tyretosmom
New member
LOL I had to ask the same question. They have thermomaters that have a prob on them that you can use.
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New baby cornsnake, new owner, a few questions
- Thread starter LuckInSpades
- Start date
LuckInSpades
New member
How much do those tend to run for? I am really strapped for cash, especially after buying all that I have. If the air temp is just below 80 with the sub heater and the UV lamp (without the lamp, the air temp about 1inch off the sub drops toward the low 70s), do you think the substrate is OK? My snake has just started deciding to hide UNDER a layer of the paper towel substrate, so does that mean is still needs to be warmer? It seems that it has reached optimal temp (it hasn't felt like its gotten any warmer) So any thoughts?
I grabbed some round, flatish rocks from out collection outside, and I am getting ready to boil them now. Hopefully that might help gather some heat so he can lay on/under those.
I fear that when I was adjusting the wall thermometer, I may have disturbed the little guy. It looked like he went absolutely nuts! Might this have traumatized him at all? I feel so bad having to keep checking and adjusting stuff in his habitat.
I grabbed some round, flatish rocks from out collection outside, and I am getting ready to boil them now. Hopefully that might help gather some heat so he can lay on/under those.
I fear that when I was adjusting the wall thermometer, I may have disturbed the little guy. It looked like he went absolutely nuts! Might this have traumatized him at all? I feel so bad having to keep checking and adjusting stuff in his habitat.
tyretosmom
New member
Okay I think what you are tring to get at is a quick CHEAP fix?!! do you have everything you need for the light? If you do have you tried the red bulb? Before I switched to the Under the tank heater. I was using a 40 watt. red bulb(if your room is really cold you might want a 60watt not sure though). It seemed to be keeping my viv at 85. This might work till you can come up with the money. I would be a little nervous using the Under the tank heater if your snake is going under the paper towels. Have you done the touch test? About the thermomater, I saw some for like 14$.
PS If you dont have The cornsnake manual, and dont have the money to buy it I would try and go over it in the store. LOL I always sit in the store Isle and read things to makesure they are worth the money. Trust me this one IS.
PS If you dont have The cornsnake manual, and dont have the money to buy it I would try and go over it in the store. LOL I always sit in the store Isle and read things to makesure they are worth the money. Trust me this one IS.
Cypher2004
New member
best tip i can suggest, go to a SPECIALIST!!! talk to them! they have the same interest as our little slithering buddies as this forum, but i tend to find more sinks in and u can understand more if u r talking face-to-face. Plus they will show u what they r talking about such as certain pieces of equiptment they recommend.
LuckInSpades
New member
The only downside to a book is that you can't ask it every little question. Its contents are its contents.
Upate: As suggested by the store that I bought the supplies and the little dude from, I got a damn dimmer. I've been testing settings for 30-45 mins now. Using regular oral thermometers (yeah, they're not great, but they seem to be doing the job alright), I put one under the tank touching the heat pat itself. Last I checked, it said 95 degrees (I then dimmed it a smidge more, need to check again). My in-tank thermometer, which attaches to the wall, is now touching the terrarium floor under the substrate on the side (this is not directly over the heat pad, though) its reading 80 degrees. Since the substrate is absorbing heat, what should I do? I should proably increase the temp then.
I do not have a red bulb. Well, I think I do SOMEWHERE in the house (halloween). The snake is going under the paper towels probably because he is cold. That and he's probably hiding from me since I have to tweak his habitat so much.
I have touched both the heat pad itself and the plexiglass floor of the terrarium. Neither feel hot. However, the guy over the phone said touching it says NOTHING unless you are quite experienced at it. He said if it feels warm to you, its probably over 100. Well, the human body on the outside stays in the mid 70's, so I don't see how that follows. Perhaps if it was warm to my TONGUE (I am not licking my terrarium) then i'd guess it was over 100.
I didn't see the manual at the pet store... otherwise I would have at least looked.
Funny thing about trying to get a cheap fix is that its costing me more and more of money that I hardly have. (Heat pad: $15, Dimmer: $12) I do intend to get more solid improvements later on, when I HAVE the money to spend on them. So yes, these quick fixes are intended to be temporary.
