More conflicting advice: temperature

[ChristinaM]

It's never easy is it. Have read many caresheets, and only the odd ones are the same.

I've read that
snakes need a temp gradient.
snakes DON'T need a gradient.
happy at 85F
happy at 90F
unhappy below 70F.
etc etc etc.

So what's your take on temps?
What do you keep the temp at?
What's the lowest temp your snake should be subjected to? (for nighttime, it can get kinda cool in here).

Thanks again, sorry for the zillion questions.

[MouseKilla]

Well I personally keep my corns in the low 80's. I do this with a simple heat lamp that shuts off entirely at night, allowing the temps to drop into the mid to low 70s for about 8 hours, then the light comes back on. I haven't found a thermal gradient necessary but if you can provide one it doesn't hurt to give the snake a choice of climates, this will also tell you whether you should be looking at providing more or less heat, depending on the animal's behaviour. They would probably do just fine in temps anywhere between room temp (72-74 as low as 45 during brumation) and as high as the low 90s. Too hot can give you problems and too cold is the same. All you need to do is provide enough heat for them to digest, that's the bottom line. Corns are pretty forgiving and easy to keep so don't fret too much about creating the perfect environment, they just like it 10 degrees warmer than we do more or less.

[Invictus]

A warm spot of 78-82 should be aimed for. 90 is WAY too high for a corn. They are temperate snakes, not tropical or equatorial animals. If your temps drop to 70 at night, the corns will be fine.

[marisa]

Actually ALL my corns have a 90 degree hot spot.

It is used after every meal by all of them, and lower temps (mid low 80s) are also available to them.

I use longer cages and have a gradient of 90 down to 73 or so at the cool end. I wouldn't recommend 90 to ANYONE though unless a true gradient can be achieved.

Most corns do perfectly fine at low to mid eighties.

Marisa

[marisa]

Oh and all my babies are currently being kept without gradient...gets about 82-84 during the day, no heat at night.

My adults are the ones with the 90 hot spot and gradient.

Corns are so variable its easy to give them what they need, but hard to say whats not o.k. because they can do well in a variety of different enviroments.

Marisa

[Tim_Cranwill]

My room temp is about 75F and my heat tape is running at about 86F when the thermostat is triggered so it does drop.... If they want heat, they'll go to the hot side for as long as they want. If it's too hot, they will leave. They are not super temperature sensitive. They will tell you if it's too hot though. If they never go to the hot side, it's too hot.... if they never leave the hot side, try turning it up a few degrees.... :)

[sapphire_moon]

I provide a cool side and a warm side for all my snakes. they can chose how hot or cool they want to be. Personally I wouldn't want to be stuck in 84 degree heat all day and not have a chance to cool down....