Things I've read and things I've heard...what to believe??

[Amara]

I just got a new 4 week old corn snake 2 weeks ago. Before I got him (or her, not sure yet) I did a lot of research online and what I read and what the breeder told me does not always match. My little beast seems happy right now but I want to make sure I'm doing everything right so I'd like to know what you guys do.

What I've read: corn snakes need a heating bulb AND a heating mat
What breeder told me: You should be fine with just a heating bulb as long as the temp stays high enough. His tank's warm side is at 28.5ish C and the cooler side is at 26ish C. He has a hide on both sides but no mat. He's in a 15 gallon tank.

What I've read: Snakes should have 12 hrs of light and 12 hrs of dark.
Breeder said: leave heating light on at all times. As long as he has hides he'll be ok.

What I've read: Snakes are not too keen on being handled every day, it might stress them out, 2-3 times a week is more than enough.
Breeder said: He can be handled every day if he seems ok about it and doesn't show any signs of aggressivity (obviously excluding after feedings and during shedding). So far, I've handled him for about 15-30 min a day except for the 72 hours after his only feeding here which he inhaled like a champ. He is super calm and docile, he hasn't shed yet.

What I've read: They should be fed in a seperate enclosure to avoid aggressive behaviour and striking reflex when putting your hand in enclosure.
Breeder told me: absolutely untrue.

What I've read: they should be fed once every 7 days as a baby and every two weeks as an adult.
Breeder told me: once a week all his life.

I tend to trust my breeder as he's been doing this for a very long time and has a great reputation but having such an analytical mind, it drives me crazy to have such conflicting information lol. Zaphod the corn snake seems pretty calm and content with the way I have been treating him so far but I want to make sure he stays that way so I'd like to have your input.

Thanks in advance :)

[SnakeyJay]

The breeder seems to be on the right track mate.. Just be careful what lights your using.. If your using then 24/7 then use infrared bulbs that are less disruptive to the daylight cycles...

Any bulb that gives out white light shouldn't be left on more than 12 hours to allow a proper light cycle. Corns are pretty hardy snakes and are very forgiving so I'm sure you'll do fine.

And it's good to see somebody doing PROPER research.. You've sought out info yourself and are here to talk through the info you've found..... Your like a breath of fresh air hahaha

[Gungirl]

I just got a new 4 week old corn snake 2 weeks ago. Before I got him (or her, not sure yet) I did a lot of research online and what I read and what the breeder told me does not always match. My little beast seems happy right now but I want to make sure I'm doing everything right so I'd like to know what you guys do.

What I've read: corn snakes need a heating bulb AND a heating mat
What breeder told me: You should be fine with just a heating bulb as long as the temp stays high enough. His tank's warm side is at 28.5ish C and the cooler side is at 26ish C. He has a hide on both sides but no mat. He's in a 15 gallon tank.
You don't need either if you keep your home warmer than 65f ( 18c) I used to use a heat mat but I unhooked it over a year ago and have no issues.

What I've read: Snakes should have 12 hrs of light and 12 hrs of dark.
Breeder said: leave heating light on at all times. As long as he has hides he'll be ok.

Never leave a light on for more than 12hrs a day. No reason to. If you feel like you need some added heat for night time use a heat mat. Corns don't need high temps just average house temps

What I've read: Snakes are not too keen on being handled every day, it might stress them out, 2-3 times a week is more than enough.
Breeder said: He can be handled every day if he seems ok about it and doesn't show any signs of aggressivity (obviously excluding after feedings and during shedding). So far, I've handled him for about 15-30 min a day except for the 72 hours after his only feeding here which he inhaled like a champ. He is super calm and docile, he hasn't shed yet.

Corn snakes do fairly well with being handled often. I don't handle my snakes more than I have to but if you enjoy doing so it won't harm it. Just remember the 72 hr period after eating is hands off and you leave it be when in shed.

What I've read: They should be fed in a seperate enclosure to avoid aggressive behaviour and striking reflex when putting your hand in enclosure.
Breeder told me: absolutely untrue.

Breeder is 100% right. No reason at all to do so.

What I've read: they should be fed once every 7 days as a baby and every two weeks as an adult.
Breeder told me: once a week all his life.

People go both ways with this one. I feed once a week anything that is under a year and then every 2 weeks after that.

I tend to trust my breeder as he's been doing this for a very long time and has a great reputation but having such an analytical mind, it drives me crazy to have such conflicting information lol. Zaphod the corn snake seems pretty calm and content with the way I have been treating him so far but I want to make sure he stays that way so I'd like to have your input.

Thanks in advance :)

Added in all my thoughts in Green. Hope that helps you out. :) Let us know if you have any other questions. Good job on the research!

[Lankyrob]

I agree with everything Kat put apart from the heat, i provide my corns with a constant heat source all year round. No light tho, just heat :) they get a natural day/night cycle from light coming through the window (but not left in direct sunlight!!!)

