new snake staying in hotspot

august · 06-22-16, 10:08 PM

i recently purchased a normal 1 year old (approximately) corn snake. this is my first corn snake and i have a pretty basic enclosure with a hot spot around 80 degrees and the cool side is about 72. i keep a water dish and a hides in the enclosure and its a 20 gallon tank. my corn snake is being fed on a regular basis and being handled about 4 times a weak. for some reason it is staying in the warm hide and is not thermoregulating. i have had the snake for about 2 weaks now but is not coming out of his hide on its own.

SerpentineDream · 06-23-16, 05:16 PM

It probably feels safe in the hide and isn't yet ready to venture out yet.

It's being handled too soon and that probably has something to do with it. Generally you don't want to handle a new snake until it's had 3, preferably 4 meals... so about a month.

I would also bump the temps on both sides by about 2 or 3 degrees. They are on the low end of OK, but you might find that your snake is more comfortable and more active with just a little bit of a bump. Don't overdo... too hot is worse than too cold.

I think if you give your snake time to settle in without the stress of handling, slightly raise the temps and exercise patience it will come out when it's ready. It's also still a youngster at 1 year, and small snakes are timid snakes. In the wild everything wants to eat a young snake and they are acutely aware of it. They chill out as they get bigger.

ETA: Does your snake have a hide on the cool side too? They are often unwilling to sacrifice security for thermoregulation, so if there's no safe space on the cool end that could play a big part in its reluctance to venture out. You might even tuck a small fake plant in the middle to break up the line of sight and grant even more cover. From your snake's point of view, lots of hiding places = survival.

SWDK · 06-23-16, 06:38 PM

+1 ^^^^. I'd definitely bump the temps up a bit. My corns do great at 84-85 hot side and 74-75 cool side. Can't go wrong with more hides. You should always offer at least a hide on each end of the tank.

trailblazer295 · 06-24-16, 03:45 AM

Snakes are weird sometimes. My BP has gone through
Phases of stay in one side than the other. Now his new cage he moves the cold his closer and further away from the hot side as needed. Don't catch him in the hot one anymore. My king doesn't use cold hides often. Either hot or laying on the open. I agree with above leave it alone for awhile to settle.

daisymaisy · 07-20-16, 10:03 PM

I agree with the above...that being said, my corns almost always stay in a hide during the day and come out and snoop around their cages at night.

Ian of Oldham · 07-21-16, 02:02 AM

I handle al my snake from day one and that is morning and night about 15 - 20 mins and had no problems they all eat shed and do everything that snakes do. So morning and night is also good the snake in the rescue get handle lots of time and they have no problem apart from one's that come in with them.

0.1.1 Royals 1.0 Corn 1.0 Boa 1.0 Carpet and a mad Cat

**Andy_G** · 07-21-16, 06:49 AM

Ian - All new snakes should be left alone until they eat 3 times in a row at least. That's a good rule of thumb. They should be allowed to settle in before you start stressing them with handling. If you haven't done this and have not run into problems yet then you've been lucky.

August - 74-76 ambient temps, 85-88 hot spot. You must bump the temps as previously mentioned.

Ian of Oldham · 07-21-16, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_G

Ian - All new snakes should be left alone until they eat 3 times in a row at least. That's a good rule of thumb. They should be allowed to settle in before you start stressing them with handling. If you haven't done this and have not run into problems yet then you've been lucky.

August - 74-76 ambient temps, 85-88 hot spot. You must bump the temps as previously mentioned.

I respect what you are saying, but the way I have alway done this work for me and my clan.

0.1.1 Royals 1. 0 Corns 1.0 Boa 1.0 Carpet, and a Mad Cat

**Andy_G** · 07-21-16, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian of Oldham

I respect what you are saying, but the way I have alway done this work for me and my clan.

0.1.1 Royals 1. 0 Corns 1.0 Boa 1.0 Carpet, and a Mad Cat

I can respect that as well. If there comes a time where you work with more unforgivinging individuals/species in regards to acclimation in the future, you'll know where to start.

Ian of Oldham · 07-21-16, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_G

I can respect that as well. If there comes a time where you work with more unforgivinging individuals/species in regards to acclimation in the future, you'll know where to start.

Yes we get them all the time at the rescue center, they have been just put in vivs and had no attention and the volunteers need to put them wright so I do understand. got the scars to prove it, lol

0.1.1 Royals 1.o Corns 1.0Boa 1.0 Carpet and a mad Cat