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Jakkke_123
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
 Posted - 26/04/2013 : 22:48:13
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| I have a corn snake he is 1.10m long! He is my first snake and he has just been given to me. I have had him for 2 days now but i don't have a heat mat for him. He seems cold when i hold him! I will be getting a heat mat for him in 5 days. Will he be ok without a heat mat for that long? I am also feeding him tomorrow with a medium sized rat. will it be ok to feed him without a heat mat? Will i be able to keep the heat mat in the vivarium with him because i have a wooden one. the base is 3/4 inch thick, so the heat won't get through. Would a medium sized rat be ok for a 1.10m length snake? |
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa334/blueboyz1/706ad544-2d51-4073-8c6e-2e194ce90215.jpg?t=1371854411 |
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Figs
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3319 Posts |
Posted - 26/04/2013 : 23:00:46
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Medium rats??
My 3.5ft boa is only on small rats lol!
Most adult corns do fine on large mice
I definitely wouldn't feed him anything (never mind such a large meal) without a heat source. He'll be just fine missing a feed or two while you sort your heat out 
Its a good idea to leave him to settle in to his new home for a few days with no handling too.
Heat mats are fine inside wooden vivs as long as you have a thermostat |
Edited by - Figs on 26/04/2013 23:01:59 |
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Jakkke_123
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
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Isoldael
Yearling
Netherlands
999 Posts |
Posted - 26/04/2013 : 23:18:51
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| For adults, the normal feeding is every 10-14 days (although it can vary depending on the snake's needs). You should never refreeze a mouse after thawing though. I know it seems like a waste to throw them out (I have the luxury of trying to feed to another snake first), but it's better than feeding him something that's gone bad. |
1.0 anery stripe (Nash)
1.0 hypo pewter (Loki)
1.0 bloodred het amel, charcoal, hypo, stripe 50% phet anery, lavender (Kasumi)
0.1 grey background normal het amel (Saphira)
0.1 tessera het amel, anery, stripe (Lilith)
0.1 amel (Aurora)
0.1 hypo bloodred het anery, charcoal, stripe 50% phet amel, lavender (Mara)
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Jakkke_123
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
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Isoldael
Yearling
Netherlands
999 Posts |
Posted - 26/04/2013 : 23:28:15
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| Don't cover it, but use a stat to regulate the temperatures so the snake can never get burnt. Some people like to stick it to the bottom, but I never did that when I still had my mats inside my viv. The snakes never really got under them and I could take them out to clean them more easily this way :) |
1.0 anery stripe (Nash)
1.0 hypo pewter (Loki)
1.0 bloodred het amel, charcoal, hypo, stripe 50% phet anery, lavender (Kasumi)
0.1 grey background normal het amel (Saphira)
0.1 tessera het amel, anery, stripe (Lilith)
0.1 amel (Aurora)
0.1 hypo bloodred het anery, charcoal, stripe 50% phet amel, lavender (Mara)
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Jakkke_123
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
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Figs
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3319 Posts |
Posted - 26/04/2013 : 23:40:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Jakkke_123
I don't have a stat to regulate the temp, I have a digital thermometer so i can keep an eye on the temp. Im skint at the moment so i wont be able to get a regulator for about 3 weeks :/. Is there any tips to keep a heat mat at a constant temp such as 25oc without a regulator?
You can't regulate them reliably without one.
You risk burns as well as temperatures all over the place without a thermosat - see if you can find a cheap one on ebay or if you have any reptile friends see if they have a spare they could lend you for a while |
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Jakkke_123
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
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Figs
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3319 Posts |
Posted - 26/04/2013 : 23:49:50
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Its not really worth the risk, no.
If the snake is healthy, 3 weeks without food will do no harm whatsoever!
If temperatures fall too low you might risk respiratory infections so just keep an eye on that - is there no way you could get one sooner?
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Jakkke_123
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 26/04/2013 : 23:55:34
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Nope i wont get my hands on one for 3 weeks. I could place the mat under the cage, it is wood though but its only 3/4 inches thick so i think some heat would get through. Once the heat mat arrives through the post i will place it under neath the cage and place my digital thermometer over the heated spot and see what temp it is. Would that be a better idea?
Also what thermostat do you use or recommend? |
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa334/blueboyz1/706ad544-2d51-4073-8c6e-2e194ce90215.jpg?t=1371854411 |
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Moppet
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3315 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2013 : 00:04:49
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| Habistat thermostats are the best in my opinion. You really shouldn't use a heatmat without a thermostat. They can cause burns and even start fires. |
2.4.0 Corn snakes
1.0.0 horse
0.1.0 Golden retriever
1.4.0 Guinea pigs |
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Jakkke_123
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
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Jakkke_123
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
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Mamma
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
4494 Posts |
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Jakkke_123
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2013 : 09:52:49
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I'm so glad you are getting the thermostat as well as the heatmat Jakob  . It really is a vital piece of equipment, along with the digital thermometer. If you need proof that you've done the right thing have a look at Why a stat MUST be used ....you'll be so pleased you are getting one.
As has been said, your snake will be fine going without food for a while. My Kellog hasn't eaten since February because he's thinking of females instead of food  . What's best is if you leave him alone, only changing his water and fluffing up his substrate, so he gets used to your smell. He's obviously going to be disturbed when you put the heatmat, stat and thermometer in, so personally I'd leave him a few days after that before feeding him. This thread will give you some idea on how you can put the heatmat in and position the probes - Setting up an adult Cornsnake - My 101 . You don't have to stick the mat down, as is shown. You can either leave it loose, as Isoldael does, or you can cover it with something like vinyl slate, like I do.
It's probably worth looking at I just got my 1st corn snake....what do I do now? And if you have any more questions and can't find the answers using the search option, please don't hesitate to ask. The only silly question is the one you don't ask  .
Xxx
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Jakkke_123
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2013 : 11:05:25
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| Cheers kellog that helps a lot, I now have an idea on where to place my heat mat and thermostat :D!! I have been told that 25oc is an ideal temp for the snake. If he touches the mat with his skin will it burn him? I will place komodo aspen bed terrain and coconut terrain over the mat and his bark hiding place, but if the snake decides to bury under the terrain and touch the mat will he burn himself at 25oc? |
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa334/blueboyz1/706ad544-2d51-4073-8c6e-2e194ce90215.jpg?t=1371854411 |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2013 : 11:20:06
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You actually want a temp of between 27 - 29oC in the warm end Jakob. If the mat is heating correctly to that temp then it should barely feel warm to you and definitely won't burn him. That's why you need the thermostat, to stop the mat getting any higher and causing what happened to that poor snake in the link I gave you happening  .
You only want a sprinkling of substrate over the mat in the warm end, and then make it deeper in the cool end, in case he wants to burrow. I dont have any experience with coconut substrate myself, but as far as I know the loose stuff should be ok, it's very similar to aspen, but the brick/slab of coconut is something to stay well away from. You mention his bark hiding place....I'm assuming he's got 2 hides, 1 in the warm end and 1 in the cool end?
Xxx
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Jakkke_123
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
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eeji
The Morph Master
United Kingdom
4335 Posts |
Posted - 27/04/2013 : 22:24:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Jakkke_123
Sorry medium mice haha!how often would you reccomend feeding him? Also if i have defrosted the mouse and he doesn't eat it, can I refreeze the mouse and give it him another day?
For a snake that size I would feed a medium every week. Some will say its ok to refreeze mice, but I personally wouldn't for the sake of saving the tiny cost. |
Forum - Guide to Cornsnake Morphs - Punnett Square Calculator - Breeder Directory
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Having problems major here!
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