Upate: As suggested by the store that I bought the supplies and the little dude from, I got a damn dimmer. I've been testing settings for 30-45 mins now. Using regular oral thermometers (yeah, they're not great, but they seem to be doing the job alright), I put one under the tank touching the heat pat itself. Last I checked, it said 95 degrees (I then dimmed it a smidge more, need to check again). My in-tank thermometer, which attaches to the wall, is now touching the terrarium floor under the substrate on the side (this is not directly over the heat pad, though) its reading 80 degrees. Since the substrate is absorbing heat, what should I do? I should proably increase the temp then.
I do not have a red bulb. Well, I think I do SOMEWHERE in the house (halloween). The snake is going under the paper towels probably because he is cold. That and he's probably hiding from me since I have to tweak his habitat so much.
I have touched both the heat pad itself and the plexiglass floor of the terrarium. Neither feel hot. However, the guy over the phone said touching it says NOTHING unless you are quite experienced at it. He said if it feels warm to you, its probably over 100. Well, the human body on the outside stays in the mid 70's, so I don't see how that follows. Perhaps if it was warm to my TONGUE (I am not licking my terrarium) then i'd guess it was over 100.
I didn't see the manual at the pet store... otherwise I would have at least looked.
Funny thing about trying to get a cheap fix is that its costing me more and more of money that I hardly have. (Heat pad: $15, Dimmer: $12) I do intend to get more solid improvements later on, when I HAVE the money to spend on them. So yes, these quick fixes are intended to be temporary.
snakegrrl
Back from the dead
Hmm... This is getting a little crazy. All I have in my tank is an under-the-tank heater, and it seems to be doing the trick. The bottom of the tank on the warm side is warm to the touch but not burning. My thermometer is at the top and usually says about 75 degrees at the top of the cage. My snake goes under the paper towels a lot in his cage but never lies directly on the heating pad - usually he lies on the cold side of the cage, actually, as he seems to like being cool more - about 75 degrees. For a long time he went under his watering bowl, which I would think is the coldest place in the whole tank. Maybe my snake is just weird.
However, with a light and a heating thing under I would worry that the snake would get too hot. I have talked to several experts and they basically said that as long as the snake has a warm belly and the tank is about 75 degrees in the air everything should be good. Of course, my room isn't that cold at night - but as long as you can get to those temps then just keep it that way all the time. It is a bit of trouble to go from warm to cool at night and I dont think it really affects my snake that much. But hey, with everything you have, I don't think you really need to buy anything else - except for a red bulb, but I don't know much about overhead lighting so you might now need one. As long as your snake seems content and moves around, I wouldn't worry too much.
And with the feeding thing, I found that seeing how quickly the lump from a mouse subsides in his stomach often shows how filling it is. If he digests it and looks normal within say 5-10 hours, you should be feeding him twice a week or get bigger mice once a week in my opinion. My snake is around 16 inches and I am probably going to switch him over to 1 fuzzy a week before March. Hope this helps.
However, with a light and a heating thing under I would worry that the snake would get too hot. I have talked to several experts and they basically said that as long as the snake has a warm belly and the tank is about 75 degrees in the air everything should be good. Of course, my room isn't that cold at night - but as long as you can get to those temps then just keep it that way all the time. It is a bit of trouble to go from warm to cool at night and I dont think it really affects my snake that much. But hey, with everything you have, I don't think you really need to buy anything else - except for a red bulb, but I don't know much about overhead lighting so you might now need one. As long as your snake seems content and moves around, I wouldn't worry too much.
And with the feeding thing, I found that seeing how quickly the lump from a mouse subsides in his stomach often shows how filling it is. If he digests it and looks normal within say 5-10 hours, you should be feeding him twice a week or get bigger mice once a week in my opinion. My snake is around 16 inches and I am probably going to switch him over to 1 fuzzy a week before March. Hope this helps.
Taceas
USW = UB313
Wow..thats a lot to read..
