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Setup and testing

Nova_C

Nova_C

New member
Okay, so I've begun the process of setting up a vivarium. I have a 33g tank (12x36x18) with an aspen substrate. I picked up the Repti-therm 30/40g UTH from Big Apple Herp as well as Big Apple's 1000 watt rheostat, three hides, a water dish the literally came apart in my hands as I unwrapped the plastic from it (So, I'll be picking up another I guess :p) and a free plant decoration.

The probe for the rheostat is directly under the hide that sits over the UTH. I'll be adding in a thermometer and possibly a hygrometer (sp?) within the next week. I'll be getting a lid and locking clips later this week as my local pet store was out of tops for this size of vivarium.

I'm also thinking of getting a vine I can drape over the plastic crossbar in the middle to allow the snake something to climb on. Anyway, here's a photo of my setup:

536764508_1758381c5f.jpg


My plan is to run the heater for a week and monitor how it goes.

A couple questions: I live in a fairly dry climate (Calgary, Alberta) - I'll get a water dish big enough for the snake to soak in, but what are the best ways to keep the vivarium humidity high enough?

The UTH had a warning about burrowing animals resting directly on the glass and burning themselves. With the rheostat probe on the glass under the substrate, is this something I can safely ignore?

Finally, the LPS had a corn snake labeled as a pewter, but it was very, very plain looking. White coloring with some dark spots, but nothing at all like the pictures of pewters I've seen. Is the grey coloring something that comes out as the snake gets older, or is that amazing grey only on some pewters?

They had another one corn snake that only ever emerged from the substrate enough for me to see it's head. I wish I'd had my camera with me while I was there because it looked gorgeous. Also, it's cheaper than the plain looking pewter by $50, so, even though I really wanted a pewter, I may go with this other unknown corn snake.
 
Humidity never really has to be that high...low 30's on the average day..and in the 50's during shed time..best way to keep the tank humid is to spray it with a mister..but don't keep it to humid or you could run into respiratory problems and scale rot..another way to make it humid is to have some moist moss in the tank to keep the humidity up..or you could use repti-bark substrate which is a good moisture holder, making it a good humid provider for any tank..

It's good you have a rheostat but you should never ignore or not worry about a warning on anything..Rheostats IMO are not the most reliable way to keep a heating product at a good constant temp (I prefer thermostats)..but there will be people on here that would back up a rheostat with no problem so it comes down to choice..but yes if the rheostat if not monitered could make the UTH rise to a high temp and could make the glass very hot..that is why monitering is a very important thing for herp owners..

That's pretty much all the advice I can give for now..wish ya luck :grin01:
 
Wow you have definitely done some research first! Good on you!

I cannot answer your question about the pewter because I have only seen a few pictures of them. Does this petstore allow you to look at the corns before you purchase them? I would worry about getting one before you could even check its health never mind its colours.

Whatever you choose good luck and enjoy!
 
Those rheostat are OK,but don't take into account the house temps.If your house gets a little warm,the tank is going to get warmer,and so on.I used one for a year, but it seemed I had to constantly keep an eye on it.I have since gone to a thermostat,,MUCH better,much less deviations.
 
Whoops, I misspoke. I got the thermostat, not the rheostat. (The BAH-1000)

The store does allow you to check out the animals before purchase. I haven't handled the snakes directly yet as the store was really busy and I waited for about 20 minutes for the reptile section employee to show up with no success. At any rate, I plan on checking out the snake more directly when I go in to purchase it.
 
The most important piece of equipment is a secure, snug-fitting cover.
Pewters hatch grey. A whitish snake with dark speckles doesn't sound like a cornsnake, but if it is, it may be something interesting. Remember that cornsnakes change color through the first two years or so.
Get the one you enjoy most, though, and you will love it.
 
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