vivarium help

[joedr]

Hi, i have had my corn snake (called tango) for just over a year now, it was passed down to me so all the equipment was already there. i have recently bought a new vivarium for tango and just had a few questions about what should be in it. at the moment i have the water bowl which is nice and big so tango can have a bath and 2 logs on the heated side of the tank. i want a hide in there but the only ones i can buy are really expensive.

the surface of the vivarium are wood chips purchased at a reptile and aquatics centre.

also in the new vivarium i have a full spectrum light and a uv light.

just wanting to know what kind of thing i need to use as a hide, could someone send in a picture of theres so i can get an idea.

also i am a bit worried about tango because he is constantly trying to get out of his tank. i think it is because he is a bit bored, the man at the petshop said it is either because he cannot stand the smell in there (is none at moment as it is a new vivarium) or he.she just loves to be out??? i don't know if he knew what he was talking about so i thought i would ask.

i have posted a picture of his viv to show you.

any help you could give me would be great.

Thanks
Joe

 

[WingedWolf]

A hide, of course

You need to put in a hide, that's most likely why he wants out.
Either that, or he's noticed it's spring--but my bet is on the hide.

 

[stuart]

how big is that tank, cos mine is 4ft long by 2ft high by 18 inces, i am just wondering, cos my snake is only a year old, so i just want to know size wise how big compared to the tank he will be as an adult

 

[rolph1414]

RE-I would agree

Probably is looking for someplace to hide.....I have two hides one on the warm side and another on the cool side.....

 

[Rachel]

yeah, you should have a hide at both the cool and warm end of the tank. I bought cork tree bark from my local reptile store which makes a good hide but if you want something really cheap just get an opaque plastic box (ie and ice cream tub), clean it well and cut a small hole (big enough for your snake to get in though!). Make sure there are no jaggy edges where you cut the hole and you can then put bedding (shredded paper towels or wood chip) inside the hide. There are heaps of 'cheap' ways of getting hides, just use common sense when looking around (there are alot of aquarium decor you can use).

 

[joedr]

thanks

thankyou for all the help on this, i am off to the shop to find something suitable.

Joe

 

[WAS1]

you also mention you have a uv light and a full spectrum light in the viv. Corns are nocturnal, he could be trying to get away from the light. they feel a lot more secure in dimly lit areas. Mine seem a lot more settled since someone recommended i remove all supplementary lighting.

 

[joedr]

finished result

I have now put 2 hides in his tank (one on the warm side and the other on the cool side, and he seems to have taken to them immediatly, on the cool side i am using a large tube (hamster tube!!!) and on the warm side a cardboard box with holes in it, i thought i would see if he likes them and if he does then i will buy things that will do the same job just make the tank look nicer..

cheers for all the help

Joe

 

[daveyboy]

I go to the dollar store for some good pots and other interesting hides, drill a hole or two and your all set. I'm cheap and it shows. One of the hides my little girl loves is really a tooth brush holder, but as she grows I'll have to change over to something else, she is nearly impossible to get out if she doesn't wnat out but she does feel safe.