Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just rescued a 26" cornsnake from the Animal Control center. She (just a hunch) looks young, but she's probably aged well because of her size. I've had snakes before and was confident that I could house and take care of this healthy, but unfortunate snake.

I've had her for a week, and already I've got questions. Maybe one of you has answers...

1. She hasn't spent a lot of time on the warm side of her cage. At first I was worried that it wasn't warm enough because the substrate (I'm using aspen) was not significantly warm to the touch. But upon further investigation, the glass under the substrate felt really hot. I have a bottom sticky heating pad under there, but there's no thermometer, so I have no idea how warm it is. I'm concerned she won't go over there because she's smart and doesn't want to get burned. Is there a way I could know for sure, or is there something I should do to cool it down and regulate temp more?

2. This week, she has spent a lot of time chilling, all coiled in her hiding spots or under the substrate. I've handled her some, but wanted to let her relax into her new home. Today was our first extended visit. After I put her back, she spent time challenging the roof of the cage. At first she was just stretching out toward the ceiling, then she progressed to tapping the lid, and finally she started rubbing her nose on it. I read that some snakes rub their noses until the wire rood makes them raw and bloody, and I really don't want that to happen here. During this time, sometimes she looked a little crazed. I may be anthropomorphizing here, but she was shaking a little and moving very quickly. My roommate (who hasn't had a lot of contact with the snake) and I sat watching her, and she lunged at my roommate and hit the glass. Could this have been normal self defense? Was it part of a whole strange set of behaviors? I think it may be that she spent some time trying to get safe and comfortable and that now she's spending some time exploring. If that's true this may all be a phase and she'll stop soon.

If you can answer even part of these questions, I'd sure appreciate it, and so would Coral!

Thanks,
Lily

Get a themometer. As a pet owner it is your resposibility to make sure your snake is kept at the proper temperature. Snakes have been severely burned by owners that have used a heat source that was too hot. Not being able to properly themorgulate could explain some of your snake's odd behavior.

Tim

Third Eye

I totally agree with Tim.

I work at a pet shop, I get this situation ALL the time.

1 Q. I ask, what temperature is your cage at?
A. Oh, it's good.
A. It's perfect.
A. It's average.

OK, you get the point, a temperature is a number. With out that you are just guessing. I've sold $3 thermometers and honest people come back and thank me and tell me there lizard/snake was at 110 degrees.

Also lay it on the bottom of the cage where the snake actually is. I personally do not like stick on ones as they, 1 are higher than where the snake is, and that is a different temperature usually. 2 if the cage is 90 and in a cold room of 60, the thermometer is going to basically read something close to the glass temperature. Even closer cage and room temps will give a false reading of where the snake is at.

Cheapest item for a setup a thermometer. Most people skip it. Please don't. Your snakes will thank you.
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This area under construction

1.3 Bearded Dragons Eenie, Meanie, Minie and Moe is the Male

1.1 Western hognose

Corn snakes
Bloodred 0.1
Zipper Amel 0.1 Erica Von Zipper
Amel 1.0 Stud Muffin
Amel 0.1 Lucy Goosey
Creamcicle 0.1 Sherbert

Double Yellow Headed Amazon - Amazona ochrocephala oratrix 0.1? Pretty Girl
Yellow Naped Amazon - Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata 1.1? Carol - Male, Foghorn Leghorn - Female
Blue Front Amazon - Amazona aestiva 1.0? Miss Prissy
Blue and Gold Macaw - Ara ararauna 0.1 April

2.0 Dogs, Michigan, Doc
0.2 Cats,, Sassie and Spooky (all black cat)
0.1 Wives, (Long term captive!,, I mean ME!) I call her (BOSS)
1.1 Kids (Paininthearsius takamemonii) J/K great kids
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tom

www.herpzilla.com

so, i've got a thermometer, but it was up on the glass where the man in thereptile shop told me to put it. and it was wrong. it is the sticky kind, and now i've moved it down to the floor of the enclosure, and it's not even getting a reading (aka too hot). well, i knew that already.

i have had other snakes with heat rocks and it seemed to be fine. this time around lots of people told me to steer clear of that, so i got the reccommended heating pad sticky thing. and even though i bought a mid grade one instead of the cheapest one, it doesn't have options. it's either on or not.

so, what should i do to make it cooler in the hot zone of the cage? should i unstick it from the glass and just leave it below the cage?

thanks!

OK this is tough to do here. Lots of factors.

If a 4"x6" heat pad, it will effect a 10 gal much different than a 55 gallon 4' long I know you see that.

I'll presume some mid size tank 10-20 long. I'd put the thermometer close to the bottom on the side glass at the end where the heat pad is.

