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Using Desert Sand as substrate?

K

Kai87

New member
Is using ExoTerra Desert Sand as my substrate okay for my corn?
He is getting ready to shed, and I want to make sure he can do so. I have an ExoTerra hideout for him, and one dish with regular water and a second with wet moss.
Is this okay, or should I make any changes? He seems to be spending almost all of his time inside his hideout, but I think this is standard in the days prior to shedding?

Here are some pics of his enclosure.

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I apologize for the quality, I took the pictures with my Blackberry.
 
I would have to say no, for several reasons.
First, corn snakes are not a desert species. They are not suited to live on sand.
Second, the sand can get between the scales and cause irritation and discomfort. Plus it may have sharp edges. Imagine having to live in it!
Third, it can adhere to food items and cause impaction.

Aspen seems to be a favorite substrate around here.
I use newspaper myself.
 
You have such pretty home for them, but everything I've ever read about corns says no to sand :(
 
sand can cause serious infections to the skin of cornsnakes so it's not good to use this. you better use aspen bedding but i don't like the looks also, so i use reptibark that looks nice.
 
As previously said, sand is not a good substrate for corn snakes, it can get under their scales causing irritation, in their nostrils and in their mouth if they try to burrow in it, which is part of their natural behaviour and may cause some serious problems. It will also suck moisture away from the corn and may lead to shedding problems.

You may want to think about putting some more hides in there, it is preferable for a corn snake to have at least two hides, more if you can get them in there, but a minimum of one on the warm side and one on the cool side, so that your snake can move back and forth between them to thermoregulate, which will help with his/her digestion and general feeling of comfort/security.

Hope that helps :)
 
Alright thanks guys!
How did I do?

I got some Aspen shavings for substrate, another hide for the cool side, a humidity reader, and changed his vine/branch thing so he has a shelf or perch, if you will, for him to sit on and gaze out over his kingdom... :)

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What should my humidity be? And also, I am using a single ExoTerra 5.0 UVB light, but I was told it should be higher than 2.0 by the guy working at my LPS. Is 5.0 okay?
 
Just asking....but what's the stuff in his water bowl, Sweetie?
I have one waterbowl in each viv, clean water only and daily.....and a moist hide. I want to know the water they are drinking is clean, and chemical and bug free. And a moist hide, for their pre-shed time, should they choose.
And I have UTH heaters under one end, under one corner, or vertically at the corner of the long side.....of each of my vivs. So they can come and go from the heat.
Cornsnakes do not require lighting of any kind for their health.
(In the wild, they are usually nocturnal in the summer time, using concrete or asphalt to warm up after sunset, to go hunt. They know what they are doing. :D )
 
Ah I am so happy! I just set this up for him maybe a half an hour ago, and gave him a quick bath before I put him in, and right away he was so happy he jumped right out of his skin!!
Haha my corn has had his first shed with me!



It is moss. Should I take it out? I have not really seen him ever go near it...
 
It is a beautiful setup, but I would pull that moss out...
Since he just shed, the next time he goes into blue...which is when his eyes get a milky white, signaling he is ready to shed...put the damp moss under the hide that he likes the most.

^Not trying to make you sound ignorant by explaining what "in blue" meant, but I'm not sure if you are new or whatever, so if you didn't know what blue meant now you do:D
That is a great setup!!
As long as your humidity is like around 40 most of the time, then like 55 or so when in blue, he will do fine:) But if he just shed perfectly then I wouldn't say you need to change anything...

Enjoy the site, and look around...ask questions and you'll get great answers.
-Josh
 
Thanks for the info Hosier!
My humidity is reallý high, in the mid 70's! I'm not sure if maybe the meter might take a while to adjust to the new location, or if its legit.
The shed was "perfect" from what I can tell, it all came off in one big piece, right to the very tip of the tail, and completely off of his face too.
 
Yep that would be a perfect shed! If you have a screen top on the tank, you shouldn't have to worry about the humidity. I use tubs so mine is always at 50, and ups to about 60 at shed...
If you have a screen top I'm sure it's not too humid in there.
 
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