Bashful Corn? - Page 2

NennaMeerkat · 01-26-11, 09:50 PM

Do me a favor go into the home and put your hand over the spot where the heating pad is like the snake would (basically put your hand against the glass as well as against the substrate) hold it there for 20 seconds. You will be able to tell instantly why the snake isn't hanging out over there

blindfireak40 · 01-26-11, 10:11 PM

Just did it on the bare glass. It's a low-wattage pad, and it wasn't uncomfortable to the touch even after a few minutes. Also, he has a couple of hides over there, and he has no issue with staying above substrate in his cool hide. The heat was practically undetectable with the substrate in the way.

NennaMeerkat · 01-27-11, 12:16 AM

How much wattage is the lamp then?

blindfireak40 · 01-27-11, 12:30 AM

75, it's in a tall-ish terrarium though. Substrate-level thermometer reads just over 80 while lamp is on.

NennaMeerkat · 01-27-11, 12:39 AM

Have you taken temps on just the hot side of the home?

Lankyrob · 01-27-11, 04:52 AM

The hot spot directly below the lamp should be about 86f, to be honest tho none of my corns ever seem to spend time in the hot hides, they are normally found in the middle hide which i have filled with sphagnum moss.

richie.w · 01-27-11, 05:37 AM

hi, i have 5 corns 2 adults 3 yungsters all in vivs 2 foot long x 1foot high 15 inch deep non have a heat lamp corns only need heat from underneath with a heat range of 30 - 35c 88 - 95f on the mat and if the mat is abuot 1 third the size of the base the rest of the tank should sort its self around 21 - 27c 70 - 80f

NennaMeerkat · 01-27-11, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richie.w

hi, i have 5 corns 2 adults 3 yungsters all in vivs 2 foot long x 1foot high 15 inch deep non have a heat lamp corns only need heat from underneath with a heat range of 30 - 35c 88 - 95f on the mat and if the mat is abuot 1 third the size of the base the rest of the tank should sort its self around 21 - 27c 70 - 80f

This is what I was told by breeders when I got my 2 corns. Not sure on the temps but the fact that they really only need an under the tank heater.

Lankyrob · 01-27-11, 07:38 AM

The heat lamp heats the floor area and they absorb the heat from the substrate whether the original heat comes from above or below is kinda irrelevant. THe temps should be 86f on the top of the substrate where the snake will be. 95f i would say is DANGEROUS to corn snakes.

blindfireak40 · 01-27-11, 09:13 AM

Thanks, as always guys, sounds like I may need to bump the wattage on the bulb up one more step...he's definitely not in danger of overheating though, so I suppose that's a good thing.

86 seems awfully specific Rob. I believe you, but I'm just wondering where you got that figure, and if you think 83-84 will cause any problems. That's usually where the hot spot settles so far.

We're in winter, so summer may be a tricky proposition, but I'm thinking I'll be alright with just the light and no pad, but we'll have to see. Luckily I'll be able to observe carefully because school will be out.

Lankyrob · 01-27-11, 11:06 AM

I got 86f from every care sheet and "expert" that i questioned before purchasing my corns. Dont ask me why that is the figure but thats what i use and everyone i know that owns corns uses too.

blindfireak40 · 01-27-11, 10:06 PM

Hmm. Well, I'll see what I can do, then. Want the little guy to have a long happy life after all. He finally discovered his middle/warm hide though. I think he'll be spending most of his time there from now on

Marica · 01-27-11, 10:59 PM

All the caresheets for cornsnakes that I've read have suggested the warm side to be in the low to mid 80's F and that anything over 90F is dangerous and could lead to health issues. Just to clarify, it looks like Richie is measuring temps directly above the heat pad and assuming heat dissipation at the top of the substrate to adequate temps.

I try to maintain the warm side at 83-86F in all my corns' tanks and have for about 8 years. I switched from lamps to heat pads about 3 years ago, mostly due to the addition of cats to our family. I do however measure the temps with a probe secured directly above the center of the heats pads as I frequently find that my corns will borrow under the substrate or push it aside.

Lankyrob · 01-28-11, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marica

All the caresheets for cornsnakes that I've read have suggested the warm side to be in the low to mid 80's F and that anything over 90F is dangerous and could lead to health issues. Just to clarify, it looks like Richie is measuring temps directly above the heat pad and assuming heat dissipation at the top of the substrate to adequate temps.

I try to maintain the warm side at 83-86F in all my corns' tanks and have for about 8 years. I switched from lamps to heat pads about 3 years ago, mostly due to the addition of cats to our family. I do however measure the temps with a probe secured directly above the center of the heats pads as I frequently find that my corns will borrow under the substrate or push it aside.

Kinda off the topic but wondering why cats would affect your choice of heating?

Marica · 01-28-11, 02:24 PM

Mostly I just wanted to keep them off the screen tops, but also to keep them from knocking the dome lamp fixtures off, so I built the sliding shelf cabinet to limit top access, which also meant no room for a lamp fixture. I find it's more space efficient when stacking glass tanks, though I eventually plan on building and moving all my collection into wooden enclosures.

I had also read that belly heat was better for them and from most posts I had read on another forum it seemed that most preferred heat pads. Though your reasoning that the lamps heat the substrate adequately kind of contradicts that typical UTH argument. I don't miss having to replace the bulbs when they burn out, so that's a bonus for UTH in my opinion.