Hey well I'm about to get my first corn snake I wonder if it will be ok in a glass tank with some kind of reptile safe substrate... or if it's best to put just newspaper... another thing i'm worried about is shedding... how can i know what's the right humidity level?? I live in Mexico and I dunno if this will be a problem cause of the warmer temperature maybe the humidity rises or something... I've read some post regardng shedding and ppl emphasize watching for the eye scales and the tail tips... what happens if these scales dont shed properly?
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New snake owner, shedding worry
- Thread starter taurikid
- Start date
shrimply
New member
Yeah for a substrate you can use too many different things to list but my favourites are aspen and beech chips. Newspaper is also alright.
As for humidity you can buy a hygrometer which tells you how humid it is. I have no idea about the sort of climate you live in as I am in the UK and here all we get is cold and wet. During shedding I spray with a misting bottle in the morning and at night and have never had any problems but I don't know if that would be enough. You could also add a moist hide during shedding. These are usually made using a sandwich box and stuffed with moist spagnum moss. You make a hole in the top then your snake can curl up inside during the shedding process. When your snake is in shed it is also a good idea to use a water bowl large enpugh for it to submerge in. This way if it needs to it can have dip.
There is really not to much worry if your snake doesn't shed properly as long as you notice and act. Placing the snake in a wet pillow case works well to remove most left over bit and ussually eyes as well. Tails usually come off simply by dipping your hands in water and gently pleeling off the left over skin. Left over eye caps can also be removed by tweasers but this is not a job for people with unsteady hands. Even if an eye cap is left on the snake will shed in less time than usual in order to get rid of it. So as long as you get the conditions right with the next shed no long term damage will be done.
As for humidity you can buy a hygrometer which tells you how humid it is. I have no idea about the sort of climate you live in as I am in the UK and here all we get is cold and wet. During shedding I spray with a misting bottle in the morning and at night and have never had any problems but I don't know if that would be enough. You could also add a moist hide during shedding. These are usually made using a sandwich box and stuffed with moist spagnum moss. You make a hole in the top then your snake can curl up inside during the shedding process. When your snake is in shed it is also a good idea to use a water bowl large enpugh for it to submerge in. This way if it needs to it can have dip.
There is really not to much worry if your snake doesn't shed properly as long as you notice and act. Placing the snake in a wet pillow case works well to remove most left over bit and ussually eyes as well. Tails usually come off simply by dipping your hands in water and gently pleeling off the left over skin. Left over eye caps can also be removed by tweasers but this is not a job for people with unsteady hands. Even if an eye cap is left on the snake will shed in less time than usual in order to get rid of it. So as long as you get the conditions right with the next shed no long term damage will be done.
sbourget
New member
The problem with eyecaps that don't shed are that they will endup causing damage to the eyes. the problem with tail skin not coming off is that if left in place it will constrict the tail and cause it to turn black, fall off and potentially spread infection to the rest of the snake's body.
I see... so u think if i get this sandwich tupper and put sphagnum moss in it I won't have troubles with shedding?... will the snake know that's the right place it must be? another question, is it different in any way having a male or a female snake? well as soon as i get mine i'll post pix of it so u can tell me what pattern and colors it is... thanx for the help...
Lennycorn
Just see the truth
No No No
Your humidity needs to be about 40-50% in your cage. I only use damp sphagnum moss when there is a problem. Considering you don't have a snake yet, I wouldn't worry about it . You could find out what levels of humidity you have now in your house by checking it with a hydrometer, or just started setting up your Viv where you plan on keeping it with substrate in it (aspen is preferred) and check it out. Here are a few links to help you out.
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28341 http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28342
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?p=133428#post6
Good Luck :cheers:
Your humidity needs to be about 40-50% in your cage. I only use damp sphagnum moss when there is a problem. Considering you don't have a snake yet, I wouldn't worry about it . You could find out what levels of humidity you have now in your house by checking it with a hydrometer, or just started setting up your Viv where you plan on keeping it with substrate in it (aspen is preferred) and check it out. Here are a few links to help you out.
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28341 http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28342
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?p=133428#post6
Good Luck :cheers:
Taceas
USW = UB313
Seeing as how you're somewhere in Mexico, I'm sure there's more humidity along the coasts than towards the northern interior, I would stay away from sand as a substrate.
Sure, some are marketed towards reptiles, but corns should never be one of them. Sand has a drying effect and the tiny grains can get under scales and cause sores, and the possibility of death due to ingestion is also a major drawback. I wouldn't even use sand for desert species, just too much risk associated with it, in my honest opinion.
Most folks around here use aspen shavings, or fir bark shavings. Newspaper or paper towel are totally acceptible as well.
Stay clear of pine and most definitely stay away from cedar. Both of these have oils (that make them smell really good to us) that constant exposure can damage the respiratory tracts of small animals.
A humid hide is one of the better ways to increase humidity when the snakes need it without over-doing it. Corns are from a temperate region of the US and do not need constant high levels of humidity. Too much humidity can be just as bad as not enough. I've never had the need to mist any of my snakes' vivs. Most of the ambient humidity is provided by limited airflow and placing the water bowl on the warm side of the viv. The warmer water increases evaporation into the air.
So your sandwich container with moist sphagnum moss is an ideal solution to counter potentially low levels of ambient humidity.
That said, I've never had a bad shed due to low humidity levels. The levels in my home are around 20-30% and all of my corns shed just fine. The only bad sheds I've had are the result of an otherwise weakened snake.
Grats on your new snake and welcome to the forums, too! =D
Sure, some are marketed towards reptiles, but corns should never be one of them. Sand has a drying effect and the tiny grains can get under scales and cause sores, and the possibility of death due to ingestion is also a major drawback. I wouldn't even use sand for desert species, just too much risk associated with it, in my honest opinion.
Most folks around here use aspen shavings, or fir bark shavings. Newspaper or paper towel are totally acceptible as well.
Stay clear of pine and most definitely stay away from cedar. Both of these have oils (that make them smell really good to us) that constant exposure can damage the respiratory tracts of small animals.
A humid hide is one of the better ways to increase humidity when the snakes need it without over-doing it. Corns are from a temperate region of the US and do not need constant high levels of humidity. Too much humidity can be just as bad as not enough. I've never had the need to mist any of my snakes' vivs. Most of the ambient humidity is provided by limited airflow and placing the water bowl on the warm side of the viv. The warmer water increases evaporation into the air.
So your sandwich container with moist sphagnum moss is an ideal solution to counter potentially low levels of ambient humidity.
That said, I've never had a bad shed due to low humidity levels. The levels in my home are around 20-30% and all of my corns shed just fine. The only bad sheds I've had are the result of an otherwise weakened snake.
Grats on your new snake and welcome to the forums, too! =D