[Amara]

Thank you so much for your replies. I'll keep the light during the day and I'll buy a mat for nighttime because I keep my place pretty cool in the winter.
Thanks again

[Aleks]

same her I have a lot of corns and none has light... all the one in tubs have a heat cable that is control at 28 and the one in cages have a heat mat under there hiding spot! (Heat to help them to digest whit no problems)

corn don't really like bright lite (make them stress more...) room lite is more then ok.. and they don't need it at night!

just be sure to have 28 during day and u can loose a little bit at night but it not a HAVE TO

[poison123]

I have a basking lamp on my corn and no heat pad his basking spot is about 105F and hes doing much better then he was before.

[Lankyrob]

I have a basking lamp on my corn and no heat pad his basking spot is about 105F and hes doing much better then he was before.

Why so hot?? I keep my basking spot at 86f for my corns :hmm::O_o:

[poison123]

Why so hot?? I keep my basking spot at 86f for my corns :hmm::O_o:

i offer my corn a wide range of temps so can choose his own temps the cool side is in thee low 70's

[KORBIN5895]

I have a basking lamp on my corn and no heat pad his basking spot is about 105F and hes doing much better then he was before.

That's ridiculous. Corns aren't from the tropics. 95°f is high for the areas they are found.

[poison123]

That's ridiculous. Corns aren't from the tropics. 95°f is high for the areas they are found.

so 95F is the hottest it gets? i have a hard time believing that. and since he uses the 105F and ive seen improvement in his feeding behavior i don't see a problem.

[KORBIN5895]

so 95F is the hottest it gets? i have a hard time believing that. and since he uses the 105F and ive seen improvement in his feeding behavior i don't see a problem.

I lived in IL and be does get hotter than 95°f but not for months at a time. Think this through. That's like saying that since it gets 110°f in Colombia I should provide that as a constant option for my boa. When I bumped it to 93°f she avoided it for three weeks except for the first twenty minutes after feeding.

[poison123]

I lived in IL and be does get hotter than 95°f but not for months at a time. Think this through. That's like saying that since it gets 110°f in Colombia I should provide that as a constant option for my boa. When I bumped it to 93°f she avoided it for three weeks except for the first twenty minutes after feeding.

i under stand what your saying and if he was avoiding it i would lower it but he uses it constantly. he can choose his own temps in hes enclosure bt he seeks out the 105 spot so i dont see any problem.

Im not trying to pass this off as how you should care for your corn im just stating how i care for mine.

[EmbraceCalamity]

That's ridiculous. Corns aren't from the tropics. 95°f is high for the areas they are found.I think basking spots and ambient temps are generally different though. On the monitor thread when I asked about the 160 basking temp someone posted, it was pointing out that warm weather results in very warm basking temps even in areas that aren't typically that hot. They said they'd found temps on certain surfaces in areas like NY that were like 120. But that's just my understanding of it. I could be wrong.

~Maggot

[KORBIN5895]

I think basking spots and ambient temps are generally different though. On the monitor thread when I asked about the 160 basking temp someone posted, it was pointing out that warm weather results in very warm basking temps even in areas that aren't typically that hot. They said they'd found temps on certain surfaces in areas like NY that were like 120. But that's just my understanding of it. I could be wrong.

~Maggot

I understand what you're saying but even in a 40 gallon your hot end would be pretty hot with a light creating a 105°f basking spot. Then take into consideration that corns are considered room temperature snakes.

[poison123]

I understand what you're saying but even in a 40 gallon your hot end would be pretty hot with a light creating a 105°f basking spot. Then take into consideration that corns are considered room temperature snakes.

my corn is in a 55 gallon (4'x18"x18" i think). and a high basking spot can easily be achieved with a low wattage bulb by raising the basking spot closer to the bulb or putting the bulb closer to the basking spot. i prefer to raise the basking spot since it is for a snake.

[EmbraceCalamity]

I understand what you're saying but even in a 40 gallon your hot end would be pretty hot with a light creating a 105°f basking spot. Then take into consideration that corns are considered room temperature snakes.Not necessarily. Depends how it's set up. A more focused beam with a narrow lamp and a raised basking spot could easily achieve that without the hot side being blazing.

~Maggot

[KORBIN5895]

my corn is in a 55 gallon (4'x18"x18" i think). and a high basking spot can easily be achieved with a low wattage bulb by raising the basking spot closer to the bulb or putting the bulb closer to the basking spot. i prefer to raise the basking spot since it is for a snake.

Sorry as I assumed you used a basic set up in a forty gallon. I never thought you would have basking platforms.

What are your temps under the basking spot?

@ maggot

The problem with a tight beam is it would require an additional heat source to get the proper ambient temp.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Sorry as I assumed you used a basic set up in a forty gallon. I never thought you would have basking platforms.

What are your temps under the basking spot?

@ maggot

The problem with a tight beam is it would require an additional heat source to get the proper ambient temp.Not really. You said so yourself that they're "room temperature snakes." The warm side would still be warmer than the cool side, just not blazing.

~Maggot

[poison123]

Sorry as I assumed you used a basic set up in a forty gallon. I never thought you would have basking platforms.

What are your temps under the basking spot?

