Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a room dedicated to nothing but corn snake about 40 of them. If you could only control the room temp what would be the best temp hi and low. Thanks for the response.

I really don’t want to be a downer but if I could only control the room temp I wouldn’t keep reptiles. Reptiles must be able to thermoregulate. Corn snake need a different body temp when their guts are full that when their guts are empty. This is why you should always have a cool spot and a “basking” area in their habitats. Corn snakes for example will use their their basking area for the first 48 to 72 hours after eating. Once they have broken down their food they will then mostly use a cooler area until they feed again. This ability to regulate their own temperature is VERY important to well being of any reptile.

Totally agree. not to mention the cost. Also not all snakes like the same temps. I had about 6 ball pythons in long tubs with a very warm end and a cooler end. Half liked it warm half liked it cool. All great eater and never an issue. since corns have a large range, I would think the same for them. Give them an option in their cage.

JMHO
-----
Thanks for reading.
Tom

www.HerpZillA.com
HerpChat

Not to step on any toes but I have kept corns for years at room temp. I provide heat for my boas and even with boas I am considering heating the room. The main reason is to eliminate the fire hazard or reduce it substantially. I know of breeders who have much success with room heating for boas and balls.
With corns I have never had a problem with room temp. Of course I eliminate drafts and keep that room a bit warmer if I can. My corns eat well and produce many clutches with high hatch rates. Never had a respiratory infection in my collection. Never had a temp. related regurge.

Dan

How do you know what temperature is best for your snakes 100% of the time? How do you know what temp is best when your females are ovulating? or they have full tummies? Or they’re full of eggs? Of course you can keep them at a single temperature all the time but is this really optimal for them? There are many ways you can keep snakes, you can keep them in tiny drawers their whole lives and never let them get any exercise and they’ll breed for many years...but is this what’s best for the snake??

Sure you can keep snakes like that. But you'll find that they'll recover from stressful times (such as not eating during breeding and while gravid. Or the stress of egg laying etc.) much quicker if given the choice of temperatures. This tells me a choice is best.

In nature corn snakes seek out a optimal temperature...don't you think we should try and give them this same choice in our care?

82 at shoulder

I had ceramic heater /heaters in a room...11 x 11...celler....

room heat....just 2 staxx of Rhino Raxx had heat tape...and just the bottom 16 in those....

82....yes...sometimes it got 86....79....need a fan to help control total room temps better...

I bred kings ,corns,milks,balls,ratsnakes...you have to know what to put on what level....and watch them....some like it cooler or hotter than you have them...move them....bump temps....

....I got from 250 to 800 eggs a year....150 balls average...and most balls had no heat besides the room temp....

good luck...it can be done....

///////
-----
........JY

I always seem to forget the posters on this forum aren’t so much interested in the well being of their snakes but in egg production.
Of course if your goal is mass quantities of eggs the only feasible way to heat is by room heat. All large scale breeders use only room heat. I’ve been there myself. But I no longer want to keep snakes that are just doomed to be burned out breeders with weakened muscular structures at 8 to 10 years old.

I guess I just no longer see corn snakes as just something to produce. They are my prized pets..and I want to give them the best life I know how.

The fact that the snakes breed and reproduce successfully shows that the conditions are right. Unhealthy snakes won't breed successfully. Are choices better? Sure. But then again the snakes would choose to be outside rather than in containers. Its the same thing with UV lights. Are UV lights necessary? No but those who use them report better health. The snakes get UV light in the wild. It would be better to provide UV light in a section and let the snakes choose. It is not necessary and both conditions work.
I don't provide supplemental heat to colubrids and my reason is mainly a factor of preference for me. I am concerned about fire and I hear a lot of horror stories. I do my best to minimize heat pads and cords. Plus the colubrids I have had thrived. How do I know? They ate well, good muscle tone, good weight, breed successfully, no fat deposits, etc. Do I consider heat pads a bad thing? Of course not. They work as does room heating.

Dan