temperature control

rwg · 07-23-03, 10:11 AM

I'm trying to get the enclosure heating for my first snake (corn snake) just right. I started with a 40 watt bulb and lamp. The ambient temperature and temperature gradient were about perfect, but the basking spot (which I understand corns dont need) was too hot...close to 100F.

I just got a UTH, and tried that out for a few hours. Again, the ambient and gradient are great, but the floor gets too warm...about 100. My corn doesn't burrow a lot but he does on occasion.

My question is, if the floor is 100, is this hot enough to hurt my snake when he burrows down? Should I put in a reostat to lower the floor temp, and if so, wont this lower the ambient temperature out of the ideal range?

Invictus · 07-23-03, 11:44 AM

Corns like a warm area around 85. Any higher than this, and you'll run into problems. 100 is most certainly way too hot. I have a UTH on my corn enclosures as well, and they seem to be smart enough not to burrow over the warm spot, but each animal is different.

rwg · 07-23-03, 12:33 PM

Yeah, I know 100 is too hot, but when I say floor, I mean if I put the thermometer on the glass floor, I get 100. If I put it on top of the substrate where he spends most of his time, I get about 85.

Maybe it's not much of an issue. He only tends to burrow when I'm doing things with his enclosure...changing the water or cleaning the hides etc. He also seems to be thermoregulating pretty well. I've found him hiding in various places at different times

Lisa · 07-23-03, 03:29 PM

100 won't burn the snake (your body temp runs at slightly more then 98) how ever you could have feeding and regurgitation problems. Having slightly warmer temps on the warm side won't hurt as long as the snake can go to a cooler spot if they want. If you lower the temp they may start burrowing to get warm enough.