Luck,
I think you're doing just fine. Just use some common sense. I must commend you for doing your homework beforehand. It saves us some time trying to teach you all the experience you need in trying to keep a snake alive in 15 mins. =P
We're not concerned with the temp of the UTH itself under the tank, nor the temp reading under the paper towels, we're mostly concerned with the temp reading of the surface of the substrate right on top of the UTH, where the snake will be. If you're worried about him burning himself, but yet need the higher heat setting go to Wal-mart or PetSmart/Petco and get yourself a bag of shredded aspen bedding. It's oil free so it won't harm the snake's respiratory system. It looks much better than paper towels, and is just as easy to clean in my opinion. If you see a dooper, use a papertowel and grab the dooper and the bedding around it and voila. I just think paper towels look tacky, and yes that includes the spiffy patterned ones too. I never saw most of my snakes when I had them on PT, they hid under it too much. So I switched to aspen bedding and I really enjoy it. And honestly, if you think about it, when a snake poos you have to replace both layers of PT. Which gets rather expensive for me, buying PT all the time. I find buying a $6 giant bag of aspen shavings lasts me for months for my 23 snakes.
As for me, I don't use UTH's often. I used them more so for my leopard geckos, but now that I don't have any of those left I put the UTH's away. I guess I'm lucky in that the tempreture dynamics of the room my reptiles are in is unique. If anything I usually use 60 watt GE Reveal bulbs in my hood (ESU Bi-light I think it's called, it's got two sockets).
As for pinks, $1.19 is way too much. Most people price pinks from $.30 or so. I recommend Big Cheese Rodent Factory for online ordering. Or I'm sure there are rodent breeders in your area that would sell you some surplus (where do you think petstores get their stock?). I just go the simple route and raise my own pinks. I order the larger sizes of rodents.
I find if the lump in my snake disappears in a few-24 hrs after eating, I'll up the size on the next feeding.
Luck,
I think you're doing just fine. Just use some common sense. I must commend you for doing your homework beforehand. It saves us some time trying to teach you all the experience you need in trying to keep a snake alive in 15 mins. =P
We're not concerned with the temp of the UTH itself under the tank, nor the temp reading under the paper towels, we're mostly concerned with the temp reading of the surface of the substrate right on top of the UTH, where the snake will be. If you're worried about him burning himself, but yet need the higher heat setting go to Wal-mart or PetSmart/Petco and get yourself a bag of shredded aspen bedding. It's oil free so it won't harm the snake's respiratory system. It looks much better than paper towels, and is just as easy to clean in my opinion. If you see a dooper, use a papertowel and grab the dooper and the bedding around it and voila. I just think paper towels look tacky, and yes that includes the spiffy patterned ones too. I never saw most of my snakes when I had them on PT, they hid under it too much. So I switched to aspen bedding and I really enjoy it. And honestly, if you think about it, when a snake poos you have to replace both layers of PT. Which gets rather expensive for me, buying PT all the time. I find buying a $6 giant bag of aspen shavings lasts me for months for my 23 snakes.
As for me, I don't use UTH's often. I used them more so for my leopard geckos, but now that I don't have any of those left I put the UTH's away. I guess I'm lucky in that the tempreture dynamics of the room my reptiles are in is unique. If anything I usually use 60 watt GE Reveal bulbs in my hood (ESU Bi-light I think it's called, it's got two sockets).
As for pinks, $1.19 is way too much. Most people price pinks from $.30 or so. I recommend Big Cheese Rodent Factory for online ordering. Or I'm sure there are rodent breeders in your area that would sell you some surplus (where do you think petstores get their stock?). I just go the simple route and raise my own pinks. I order the larger sizes of rodents.
I find if the lump in my snake disappears in a few-24 hrs after eating, I'll up the size on the next feeding.
LuckInSpades
New member
Thank you both, that helps me a lot.
I had intended to go the wood-chip route after I got a job (which looks VERY soon! YAY), so that will be good.
I fed Artemis Drake (name! It came to me at school today) today, and after, he went and hid under the PTs *snicker* I'll check tomorrow morning how his tummy looks. Poor thing'll be so pissed I have to nudge him out from under the PTs or his hiding boxes. I really hope I am not damaging him mentally or anything.
The air temp about 1/2" above the PT is sticking around 76 degrees. I guess that's good ^,^
So far in looking, the two suppliers in my vague area (35 miles ...) sell as high at 1.19 (Petco), and down to .80 (when buying 50 at a time at the EBV). I'll check the website. If shipping doesn't bring the price up too much, that'd be good. Otherwise I'll crack open the Yellows.
