings under any circumstances.
If you haven't already gotten a water dish, make sure whatever you get cannot be tipped over and that is big enough for your snake to soak in. For large snakes like yours some people use dog water bowls. However there is nothing wrong with the large decorative bowls either. Make sure whatever bowl you get that it can't be tipped over. Make sure you change the water every two days or whenever it is dirty whichever comes first. The water always goes on the cool side of the viv
I hope you get I've given you some ideas. Proper temperatures, clean water, and hiding places along with a good substrate are the essentials. Well, good locks, too.
Be sure to search some threads here, too. Many pictures of nice vivs have been posted.
Best wishes.
DollysMom
It never gets old!
P.S. You probably know, but the heat pad aka under tank heating goes on the outside of the tank. Instead of sticking it directly on the bottom of the tank many people stick it to a piece of foil and then tape it to the tank, with foil side facing the tank, using duct tape or something else similar. That way you can safely remove and reuse the heating pad on another tank if you want to.
little.bit18
New member
Thank you so much !!!! I made that mistake with my albino corn snake, it was very hard and nearly impossible to get it off. But some how I did, it stopped working and needed to be replaced. Thank you so much
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little.bit18
New member
I love this site. Everyone is so nice & truly wants the best for these beautiful animals ! He may be mixed with a rat snake. I'm about to post a photo
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little.bit18
New member
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DollysMom
It never gets old!
Beautiful! There are several morphs that are known to be mixed or suspected to be mixed with a related species of rat snake, so you are not alone. It's really no biggie unless you are breeding and need to disclose any hybrid genetics to your customers. The care is exactly the same.
One more thing. I forgot to mention having thermometers. I have two, one probe on the glass under the substrate in the warm hide and another likewise in the cool hide. Here's a pic of my 53 gram monkey, Dolly, enjoying one of his thermometers as well as the hygrometer. Sorry it's so dark, but of course they do the cutest stuff when it's dark.
One more thing. I forgot to mention having thermometers. I have two, one probe on the glass under the substrate in the warm hide and another likewise in the cool hide. Here's a pic of my 53 gram monkey, Dolly, enjoying one of his thermometers as well as the hygrometer. Sorry it's so dark, but of course they do the cutest stuff when it's dark.
little.bit18
New member
Dolly is so beautiful !!!!I'm not breeding but I'm gonna be this babies forever home since he's being rehomed. His owner is very picky but she's gonna allow me to love him and take care of him. I'm glad there is no difference my albino one had 3 thermometers..... but that's because it was a full heated 55 gallon tank and I'd never plug it in but I learned in certain spots it'd contain more heat and I had to get a cooling fan for him. Each side would be fine but in the middle for some reason it'd be way to hott. And he'd avoid it. I had a new cage on the way before my old room mate sold off my babies.
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my albino one had 3 thermometers..... but that's because it was a full heated 55 gallon tank and I'd never plug it in but I learned in certain spots it'd contain more heat and I had to get a cooling fan for him. Each side would be fine but in the middle for some reason it'd be way to hott. And he'd avoid it. I had a new cage on the way before my old room mate sold off my babies.Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk
little.bit18
New member
I'm very happy the one I'm getting isn't albino tho..... cause I'm still heart broken over my baby ):
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little.bit18
New member
Blanco is the albino corn snake
Royalty is the ball python
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DollysMom
It never gets old!
I didn't realize you were quite so experienced. I hope I haven't been telling you too much stuff you already know. Dolly thanks you for the compliment! Yes, this is an awesome place. This is one of the friendliest and most helpful forums. I've never spent as much time on a forum as a do here. It is so nice to hang with folk who love their snakes and appreciate what great pets they make.
Those are wonderful pictures and looking at them makes me smile. Both your albino and ball are just so precious. I'm sorry for your roommate selling your albino. That's another thing. No one here will ever say, "it's just a snake". They are amazing, beautiful, and while we don't know exactly how they perceive us, I know we can love them as much or more as we love a cat or a dog.
I can tell your snake's former owner has nothing to be concerned with in you, but I can also understand her being very careful about rehoming her beloved pet. If anything happened to me, I already have my son's promise to care for my snake. He has an adorable African House Snake, by the way. We go in on frozen mice orders together
Those are wonderful pictures and looking at them makes me smile. Both your albino and ball are just so precious. I'm sorry for your roommate selling your albino. That's another thing. No one here will ever say, "it's just a snake". They are amazing, beautiful, and while we don't know exactly how they perceive us, I know we can love them as much or more as we love a cat or a dog.
I can tell your snake's former owner has nothing to be concerned with in you, but I can also understand her being very careful about rehoming her beloved pet. If anything happened to me, I already have my son's promise to care for my snake. He has an adorable African House Snake, by the way. We go in on frozen mice orders together
little.bit18
New member
They were my first snakes..... and luckily Blanco (corn snake) came with everything he needed so I never had to set up the tank to the fullest.
