Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all...

I am new to the forum, and joined because I recently got a large new enclosure for my corn snake, and I need help in figuring out what types of lights I need, and ideas for setting up her new home.

I've had 'Layla' for probably 3 years now - I got her as a very small little thing. She's probably around 3ft long now - I really know very little about reptiles, and I'm glad Layla's so low maintenance, or I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to keep her alive this long.

My new tank is 4ft long X 2ft wide X 2ft deep - It came with a hood light fixture that holds 4 screw-in bulbs. I have NO IDEA what to do for heat/lighting in this tank - So ALL information/tips/ideas on that would be greatly appreciated.

I also need to figure out how to set up the inside so she has a cool place to live - I'll be getting rid of all of the stuff in her old tank, and starting fresh with all new stuff, so ALL suggestions on what to buy and where will also be greatly appreciated.

I've attached a picture of her new tank to help get an idea of what I'll be working with (yes, I got it for my B-Day lol). I'm not rich by any means, but I would like her to have the nicest home possible - So please, help poor Layla out here!

Thank you in advance!
Jaqueline
Layla's New Home

First off... is that a solid screen top? If so does it have any clips? If it doesn't get some. they won't cost but MAYBE $4-5. I would ditch that light along the top, personally. Any incandescant bulb going across the top 4 wide will emit enough heat to make the whole cage probably 80 degrees. I heated my glass tanks with just a single 75 watt bulb on a dimmer. You can get everything at home depot - the dimmer is a table lamp dimmer (runs about $11), the light is a clamp light with the clamp removed ($6), then just any old blacklight bulb ($3-4). If you want to, you can use a ceramic heat emitter (runs about $30 or so), but you dont get any light for night viewing. However they are cheaper in the long run.

Anywho, i'd reccomend to read the care sheet on my signature (I hope you know most of it after keeping your corn for 3 years, however). Just make sure you get a good substrate - i'd reccomend aspen - and a couple hides. I would also get some wooden dowels or pvc pipe and create some climbing for your snake... i'm sure your snake will use it!

then what I did was went down to home depot and got some cheapo cork shelf liner and glued it to the back of the tank (on the inside). This gives a sense of security, something to climb against (plus it just looks nice!)

Here's a picture of one of my glass tanks... good luck.

-----
-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
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote
Information on substrates

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
0.1 Texas Bairdi (Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)