| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| P0NY |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 14:33:54
Hey everyone,
We just bought our first Cornsnake, Tek, and were given advice from the pet store on supplies and how to handle it, but after reading guides online we are pretty confused so we were wondering if you could answer a couple questions.
1. Handling.
The lady who sold our snake told us we could handle it pretty much right away and so we did the evening after we bought it. But guides tell us we should leave it for about a week to get it used to surroundings.Tek was born in August 2011 so he is 6 months old now, not sure if that is still considered a baby or not and whether that changes the handling rules.
2. Heating.
The same lady gave us a heating matt and said just place it under a third of the cage to keep it warm. She told us we wouldnt need a thermostat or thermometer saying the matt shouldn't be strong enough to burn the snake. Ive bought a thermometer anyway and placed in on the surface where Tek sleeps and never gets higher then 33 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit). Tek sleeps on top of the Aspen bedding so that should be a bit cooler then that, right? Outside of his hide (on the warm side) its around 25 Celcius (77 Fahrenheit).
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Could someone advice us whether or not this is to hot/cold?
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| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| P0NY |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 16:46:37
We just rushed to where we bought him and bought one just before they closed their doors 
Thanks again guys, I'm sure Tek will be grateful! (and saves me worrying!) |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 16:34:09
You can get digital thermometer real cheap off ebay :) doesn't have to be a rep brand one, a fish/kitchen one is fine lol they will be a lot more accurate than dial ones. |
| lotabob |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 15:59:13
Blimey if your getting 30+ on an analogue thermometer its going to be much much hotter on the surfaces as analogues read air temp not surface temps. I think for the sake of your snakes health it will be a good idea to just turn the mat off and leave it off. Your snake will be fine without heat as long as you dont feed it while the heat is off, I'd also avoid handling while the heat is off as their defences are raised when they are cold. Just keep the heating on in the room and it will be fine.
Once you get a stat and switch on the heat give it about 4 days to heat back up and get all its bodily functions running properly before you attempt to feed. |
| P0NY |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 15:50:32
Its sadly an analog one so I guess I shouldnt trust it. I will get a digital thermostat, thank you for the reply :) |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 15:47:56
What kind of thermometer is it? A digital one? Measure the very bottom of the cage/faun as they often displace aspen/bedding so if you measure the very bottom you know what temp it will be when he messes it up :p |
| P0NY |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 15:28:27
Thank you everyone! I didnt expect so many responses so quickly!
I will definitely buy a thermostat now. Though, I have a question on how to measure the heat.
When I measured the heat with my thermometer earlier I had it stuck right against the bottom of my cage where it stands on the heatsource.
An hour ago I've instead put the thermometer inside his hide right next to the snake itself where he sleeps, this shows up as 29/30 Celsius.
What I'm a bit confused about is where I'm supposed to measure the temp, right at the bottom of the cage where it connects directly to the heat source or the way I just did where he will be sleeping? |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 14:54:38
Hello, I think everyone will agree with me on here that petshops even those that specialise in reptiles are not to be trusted 100%
I'd would leave him for a week, from his point of view he is in a new surrounding with new smells and it will take time for him to learn that the smells/things making the smell aren't a threat to him though, though some snakes do seem to be fine being handled straight away.
33 is too hot for a corn, shouldn't be 30 or more you need a stat. Your mat may not burn the snake but it will be too hot for snake so you may end up with a super grumpy snake all the time. The aspen won't make it cooler. |
| darrkang3l |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 14:52:10
your set up if fine apart from the stat part. 33 is too hot 29 is ideal and never above 30. take donnies advice! and i would leave snakey for a week just for its own security! :) even if the snake if fine with being handled it will be even more so when its settled! welcome aswell! :D |
| Donnie |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 14:50:02
Forgot to mention that the temp at the hot end should not be above 30. |
| Donnie |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 14:48:04
Hello,
1. It is best to leave snakey for a week to settle into their new home, with my first I was told to leave her for a couple of days and then feed her as she was due. After doing this I then joined this forum and read about the week long settling period so I left her for a week then and just went in to change water and remove poo.
2. You will defiantly need a stat with your heat mat. 33 is to hot and I would switch it off now and not put it back on until you have bought a stat. Snakey will be fine at room temperature for a bit (as long as you do not have you room like the artic) until you get the stat. It is not just the risk to the snake to worry about, it is possible to melt the faunarium if it is plastic and god knows what else depending on where you have it.
Apart from that setup looks good, advice on here is free so if you need to know anything else don't be afraid to ask.
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| P0NY |
Posted - 11/03/2012 : 14:39:30
I should probably add that he seems fine with being handled, likes to explore us and hasnt snapped at us. He also shed his skin last night (first night we had him).
He's been in his hide most of the time and once in a while pokes his head outside. |