@ maggot

The problem with a tight beam is it would require an additional heat source to get the proper ambient temp.

im not using a basking platform im using several inches of burrowable substrate. though i will be making some retes stacks soon i heard corns love them

[KORBIN5895]

Not really. You said so yourself that they're "room temperature snakes." The warm side would still be warmer than the cool side, just not blazing.

~Maggot

My comment was general and not specific to corns. Actually our exchange has been about setting up high temp basking spots not about corns.

[EmbraceCalamity]

My comment was general and not specific to corns. Actually our exchange has been about setting up high temp basking spots not about corns.I understand what you're saying but even in a 40 gallon your hot end would be pretty hot with a light creating a 105°f basking spot. Then take into consideration that corns are considered room temperature snakes.When did it stop being about corns?

~Maggot

[KORBIN5895]

When did it stop being about corns?

~Maggot

Lol. Nice. I stand corrected.

I will stand on the fact that when I said you would need additional heat sources with a tight beam I wasn't thinking corns. I think mostly in boas.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Lol. Nice. I stand corrected.

I will stand on the fact that when I said you would need additional heat sources with a tight beam I wasn't thinking corns. I think mostly in boas.I dunno about boa temp requirements, but a wider beam would probably allow for that. I haven't had a corn in a long time, so I don't remember how we had it set up. But still, a tight beam and an elevated basking spot would likely allow for a very warm basking spot without making the enclosure desert-like.

~Maggot

[Snakewitch]

. Then take into consideration that corns are considered room temperature snakes.


Does that mean corns don't need a heat mat at night? I have a basking light during the day and at night, turn it off but put on the heat mat instead -- that is what the pet store recommended.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Does that mean corns don't need a heat mat at night? I have a basking light during the day and at night, turn it off but put on the heat mat instead -- that is what the pet store recommended.Never, ever, ever listen to people at a pet store. Do your own research. I'm not saying whether corns do or not, but just don't listen to the pet store people. Have you done any research on corns?

~Maggot

[KORBIN5895]

Does that mean corns don't need a heat mat at night? I have a basking light during the day and at night, turn it off but put on the heat mat instead -- that is what the pet store recommended.

I have two corns that have no heat source. That's how I chose to do it.

[Gungirl]

^ ditto.. I don't have any heat on my corns viv..

[Lankyrob]

Whereas i keep mine with a constant 86f hot end temp 24/7 :)

[Snakewitch]

Well, there seems to be varying opinions here so I'll keep it status quo during the winter at least since Charlie is healthy and thriving :)

After finding Charlie in our back yard, the pet store was helpful in setting me up quickly. I had no reason to question the heat set-up until I read this thread.

[Aleks]

Does that mean corns don't need a heat mat at night? I have a basking light during the day and at night, turn it off but put on the heat mat instead -- that is what the pet store recommended.

in Canada u NEED a heat source... if your room is not REALLY hot....
it gets cold her at night in winter... u cant let if get that cold...

people from hot place in us can do it but not u,,,,

need 28 degree....
22 degree is good for a cool down....

my female that I put in cool down I get the heat source off and I have my room at 22.8 and I cant put them ready for breeding... but all others have a heat wire on a thermostat....

[Gungirl]

I keep my house at 64f ( 18c ) all winter. I do not use a heat source for my corn never have and never will unless it is proven needed. Corns do well in lower temps they do not need to have a heat spot. Will it hurt them to have one? No but you do not NEED one.

[poison123]

The best way to see if you need heat is to test it out. See how your corn reacts to heat and no heat.

[Gungirl]

He had heat for 1yr .. I took away his heat and nothing has changed.

[Aleks]

u normaly put them in pre cooling around 18 to 20 degree

[Aaron_S]

in Canada u NEED a heat source... if your room is not REALLY hot....
it gets cold her at night in winter... u cant let if get that cold...

people from hot place in us can do it but not u,,,,

need 28 degree....
22 degree is good for a cool down....

my female that I put in cool down I get the heat source off and I have my room at 22.8 and I cant put them ready for breeding... but all others have a heat wire on a thermostat....

Corns are found as far north as New Jersey. I'm fairly certain that they do well in most of Canada's climate.

Not saying it isn't advisable to have some heat but it's not as life and death as you make it out to be.

[Aleks]

if u calculate that we have some -30 -32 and I don't heat my house at 24 all around... so yes some time it’s kind of cold... and heat help them digest! So I always keep their hiding spot over the heat system around 27.5 (heat wire for me) rest of their cage is around 24. They will survive at 22 but not the best way to make them digest well. (Like always doesn’t mean they will and badly digest…._)

[Aaron_S]

if u calculate that we have some -30 -32 and I don't heat my house at 24 all around... so yes some time it’s kind of cold... and heat help them digest! So I always keep their hiding spot over the heat system around 27.5 (heat wire for me) rest of their cage is around 24. They will survive at 22 but not the best way to make them digest well. (Like always doesn’t mean they will and badly digest…._)

Uhh you should have two hides so they can choose cool or heat.

Also, I understand our temperatures. I'm just saying they survive just fine in MOST, not all, of our climates. We don't have negative 32 in Ontario.

[Aleks]

I have enough subtract fort hem to hide anywhere,,,, and plant (fake) .... all my animal are in super shape... there like my baby's!