Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'll tell you this, I havn't been the best corn owner. I've had my oldest boy for the past 5 years in a 20g tank, and two more smaller corns (probably because I stunted their growth) in another 20g. I wasn't very smart throughout high school, and I really believed everything was okay, so I left them as they are. Now, as I see the error of my ways, I am trying to make their lives a tad bit easier. I am getting two 40g tanks (like two 20gallons next to each other). I tried seperating my two smaller snakes, but all they did was race around the cage, as if they had been attached to one another, so i've left them together. Now for the questions.

Is the bark i've been using still an okay substrate?

Do they need a heat lamp? (they've had one as long as i've had them)

Since they need heat variation, should I only have the light over the heat pad?

Should I give them a planted terrariums? Maybe use sand as a substrate?

Any help would be helpful.

>>I'll tell you this, I havn't been the best corn owner. I've had my oldest boy for the past 5 years in a 20g tank, and two more smaller corns (probably because I stunted their growth) in another 20g. I wasn't very smart throughout high school, and I really believed everything was okay, so I left them as they are. Now, as I see the error of my ways, I am trying to make their lives a tad bit easier. I am getting two 40g tanks (like two 20gallons next to each other). I tried seperating my two smaller snakes, but all they did was race around the cage, as if they had been attached to one another, so i've left them together. Now for the questions.
>>
>>Is the bark i've been using still an okay substrate?
>>
>>Do they need a heat lamp? (they've had one as long as i've had them)
>>
>>Since they need heat variation, should I only have the light over the heat pad?
>>
>>Should I give them a planted terrariums? Maybe use sand as a substrate?
>>
>>Any help would be helpful.

first off a 20 gallon is large enough for one snake. If you notice corns spend more time in their hides then they do roaming.

The reason the two snakes freaked out when separated was being placed in a new environment. It had noting to do with missing each other.

They can be stressed by new environments. Separate them and give them time.

If you have two 40's and a 20 then you have plenty of room for three snakes.
Put the smallest in the 20 gallon and each of the others in the 40's.

The size of the tank did not stunt their growth. Feeding would be the culprit.
That or simple genetics. Came from smaller parents proned to be smaller themselves.

In all of the tanks you need an under tank heater (UTH).
This needs to be to one end of the tank. You need a haide over this area.
You also need a water dish large enough to allow the snake to soak if it so desires.
You also need a hide on the cool end of the tank.
I use water bowls with openings in the side to act as a second hide. This gives them a nice cool area under the water bowl and a nice warm area over the UTH and variables in between.

DO NOT use sand. Not good.
I would also shy away from the bark.
Especially if it is pine bark.
One of the best "natural" substrates you can use is aspen shavings.
Easy to spot clean.
non airomatic.
very little dust.
the snakes like to burrow under and through it acting as another "hide"
it is inexpensive and does not trap odors like reptile carpet and some othe substrates tend to do.
You can place a light over the tanks but with a UTH it isn't neccessary for heat.
It is nice to be able to see in the tanks and to provide a daylight cycle, though.
I would recommend a fluorescent light just for the fact that it won't create quite as much heat as normal light bulbs.
If you do go with a spot type lamp I would probably go with a 40 watt bulb on the 20 gallon tank and maybe a 60 on the 40 gallon tanks.
I would also add some kind of limb for exercise and if you are using screen tops I would cover half the top to help keep humidity at a decent level.
oh yeah, if you use the spot type lamp, yeas I would put it over the end with the UTH.

Hope this helps.
remember this is all MY OPINION.
but similar works for me and my litlle critters...LOL
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Not that i'm disregarding your advice - because i'm not - but why do the two little guys need to be seperated? They've never had a problem in 4 years.

Just wondering, and thanks a ton.

>>Not that i'm disregarding your advice - because i'm not - but why do the two little guys need to be seperated? They've never had a problem in 4 years.
>>
>>Just wondering, and thanks a ton.

well..... here are a few things to think about

I feel it is best to keep snakes separate.
I know a lot of people can and do keep multiple snakes together without problems. I just feel the possible drawbacks need to be expressed.
When a person gets the experience and knowledge of each individual snake in his care, and wants to try co-habitation, it is up to them. They just need to be careful and observant enough to see and understand the subtle signs of stress in their snakes.
There can be definite drawbacks in co-habitation.
If one snake becomes sick there is a very good likelihood the other/others will get sick as well.
It may also take a while (usually too long) to determine which one is the sick one.
If one regurgitates its food you won't know which one unless you happen to get lucky and see it.
If one has a problem stool you won't know which one. Once again one may have a problem and by the time you figure out which one the other/others could end up with the same problem.
Although this is only a slight possibility, it is still a possibility and has been know to happen... one snake could eat the other. Cannibalism can and does occur with corn snakes. The smell of a prey item could trigger one snake to eat the other. Or simple hunger accompanied by a ready food source could do the same. Although uncommon, it has happened and is a possibility.
Another possibility is unwanted pregnancy. A female may become gravid and you may not have the knowledge, desire or ability to incubate the eggs, care for the hatchlings and find homes for them. With hatchlings comes added responsibility.
A lot of people rationalize by saying, "I will just put two males or two females together". That can work but mistakes can be made, especially with hatchlings. You could easily end up with a male and female.
There is also a chance of a female breeding too young or too small and becoming egg-bound. Although uncommon, it is a possibility and can happen.
With multiple snakes in the same enclosure you could easily loose them all if there happens to be an avenue of escape. Instead of losing one you could loose two or more depending on how many you decide to place together.
With multiple snakes in an enclosure, one or all of them could be stressed by the presence of the others. Stress can cause a drop in appetite and other health problems as well.
People will put multiple snakes in an enclosure and ask why one isn't eating.
When they are told it is probably due to stress caused by the other snake, the response is almost always the same "they like each other, they are always under the same hide together". Well this probably just means "that" hide or area of the tank has the optimum conditions they are looking for.
Snakes do not LIKE each other or ENJOY each other’s company.
There is no capacity for snakes to "like" or "enjoy".
I have kept multiple snakes together, without problems, but have made a choice to keep them separate. There are NO good arguments as to why you SHOULD keep them together but there ARE several good arguments as to why you SHOULD NOT.
So, in my opinion, although people do it successfully I just don't think it is worth the risk.
If you decide to keep multiple snakes together, watch closely for any signs of appetite loss, shedding problems, regurgitation or “personality” changes. These could all be signs of stress.
You would also want to feed them in separate containers and give them an hour or so before putting them back together.
My 2 cents
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Thanks mate.

>>Thanks mate.

welcome
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____