I had intended to go the wood-chip route after I got a job (which looks VERY soon! YAY), so that will be good.
I fed Artemis Drake (name! It came to me at school today) today, and after, he went and hid under the PTs *snicker* I'll check tomorrow morning how his tummy looks. Poor thing'll be so pissed I have to nudge him out from under the PTs or his hiding boxes. I really hope I am not damaging him mentally or anything.
The air temp about 1/2" above the PT is sticking around 76 degrees. I guess that's good ^,^
So far in looking, the two suppliers in my vague area (35 miles ...) sell as high at 1.19 (Petco), and down to .80 (when buying 50 at a time at the EBV). I'll check the website. If shipping doesn't bring the price up too much, that'd be good. Otherwise I'll crack open the Yellows.
Hi Luck.....Welcome! Sounds like you're on the right track with your temps. I've got two little ones, and I get mice online from The Mouse Factory. I just got an order a couple of weeks ago of 50 fuzzies and 50 hoppers. The amount for the mice was 35.00 and the shipping was 27.00, for a total of 62.00 for 100 mice. That comes to .62 per mouse,which is a little more than what some online places charge but definately better than .80-1.19 per mouse. The folks at The Mouse Factory are just fantastic to deal with, and their mice are big, clean, and vacuum packed. I asked Santa for a vacuum food sealer a year ago (I know, we just got past Christmas-got a birthday coming up?) and it works great. I take 8-10 mice from the pack and seal them in a small pack, that's what I use to feed the babies til that small pack is used up. I re-seal the rest and don't open them again until I need to make another 8-10 mouse pack. I always have nice fresh mice that way, and one order lasts about a year. Good luck with your new baby!
LuckInSpades
New member
I appreciate the message, but I think we can close this thread now.
My snake already got out of its terrarium. I think he's gone forever. I haven't even had him for a week.
My snake already got out of its terrarium. I think he's gone forever. I haven't even had him for a week.
tyretosmom
New member
--My snake already got out of its terrarium. I think he's gone forever. I haven't even had him for a week.--
Is only been a week, Dont give up hope! Keep the heat on in your Viv and keep it open. You said your house gets cold. Look in warm spots. sprinkle some flour along spots of the walls and you will be able to tell if he is moving around. Make sure you put some water out. If you have a bigger house I would put water in each room. Look high and low, Behind pictures, curtains ect... You can even put out a f/t pinkie in the room.
Search this forum for escaped snake and you will find lots of info on how you can go about getting him back.
Best of luck,
Jaimee
Is only been a week, Dont give up hope! Keep the heat on in your Viv and keep it open. You said your house gets cold. Look in warm spots. sprinkle some flour along spots of the walls and you will be able to tell if he is moving around. Make sure you put some water out. If you have a bigger house I would put water in each room. Look high and low, Behind pictures, curtains ect... You can even put out a f/t pinkie in the room.
Search this forum for escaped snake and you will find lots of info on how you can go about getting him back.
Best of luck,
Jaimee
Don't despair...we got a new snake on a Wednesday, and he escaped that Saturday. We found him about 5 feet from his home curled up under a floor mat that sits in the entry way to our front door (on ceramic tile). He was extremely cold, but seemed fine. I've heard a lot of people that lose snakes end up finding them within feet of where they escaped. Good luck!
LuckInSpades
New member
Well, the problem is that nearly all the doors in my house are high enough for him to fit under. He's only about 14 inches (a baby). We tried putting out the pinkie on the floor for the day. He didn't go after it. There are just WAY too many hiding spots in my cluttered room for him to be. Especially a lot of furniture that is way too heavy to move. Just outside my room along the wall, there is a hole IN the wall itself. The second story up.
We were going to try to put a heat pad out on the floor with a few of his old hiding spaces... perhaps he'd find his way there. The viv is too high up for him to crawl back in, so leaving it open might be pointless.
And the worse part is that we have a dog...
I am gonna keep trying, though.