I'll guess 80 degrees on the warm side unless your room is very cold. The floor is going to be warm at the heat tape area. But if your room has no AC and it is 85 in the room already, there is no reason to add heat. I'll also presume the heat pad is not thermoregulated. It is just on.

I'm not a huge fan of most stick on heat pads. They work great on old slate bottom tanks where the heat spreads nice and you get a good heat gradient pattern. With glass you get 1 hot spot. I've suggested to people to lay a piece of ceramic tile over it. It disperses the heat more. DON'T put the pad right on the tile inside the tank, just lay the tile in the tank.

For most people, I find it is easier to have a top heat light (red or black) at one end of the top of the tank, get a lamp dimmer at home depot, and adjust it to make the warm end 83ish. Warm days you turn down the bulb, colder days you can turn it up. It also makes the bulbs last a lot longer.

Seems like a lot of info. But think of it in a simple way. cage bottom is where the snake lives. Warm end low 80's cooler end maybe mid 70's. I may get thwacked on those temp range as people disagree a little. But you just do not want extreme hot spots or cold spots.

Good Luck

Big Tom

>>so, i've got a thermometer, but it was up on the glass where the man in thereptile shop told me to put it. and it was wrong. it is the sticky kind, and now i've moved it down to the floor of the enclosure, and it's not even getting a reading (aka too hot). well, i knew that already.
>>
>>i have had other snakes with heat rocks and it seemed to be fine. this time around lots of people told me to steer clear of that, so i got the reccommended heating pad sticky thing. and even though i bought a mid grade one instead of the cheapest one, it doesn't have options. it's either on or not.
>>
>>so, what should i do to make it cooler in the hot zone of the cage? should i unstick it from the glass and just leave it below the cage?
>>
>>thanks!

Ok,
I am with everyone else. too hot.
Too hot can make snakes act strange.
What you need to do...For now, unplug the under tank heater.
Room temperature will be ok until you get things straightened out.
Do you have any kind of a light on your tank?
If you do, this should be enough to keep your snake warm enough for now.
If you are using a regular light bulb, in a dome type fixture, even better.
If you are you wouldn't want to use anything more then a 60 watt bulb, and a 60 watt really only in a taller tank.
You'ld be surprised how much heat a 40 watt bulb will produce in a 10 or 20 gallon aquarium.
Place the light over the opposite end of your water bowl and place a hide under it.
In tanks where I use a light, I like to place a flat rock under the light. It will warm the rock and allow the snake a warm spot to aid in digestion or simple thermoregualtion.
Now the fun part....this may result in a ruined UTH but since it gets too hot anyway it may not matter.
Try to GENTLY pry the UTH from the glass under the tank...gently gently gently.
If you get it off successfully stick it to an appropriate sized piece of plexiglass or even a very thin ceramic tile.
You can then palce this under the tank, tile or plexiglass side up. This will lower the temps getting to the glass.
good luck
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

>>>>
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

What temps are the room at she is in?

I agree no heat may be needed. But I have seen people (tell me) their house is kept at 68-70 with AC.

No AC in most of the US now, I agree room temp is probably fine.

But that's why I say use a thermometer. If they see it at 95 or more, then they finally realize it is true and not just my word.

I use flexwat, but on a biostat. I hate UTH's for the most part.

Off topic
I use to make hot rocks back in the day (1974, wow I'm old) , 2200 ohm 10 watt, ceramic resister. A little cement and a bowl. Not pretty but it was how the originals were made, but in red bricks.

last year I made one for the first time in years. A 4" by 8" strip of flexwatt. Used latex tile adhesive and put it between to 12" tiles. Lower temps of the tape is much better than a super hot 1" resistor. Warm center, and slightly cooler edges. Worked good. For those very handy and understand electronics.

Anyways,

Peace
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This area under construction

1.3 Bearded Dragons Eenie, Meanie, Minie and Moe is the Male

1.1 Western hognose

Corn snakes
Bloodred 0.1
Zipper Amel 0.1 Erica Von Zipper
Amel 1.0 Stud Muffin
Amel 0.1 Lucy Goosey
Creamcicle 0.1 Sherbert

Double Yellow Headed Amazon - Amazona ochrocephala oratrix 0.1? Pretty Girl
Yellow Naped Amazon - Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata 1.1? Carol - Male, Foghorn Leghorn - Female
Blue Front Amazon - Amazona aestiva 1.0? Miss Prissy
Blue and Gold Macaw - Ara ararauna 0.1 April

2.0 Dogs, Michigan, Doc
0.2 Cats,, Sassie and Spooky (all black cat)
0.1 Wives, (Long term captive!,, I mean ME!) I call her (BOSS)
1.1 Kids (Paininthearsius takamemonii) J/K great kids
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tom

www.herpzilla.com