I'm starting a tank for a corn snake for the very first time so all the information I've received is more than helpful! I enjoy learning more & more about my babies.
Thank you so much! & see my friends just look at me like I'm crazy for being sad, but I've met some very nice kind people who actually feel the same way about their babies as I do.
What's your opinion on food? Live or frozen???? We were doing lives one for Blanco (he had one in his mouth, and still went for the other mouse lol). & frozen for royalty (the pet store had her for 7 weeks, I got her feeding chart and she never once ate) but she would eat 2 frozen mice twice every 2 weeks. She never got the hang of going for the live one, i left them in the feeding box for privacy but she couldn't catch it.... i thought i may have had tried way to early... she had trouble wrapping and eating the frozen ones also... but she'd eventually get the hang of it.
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I'm starting a tank for a corn snake for the very first time so all the information I've received is more than helpful! I enjoy learning more & more about my babies.
Thank you so much! & see my friends just look at me like I'm crazy for being sad, but I've met some very nice kind people who actually feel the same way about their babies as I do.
What's your opinion on food? Live or frozen???? We were doing lives one for Blanco (he had one in his mouth, and still went for the other mouse lol). & frozen for royalty (the pet store had her for 7 weeks, I got her feeding chart and she never once ate) but she would eat 2 frozen mice twice every 2 weeks. She never got the hang of going for the live one, i left them in the feeding box for privacy but she couldn't catch it.... i thought i may have had tried way to early... she had trouble wrapping and eating the frozen ones also... but she'd eventually get the hang of it.
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little.bit18
New member
Oh yes ! I can understand cause that's why I'm so worried about them and taking my room mate to civil court. I just want information on their where abouts and if their okay and being taken care of. I'd love to have them back in my arms.I didn't realize you were quite so experienced. I hope I haven't been telling you too much stuff you already know. Dolly thanks you for the compliment! Yes, this is an awesome place. This is one of the friendliest and most helpful forums. I've never spent as much time on a forum as a do here. It is so nice to hang with folk who love their snakes and appreciate what great pets they make.
Those are wonderful pictures and looking at them makes me smile. Both your albino and ball are just so precious. I'm sorry for your roommate selling your albino. That's another thing. No one here will ever say, "it's just a snake". They are amazing, beautiful, and while we don't know exactly how they perceive us, I know we can love them as much or more as we love a cat or a dog.
I can tell your snake's former owner has nothing to be concerned with in you, but I can also understand her being very careful about rehoming her beloved pet. If anything happened to me, I already have my son's promise to care for my snake. He has an adorable African House Snake, by the way. We go in on frozen mice orders together
I've seen many people on social media not taking good care of their animals or hear about someone having 3-4 ball pythons in a 20 gallon tank, or a snake turtle and 2 frogs in the same tank. It drives me insane hearing all these stories.
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DollysMom
It never gets old!
I do frozen. I could only feed live if my snake's life were at stake. My son and I are getting our mice from Layne Labs, and they sure have been a hit with our snakes. I like that you can order small quantities, but even for me, if I didn't have someone to split it with this shipping would be too much. I don't stock more than 6 months at a time and I double bag against freezer burn. It's still $1.00 to $1.30 per mouse with shipping, but that's cheaper and more size selection than PetSmart. I got tired of over $2.00 per pinky. Dolly is now constricting the large fuzzies. That was concurrent to the switch to the Layne Labs mice, too.
Some people just lay the frozen thawed mouse in with their snakes. I weigh snake and prey first and feed in a tub. I use the tongs to wiggle the mouse and move it a bit as if it were alive. Dolly seems to like the thrill of the "hunt".
I have no experience with live feeding.
Again, I'm sorry for your loss. That someone could sell off your snakes on you is unconscionable.
Some people just lay the frozen thawed mouse in with their snakes. I weigh snake and prey first and feed in a tub. I use the tongs to wiggle the mouse and move it a bit as if it were alive. Dolly seems to like the thrill of the "hunt".
I have no experience with live feeding.
Again, I'm sorry for your loss. That someone could sell off your snakes on you is unconscionable.
little.bit18
New member
Thank gosh. I told my husband our babies dont always need live mice to eat and he was just so interested in watching Blanco go for them.
We are getting a 6 month supply of frozen with our new family member so hopefully they'll be good !! & hell go for them
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Haight
New member
So sorry to hear about your awful roommate's despicable actions. Seems like Dollysmom has already answered most of your questions (as always =p). I hope you are able to find out where your babies are. Your newest addition is a healthy looking snake. I hope that everything goes well for you and your new family member.