Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We newbies brought home an albino corn snake last night. It's still young, so we just have it in a 10 gallon aquarium tank. They sold us an under-tank heater, ground walnut shell substrate, ceramic base lamp, and a particular bulb they say we needed.

I've tried to search these forums for answers, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to use the forum and I need some answers quickly to keep the snake healthy. So, please forgive me if these questions are answered elsewhere.

1) The temperature on the "warm" side just above the substrate is around 75 degrees - too cool, right? I don't see how the under-tank heater can work very well, since walnut shells don't conduct much heat do they?

2) We have the lamp and bulb, but we're not sure where to put them. We tried setting the lamp right on top of the screened top of the tank, but an hour later the temperature on the warm side was about 90 degrees. Too warm, right?

3) I'm guessing that the lamp should somehow be mounted on a pole some distance above the top of the tank. Does that make sense? How high above the tank should it be?

4) They told us the tank should have a warm side and a cool side. With the lamp bathing the entire thing, how are we supposed to keep one side cooler?

5) Should we worry about the albino's eyes being too sensitive to the bright light?

Thank you for any help you can provide quickly, before the snake gets too stressed out by the fluctuating temperatures.

and what kind of thermometer are you using? Those little strip thermometers are good for fish tanks, but I would suggest either getting a temperature gun or using a digital thermometer (available for about 15 dollars at Radio Shack). Then measure RIGHT on top of the substrate. You can also slide some of it aside and measure right on top of the glass over the heater. A 10 gallon tank does NOT need an UTH (under tank heater) AND a (CHE) ceramic heat emitter, unless your room temps are just about frozen! I would suggest that you cut off the CHE and just go with the UTH, at least until you can get an ACCURATE temp reading. And if you are in summertimem temps, you might not need ANY supplemental heat at all.

Good luck with your new baby.
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phflame

Thanks for the reply.

We have a circular mechanical thermometer (like the kind in a thermostat), stuck on the inside wall of the tank about an inch above the substrate.

We have shut off the light for now, but I do worry about how much heat the under-tank thing puts out, and whether that heat can travel through 1" of crushed walnut shells. I guess the snake could burrow into it if he wanted to.

Again, thanks for the help. I hope we can participate more calmly on the forum after this crisis is over!

hey congrats on your new snake. i just got my first one yesterday too

the UTH is fine for now, and dont worry about the head not being enough. the UTH is designed to slowly heat the glass, substrate, and air, on that side of the tank. it can take 6-10 hours for it to fully heat. dont worry so much

another thing to just watch for. if the snake spends all its time on the heated side, it might not be warm enough (dont think you would have this problem yet, but later you might), and conversely, if you see the snake chillin for days on end in the water bowl, its too hot! just provide a warm side and a wter dish on the cool side and let the snake decide how warm it wants to be.
i also recommend kathy loves book "corn snakes: the comprehensive owners guide"

which are not too important. You need to put that thermo (and it is not that accurate, probably) directly on the substrate to get a true reading.
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sue

I have raised a couple of corns. My new baby I started out in a 5 gallon, then a ten gallon with a simple human heat pad under 1/4 or 1/3 of the tank set on low. Then I just had that green carpet stuff with paper towels on top. Babies don't need all the fuss some folks go through. Their main thing in life right now is 'what's going to get me'. They want to feel secure. Now she is a bit bigger and I moved her to a 20 long with the UTH. The UTH's are suppose to be used with a control devise so they don't get to hot. If you can't touch the glass with your hand and keep it there then it's to hot for the snake.

Be sure you are providing several hidy places on both sides of the enclosure. Paper towel rolls are great for babies. So are little kleenex boxes cut down. No need to buy expensive hiding things at first.

I have a 4 foot male corn in a 40 gallon breeder size tank with a light for heat. Either a 40 or 60 watt bulb. That is all. With our room temp in the 77 degree range that is great for him. He eats fine, sheds, etc. If you are using lights be sure to set them on timers so they can have a natural night time. Most are active at night and don't want a light shining in their face 24/7.

Now I have a little candoia ground boa in a 10 gallon with just a light for heat. It has a 25 wt incandecent bulb. Nothing fancy. Works fine for him.

This is just my experience. Also Kathy Loves new book is great for anyone with corn snakes.

They sold us an under-tank heater, ground walnut shell substrate, ceramic base lamp, and a particular bulb they say we needed.

Most discourage the use of walnut shell substrate for fear it may be ingested and cause impaction. At a minimum, you want to feed in a separate container with no substrate or perhaps just paper towel.

And do get Kathy Love's book.

deg

It totally freaked my vet out. PetCo (back a million years ago before I found this forum and started breeding) told me it was okay but my vet says no. My oldest corn has a permanent whistle when he breathes and the doc thinks may have been caused by irritation from the oils in the walnut over a four year period. Paper towels, Carefresh, or aspen are cheaper and probably healthier, oh, and definately easier to change.
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Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0.1 Snow
3.1 Ghosts
1.0.1 Amel
0.1 Hypo
0.2.1 Anery
0.1 Hypo Motley
1.1 Butter
1.1 Blizzard
0.0.2 Normal
0.1 Lavendar
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
0.1 Dumeril - Ursala
0.0.1 Amazon Tree Boa - Lucia
Garter Snakes
0.0.1 Eastern
Lizards
1.0 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
I breed fancies for food and pets.
Cats
1.2 Siamese - Blue & Wink
0.1 Black