I just purchased my first corn snake 10 days ago. I have 40 gallon tank with a UTH and a 50 watt basking bulb above. This allows me to keep the temp on the basking side between 83-85 degrees during the hottest part of the day and then when the basking light goes off at night (the basking light is on an automatic timer) the UTH will keep the temperature on the warm side between 75-80 degrees. I have been using reptile carpet but am thinking I should switch over to aspen bedding to allow my corn snake to burrow. I have been measuring my temps on the top of the reptile carpet.
If I am just using the aspen bedding with no reptile carpet then where should I be measuring the temperature at? Should I being measuring the temperature on the top of the glass underneath all of the aspen bedding, or should I be measuring the surface on top of the aspen bedding, or somewhere in between? I don't want my corn to get burned if it burrows down to the glass, but I want it to be warm enough if it is hanging out on top of the bedding. Also, how deep should the bedding be.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If I am just using the aspen bedding with no reptile carpet then where should I be measuring the temperature at? Should I being measuring the temperature on the top of the glass underneath all of the aspen bedding, or should I be measuring the surface on top of the aspen bedding, or somewhere in between? I don't want my corn to get burned if it burrows down to the glass, but I want it to be warm enough if it is hanging out on top of the bedding. Also, how deep should the bedding be.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.