quick corn question

[concept3]

I just bought myself a corn snake, Im not big into snakes its just a pet but i was just wondering if my heat is ok. On one side of the tank during the day it is a steady 80 degrees, he has a rock to bask on, the temp on the top of the rock is about 88 and then the cool side of the tank is 73-75 degrees. I acheive this heat with a lamp, iv'e read lots of care sheets but you guys know how they have so much conflicting info. Does it necesarily need an undertank heater? it does not have on right now but i have some spare one lying around if it needs one. Thx

[MouseKilla]

I'm not sure I understand your set up but it doesn't sound too bad so long as the rock you're talking about isn't an electric heat rock. If it is, take it out side and smash it with a hammer so no snakes can be burned by it. lol! Rocks in general aren't the best thing to have in an enclosure for a variety of reasons but as long as it's not a heat rock and it's not likely to roll over on top of your snake it's not a big deal.

I keep my corns in different ways. Some are in plastic tubs in a heated room that is always between 82 and 85 degrees (except in the summer when it occasionally gets higher due to outdoor temps). These snakes get this temperature all day and all night with no secondary heat source or hotspot. I also have a couple of snakes in aquariums in the livingroom, these guys get about 14 hours of heat coming from an overhead lightbulb which creates a hotspot beneath them that is in the high 80s. At night the lights go out and they go for about 10 hours at the ambient temperature of my house which is in the mid 70s. Both of these arrangements work well for me.

The important thing isn't what you use to heat them but just that they get sufficient heat to digest properly. If you only have one snake then the heated room option is probably not appropriate so what you need to do is use some sort of secondary heating device, whether you use a UTH or a lightbulb to get the proper temps. It sounds like you've got the right ones going so I wouldn't worry too much about whether it's a bulb that gets you there or a UTH.

[concept3]

well thanks for that info, its a heatrock, but i cut the cords off because i knew that they would burn reptiles, I have about 30 lizards Im just not really into snakes. Well now that i know my temps are fine I can relax lol, thanx for the quick response

[Bartman]

The only good thing about undertank heaters is that they snake can take the heat up better since its right under them and corns are mostly terrestrial. So the ground will be warmer, which will let them warm up quicker. I would get it to 90 because ive heard it helps them digest better and lets as few regurges as possible. The cool side is also pretty low. It should be higher at about 80.

It really doesnt make a difference, the cool side, as long as the warm side is 90 F and they have a hide on both ends so they can thermoregulate.

[marisa]

"The cool side is also pretty low. It should be higher at about 80"

No offense at all Bartman but where are you getting this information? Corns can even live with a HOT SPOT of 80, although this is not recommended. But a cool side of 80??? I have never ever heard that before, and all my corns have a cool side ranging from 65-75 and a hot spot of 90.

Now an 80 degree cool side for a BALL PYTHON is correct, but for corns a cool side does not need to be 80, and it sounds like at 73-75 Concept_3, your cool side is just fine IMHO.

Marisa

[Bartman]

Sorry, then im taking facts from the wrong people :p

I took that from the corn snake book by bartlett's. Sorry!!

[marisa]

Well I am not sure why they have that in there. ???? I mean obviously I wouldn't give a corn a hot spot of only 80, but they are known for being very well adapt at a range of temps, and in a cage mine use the entire range. They don't come from a SUPER hot area to begin with, and some breeders even just give them a constant temp (with no hot or cool sides) ranging in the norms...like 70-84 throughout the day.

I have just never heard anyone suggest 80 for a cool side minimum, that's all :)

Marisa

[hooter]

I keep my corns at ambient room temp of 78-80F with lower temps at night and a hot spot of 86-87F. Right or wrong i dont care because this has worked for me for many years and I have had no problems this way.

I know many people that dont even use heat for their corns and they live just fine as well. This debate could flair up into something big but whatever anyone says I know corns are not the hardest to care for and will live in most conditions. They adjust better than any other snake I know of thus making them the #1 recommended snake for newbs.

A few degrees up or down is not going to effect your snakes overall health and well being. I dont mean you shouldnt try and make the temps to fit your snakes needs but I just dont find it as crucial with corns as I would with a python from the rain forest that needs higher temps and humidity. Keep in mind that corns are from the states and are built to live through a wide variety of temps.

[concept3]

I keep ball pythons, im not totally new to snakes, just corns, and i just wanted to know If my temps were ok.