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I made a suggestion to a new snake owner on a certain corn snake forum about using heat lamps to provide heat for corns and was attacked by more than a few regulars. They were all in agreement that under no circumstances should a heat lamp be used to provide heat - only under tank heaters.

EVERY care sheet and book that I've read on corns and rats has suggested heat lamps as well as UTH's with no apparent drawbacks to either. I use both to provide heat for my animals but if I had to choose one, it would be heat lamps, for a number of reasons. I believe either can be used to provide heat but it comes down to personal preference. I know some on here even use room temperature and have never had any problems.

My question is: Does it matter which method is used? Snakes in the wild get their warmth from the sun - what is wrong with using this idea at home?

>>I made a suggestion to a new snake owner on a certain corn snake forum about using heat lamps to provide heat for corns and was attacked by more than a few regulars. They were all in agreement that under no circumstances should a heat lamp be used to provide heat - only under tank heaters.
>>
>>EVERY care sheet and book that I've read on corns and rats has suggested heat lamps as well as UTH's with no apparent drawbacks to either. I use both to provide heat for my animals but if I had to choose one, it would be heat lamps, for a number of reasons. I believe either can be used to provide heat but it comes down to personal preference. I know some on here even use room temperature and have never had any problems.
>>
>>My question is: Does it matter which method is used? Snakes in the wild get their warmth from the sun - what is wrong with using this idea at home?

some use one some use the other, some use both and some use neither.
If set up properly a "heat" lamp or simply a light on top of the tank can work but an under tank heater is probably the better and more efficient of the two.
never say never.
A lot of people keep snakes long before there were under tank heaters.
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Every summer thousands of young men are needlessly injured after uttering this phrase "Hey, hold my beer"....So, please hold your own beer.....This has been a public service announcement..
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

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>>>>
>>>>My question is: Does it matter which method is used? Snakes in the wild get their warmth from the sun - what is wrong with using this idea at home?
>>
>>

oh yeah, usually the sun will warm a rock or a patch of dirt or road surface and the snake will lay on these warmed surfaces.
They are basically getting warmth from below and of course they would also have to get warmth straight from the sun as well.
so they get warmth from below and/or above.
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Every summer thousands of young men are needlessly injured after uttering this phrase "Hey, hold my beer"....So, please hold your own beer.....This has been a public service announcement..
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

I would just keep a watch on the humidity or the lack there of. I've seen many people complain that their snakes are sneezing lately and most if not all have their snakes on Aspen and have heat lamps. After removing the lamp and putting the snakes on News Paper some have said their snakes stopped sneezing. It's possible that the lamps are drying the air in the cage too much especially when Aspen is used. Just something to think about. I guess where you live may make a difference?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I'm not sure why lamps would dry the cage any more than a heat pad??
FWIW I've used both but heat pads and heat tape are cheaper to operate, much less wattage needed for the same surface heat. So that's what I use now.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

I use both aspen and cypress for my snakes and those on aspen have under tank heaters. My amel corn is on cypress and she has both an under tank heater and a heat lamp. I use both because she stays in the living room and it's colder in here than the rest of the house 'cause of the AC. Humidity is always 40-50%. Her tank is misted two to three times a week.

>>I would just keep a watch on the humidity or the lack there of. I've seen many people complain that their snakes are sneezing lately and most if not all have their snakes on Aspen and have heat lamps. After removing the lamp and putting the snakes on News Paper some have said their snakes stopped sneezing. It's possible that the lamps are drying the air in the cage too much especially when Aspen is used. Just something to think about. I guess where you live may make a difference?
>>-----
>>King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
>> J Sierra

I use aspen in all of my enclosures, tanks, racks. No problems.
A lot of times people will use aquariums with screen tops and overhead lamps. They will sometimes have humidity problems which are easily fixed with a larger water bowl and covering part of the screen top.
Over head lamps are not the best way to heat but they can work. Just have to make sure not to go too high on wattage. A flat rock under the lamp gives a nice basking spot.

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

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There are two problems with heat lamps:

1) Albino corns are sensitive to bright light. I've seen far too many new keepers try to heat their amels, snows, etc. with a white light bulb, which stresses out the snake.

2) Small cages are impossible to heat properly with a lamp. A thermal gradient cannot be created to allow for the snake to have a cool area and a warm area.

Having said that, I've been using red light bulbs in relatively large (2 feet X 2 feet of floor space) cages for years. This method works well.

There is no "better" choice when it comes to heat lamps vs. undertank heaters. Either one (or both) can be used - if used correctly.

I do think in most cases using both a UTH and a lamp is overkill. If the snakes are kept at room temperature, only one device is needed to create a "warm area" in the enclosure.

Tim
Third Eye

Good points. My corn is an amel and I do use black light bulbs. Tank size is 55 gallons so there's adequate room to achieve a gradient IMO.

Not an expert, but we have a snow coral who regurgitates a lot when using lights/lamps for heat. We switched to under tank heater and regurgitation stopped. Have another corn the same age who does just fine with the light/lamps. Go figure!