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bcohen84
Snake Mite
17 Posts |
 Posted - 05/05/2011 : 17:10:15
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Hi,
I am a vet student who recently acquired a corn snake from a fellow student. Her name is Ginger (original owner named her Roxy and my wife and I changed it) and she is 2 years old and 3.5ft long and of the wildtype/normal coloration. I have a few questions I hope some people can answer as I am from California and this is my first pet in the UK and the climate is a bit different.
1. First, I have an exo-terra viv (45cm-45cm-60cm) that has 2 hide spots, one at cold end and one at the warm. The one in the cold end is a terra cotta type garden sphere and the warm hide is a reptile type cave with detacheable lid from a local pet store. There is also a (exo-terra) digital thermometer at each end of the viv near the hides. The hot thermometer is located in the middle of heat pad area (which is taped to the glass under the viv and covers about 1/3-1/2 of the viv). The general temp readings I get are 30-40 degrees C at the hot end (again right above the mat) and 18.5 to 20 degrees C at the cold end. However in her hide in the hot end her temp reads about 25.5 degrees C. There is also about 1.5 to 2 inches of substrate above the mat and the entire viv. The glass is not hot to the touch, just warm. Should I move her hide so it is above the mat? Are these temps ok? Should the mat not be adhered to the underside of the glass? Do I have cause to worry? I know I could buy a thermostat, but I am trying to avoid it as being a vet student from out of the country money can be a bother? (Though her health and safety will always come first) She seems to migrate as needed to each hide, I just want to be safe as I notice the range I have is not the exact accepted range and people seem to stress temps for burning and digestion reasons.
2. In regards to re-homing, the viv she is in is all hers and the majority of the enrichment is hers as well from the original owner with the exception of a few things, do I still wait a full week before handling her or is 3-4 days sufficient? Also, she was last fed a few weeks ago via the original owner, I have mice in the mail so I assume as soon as they arrive I should see if she is hungry? (I know not to handle her after feeding) In regards to that, should I feed her outside the viv or is feeding her inside using feeding tongs ok? The original owner said she dangled the thawed mouse from its tail just outside her hide and let her eat it that way, trying to see if I should continue that or not?
Thank you very much for any information you can provide. I have also already created a log in my lap top for Ginger and thoroughly read the care sheet on the site. Though this is my own first snake, this is not my first reptile so I am pretty keen to what's going on. I am just tyring to make the home as perfect for Ginger as possible while staying within reason at the moment.
Cheers!!!  |
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kdlang
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3556 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2011 : 18:17:46
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Firstly I would say that the thermostat is an essential bit of kit so I would make it a priority to get one. Look on ebay and you should be able to pick up a mat-stat for under £20. The hot end is rather hot. I have never used glass tanks but I would be a little concerned about the heat cracking the glass. Someone more experienced in that department may be able to help more there. Personally I would turn the heat mat off for now until you can get a stat and leave feeding until you know you have got the temps as they should be. Also I would move the reptile cave to the cool end and have the opened bottom hide in the warm end. The bottom of the cave will insulate the heat away from your snake.
Congratulations on your new snake though. I'm sure before long you will be as addicted as the rest of us. Hopefully you will soon be a vet that specialises in exotics as we could do with a few more |
4.1.0 corns - Izzy (Carolina) Alice (Amel) Peanut (Butter Motley) Swayze (Ghost) Carmellia (Butter Motley)
0.1.0 cat - Kizzy
1.0.0 Dog - Dobbie
Location - Chesterfield, Derbyshire
www.support-dogs.org.uk |
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bcohen84
Snake Mite
17 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2011 : 19:42:05
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Thank you very much for your help. I suppose I will go out and buy the thermostat. However, neither of the hides are open to the floor so I don't think moving them will make a difference (I should specified that in the previous post). I will look up the temp resistance of the glass as well. Is the cold temp too low do you think, or should I worry mainly about the hot? Should I just move the reptile cave over the mat once the temps are correct? Also will having the temp over the mat at 30-40 degrees affect her digestion as the temp in the cave is 25.6? Thanks again to whomever answers.
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gmac
The Scottish Admin
United Kingdom
5319 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2011 : 19:47:59
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30-40 is way to hot and can cause problems with your snake if its kept at that temp. Stats are essential for that very reason.
Feeding in or outside viv is entirely your choice, just make sure if you feed in viv you put kitchen paper or something down to minimise he risk of any substrate being eaten. |
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Some Temp/Husbandry Help Please :)
