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Snake not being cared for

S

snakewanter

Owner of a beautiful snow
I'm currently looking after a friends corn while shes away. I myself have a yearling snow corn, i got the friends snake yesterday and was shocked to find it only has a hide, water bowl, heat mat and log. My viv has plants, moss, stones, hides and log thing. The other snakes viv doesn't even have a light. It isn't being handled apart from feeding so it goes for me and vibrates its tail. Its owners use gloves to pick it up. While its in my care is there anything I can do to help it? Ive brought moss and a plastic plant for it already and would love to put in a light but its not my place to do so. Ive also had to use my spare temp/hum guage as they didn't have one.

Any help please?
 
My snakes are in tubs in a rack with flex watt controled by a therm.They have aspen bedding,water bowl and a hide,thats it.You might want to suggest a thermostat and a thermometer.But as long as their temps are good,what they have is more than enough.
 
While I agree it should have more than one hide, just cause it's not "fashionably" decorated doesn't mean the snake is being mistreated :shrugs:
 
So their totally fine without a light? Ive put in a thermostat and a thermometer, the temp was really low when i put it in, its reaching about 70 now. The heat mat lead is coming through a gap in the glass doors, wouldnt this affect keeping the temp up?
 
Cornsnakes don't need a light at all. They'd probably prefer not to have one. The only reason you see any snakes basking in the sun is because the surface they are on is hot- they don't need the sun's rays.

I think as a minimum, they should have a hide on the cool and warm sides, though.

Nanci
 
The only necessary items are proper warm side temp, hide on warm and cool side, water dish and some kind of substrate or paper towels. Anything else is really for the owner and not the snake, although they might use fake plants for cover and climb on a log, they aren't really necessary for proper treatment of the snake.
 
snakewanter said:
So their totally fine without a light? Ive put in a thermostat and a thermometer, the temp was really low when i put it in, its reaching about 70 now. The heat mat lead is coming through a gap in the glass doors, wouldnt this affect keeping the temp up?
Click to expand...

Are you saying the heat mat is inside with the snake? What do you mean by "heat mat" as well? Is it the kind that a person would use for a sore back, or is it one specifically made to keep reptile enclosures warm? Just trying to get a better image of the arrangement.

I agree with the above. I have two hides (warm/cold sides) and a little wooden thing in between them (hard to describe...bought it at a show. It's a small stump, drilled out on two axis to allow the snake to crawl through). And a water dish on the cool side, of course. They don't need a lot. Mostly people put things inside to suit their own visual tastes.
 
I agree, from what you said it doesn't seem the snake is being mistreated at all. It should have 2 hides, thats the only problem. And a thermostat to control the heat mat temp would go a long way, but isn't absolutely necessary.

As for handling, snakes don't enjoy being handled and we usually handle them because we want to, therefore we want them to be used to it and calm. However if these people have no interest in handling the snake, theres nothing wrong with that at all.
 
While I am sure that your Viv looks amazing, there's something you may have not considered.

Putting organic substances and organisms encourages the Viv to become a fully operational ecological niche. Bacteria can multiply, fungi, rot and so forth- these things can effect the snake's well being in the long run- it provides a better housing for parasites for instance.

I am not saying it is impossible to maintain a Viv properly- I am even positive you're doing it wonderfully. But it has its disadvantages.

Same with a Terrarium that has two hides, one water dish and that's it... It makes a less suitable house for parasites and more sterile... but it provides less interest for the snake. And as far as I saw and read- some snakes can actually develop stress due to boredom and never-changing environment.

It is far more common in Morelia Virisidis's(GTP) from what I gathered... but I still like to shift things around once every few months... just to spice things up for the little fellas.

Just saying both setups have their own advantages and disadvantages... but your friend's setup is just as valid as yours in my eyes. (Excluding the thermostat which I really do believe is a must)
 
I only have two hides, water bowl, UTH, Aspen bedding, no light and I feel my Corn is fine. What they need a light for? They come out at night to feed, and hide during the day.
 
My substrate IS the hide- it burrows in it

UTH- keeps it warm

No light

I don't handle much

It couldn't be happier.

Snakes are (for the most part) observational pets- they don't say "Oh boy my owners here PICK ME UP"

They like their solitude, prefer hiding, etc.

It's hard to mistreat a snake- I mean seriously, how hard is it to water its bowl, feed it, mist the cage, etc. It's not like a dog- snakes can be left alone for weeks if you are out of town.
 
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