We were going to try to put a heat pad out on the floor with a few of his old hiding spaces... perhaps he'd find his way there. The viv is too high up for him to crawl back in, so leaving it open might be pointless.
And the worse part is that we have a dog...
I am gonna keep trying, though.
Joje126
New member
Snake Escape
There is definitely still hope for you to find your little one... I lost my first snake twice!!
The first time he was missing for a week and I looked all over, I was sure he was inside the vacuum cleaner because it was kept right next to his tank. We opened it up and couldnt find him, so my mom decided to vacuum. After a few seconds of that, he crawled out, luckily unscathed.
Then about 8 months later his viv was left open again, and again he went missing. His tank had been moved from the first escape and the vacuum cleaner was no longer near where he could get in it. We looked high and low only to find him curled up in the blanket the we had wrapped around his under the tank heating pad.
Now hes fat and healthy and has a much more tightly controled lid on his tank!!
There is definitely still hope for you to find your little one... I lost my first snake twice!!
The first time he was missing for a week and I looked all over, I was sure he was inside the vacuum cleaner because it was kept right next to his tank. We opened it up and couldnt find him, so my mom decided to vacuum. After a few seconds of that, he crawled out, luckily unscathed.
Then about 8 months later his viv was left open again, and again he went missing. His tank had been moved from the first escape and the vacuum cleaner was no longer near where he could get in it. We looked high and low only to find him curled up in the blanket the we had wrapped around his under the tank heating pad.
Now hes fat and healthy and has a much more tightly controled lid on his tank!!
LuckInSpades
New member
We caught the fugitive! My mom went to take a shower and suddenly I hear "AAAAAAA!!!! I FOUND HIM!!!"
It was odd... because a cleaning lady had come in and cleaned the shower... she didn't see him, it seems. Which either means he crawled in afterward, or he was in the drain. Either way he was ice cold and wet... poor guy. I am keeping him with me to warm up.
Thank you all for your help and inspiration to keep looking. I was losing all hope.
It was odd... because a cleaning lady had come in and cleaned the shower... she didn't see him, it seems. Which either means he crawled in afterward, or he was in the drain. Either way he was ice cold and wet... poor guy. I am keeping him with me to warm up.
Thank you all for your help and inspiration to keep looking. I was losing all hope.
tyretosmom
New member
LOL
I can picture it now.......
The cleaning lady screaming in the bathroom!
Im glad you found your little fellow, It seems they turn up when you least expect them too.
Jaimee
PS I see your in cali, You getting rained on too? Its absolutly pooring in san diego!
I can picture it now.......
The cleaning lady screaming in the bathroom!
Im glad you found your little fellow, It seems they turn up when you least expect them too.
Jaimee
PS I see your in cali, You getting rained on too? Its absolutly pooring in san diego!
LuckInSpades
New member
We DID tell her to keep an eye out for a lost snake, so she did have warning. It would have been funny, though.
I'm so glad we found him, too. I swear I almost started crying I was so happy. We have a new addition to his terrarium - a bungee cord on the top! XD
PS: Yes. Pouring. And windy as a M.F. So bad that a tree got knocked down at a busstop.... injured a lady. But she's recovering in the hostpital. Crazy California weather.
I'm so glad we found him, too. I swear I almost started crying I was so happy. We have a new addition to his terrarium - a bungee cord on the top! XD
PS: Yes. Pouring. And windy as a M.F. So bad that a tree got knocked down at a busstop.... injured a lady. But she's recovering in the hostpital. Crazy California weather.
Does anyone else have the problem like I do. My corn goes to the warm side of his tank maybe once a week or sometimes never ( I use a UTH) He is usually on the cooler side all the time underneath the paper towels. All my temps are right he has been like this his whole life 
I guess I just bought the picky corn huh? Not to mention he won't touch a thawed out fuzzy. It has to be fresh killed. I was just wondering if anyone else had the same spoiled snake
Did anyone go to the reptile show in Jacksonville Florida? If so how was it this year?
I guess I just bought the picky corn huh? Not to mention he won't touch a thawed out fuzzy. It has to be fresh killed. I was just wondering if anyone else had the same spoiled snake Did anyone go to the reptile show in Jacksonville Florida? If so how was it this year?