Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had my new baby for less than a week now, and my heating light already burnt out. Last night I bought a different kind of bulb (ESU Reptle Red Heat Basking Lamp) and I don't think it heats up the tank like the first one I bought(Zoo Med Repti Basking Spot Lamp). There was a considerable price difference and I am wonding if I made a bad decision. Also my snake hides under his water dish (on the cool side of the tank). I never see him on the warm side unless I take his water dish out to clean/refill it. Any thoughts or suggestions?

And how do I know if he is a boy or a girl?

i'd recommend getting a heat pad and stick it under one side of the tank. provide a hide on both the warm side and the cool side. Its totally normal for your snake to hide, especially if you just got him/her. As far as sexing, you'd probably have to get it probed or popped, but i wouldnt try it yourself, unless your experienced. you could accidentally injure your snake.
hope i helped!
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**Am I the only one that gets frustrated when I cant find just plain old white paper towels?? I dont want any dorky lookin flowers in my snake or dragon cages! Its the little things in life that bother me....**

1.2 Bearded Dragons. Chong, Cheech, Unnamed
0.1 Anery Motley Corn. Cleopatra
1.0 Creamsicle Corn. Faunzy
1.1 Black Labs. Buddy, Booger
1.0 Room mate. Clayton - requires more clean up than my pets.

If it's always on the cool side, the warm end of the cage is probably too hot.

Do you have a good thermometer in the cage to tell the temps? It should be about 80F on the warm side and about 70F on the cool side.

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Cornsnake Projects:
Coral Snows
Ghosts
Bloodreds
Caramels
Ambers

I would have to agree with Amanda. Your snake is probably too hot. Do as both of the other posts have suggested. Some sort of under tank heat is usually enough heat. I use regular light bulbs for extra heat in the winter time because my house is old and drafty. I change bulb wattage according to the temps. I usually use 40 watts during the day then 25 watt colored bulbs at night. Check out some of the experienced breeder sites and copy some of their care sheets. Good luck with your new baby. Look out few people can stop with just one! This is a pic of one of my small tank set up. I use plastic plants on the cool end to provide a hide. I find it keeps them out and not burried as much.

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1,0 snow
1,0 amel
1,0 texas corn
1,0 aney stripe motley
0,1 normal
0,1 charcoal
0,1 motley
1,1 oketee
0,1 tx rat
1,0 diadem
4,5 ball python
1,1 dumerils boa
1,1 columbian red tail boa
1,1 green iguana
1,0 leopard gecko
1,2 dogs
freezer full of mice & rats

Well you need to get a thermometer for your cage if you dont have one. I use blacklights 24/7 on my tanks, they work perfectly fine. Do you have a hide on both the warm side and the cool side of your tank? Being a baby, it will want to hide all the time - it thinks everything is tryin to eat it.
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Claudius)... coming soon