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Originally posted by LittleMick

Hi everyone, I'm Mick, I just thought I would introduce myself and hopefully get some good pre buying advice and hopefully make some new friends.
I was wondering if I could have some opinions on my pre buy cencept setup and a few other questions please.

First off this was the equipment I was planning to buy, based on a hatchling Corn Snake.

Wooden Vivarium 24"x18"x12" (looking at the Vivexotics range)
Exo Terra Heat Wave Desert Mat 26 x 28cm
Habistat Temp Thermostat
Bulb, Holder and Guard Not needed
T-Rex Aspen Bedding
Scooper
Exo Terra Dial Thermometer x 2 Get digtal aquarium thermometers, cheaper and more accurate. Search them on ebay
Breakout Disinfectant Never heard of that brand, but that doesnt means its bad. I use beaclean
Exo Terra Water Dish Medium From my experience they are very anoying, short sides means im spilling it all the time. Ceramic dog bowls are better I reckon.
Exo Terra Rock Outcrop Small
Exo Terra Forest Branch Small
Exo Terra Bendable Jungle Vine Small The things in bold are purely decorative, they look nice but you could provide the same level of care alot cheaper
Digital on/off timer
Bacterial Handwash

QUESTIONS
1.Something Smaller? - After looking at the sectio prior to entering the forum it seems as though the above setup setup will be way too big for a hatchling? The above size is what is given out by my local reptile store for hatchling Corns. Looking at the snkaes in their boxes instore they looked about 8" long so maybe I should go for something alot smaller. I have read a few keepers keep their hatchlings in plastic boxes and all sorts but this raises concerns for me, cable entry points, no light source, not much space for 2 dens and such. I would ask if they stock any smaller sizes, if not, its not the end of the world.
2.Terrarium vs Vivarium - If the above size would be ok then what are your opinions on Terrariums vs Vivariums. I initially looked at Terrariums as I like the idea of viewing the snake from any side. I could only spot a few negatives with a glass Terrarium, a)the glass not being a good insulator, b)the lamps in the optional canopy are directly over head, so heat variance might be a concern. Vertical thermo radiance rather than horizontal. The terrarium I was lokking at was the Exo Terra PT2600 30x30x30cm to start off with then when the Corn turned adult move onto the Exo Terra PT2613 90x45x45cm. On the Vivarium side I was thinking of the Vivexotics LX24 58.7x37.5x40.5 then move onto the VX36.

Wooden vivs every time for me. (a number of reasons, I will see if I can find the post I made)

3.Lighting - On some online stores I am seeing differnt styles lights, like Standard light, Basking light, Spot light, Halogen, should I just go for a standard light bulb. If I gor for a Terrarium you can have the optional canaopy with differnt light fittings, has anyone used these before?

I would advise against a light. They arnt needed at all. The light in the room will be fine.

4.Cleaning - I presume "spot cleaning everyday" just refers to cleaning the areas that the snake has urinated or deficated? Then doa once a month total clean and disinfect? What would be the best disinfectant to use? I have a Gerbilarium that I clean out every 2 weeks and I use Johnsons Clean n Safe, could I use this or are there disinfectants specifically for snakes? The same for the hand wash, are there any I should avoid?

Like I said above, I use beaclean

5.Feeding - I have read on some care sheets that you should feed the snake out of it's Vivarium to avoid accidental swallowing of the substrate, but surely this contradicts advice about not handling the snake for 2 days after it has fed?

Its fine to pickl them up and put them back, just try not to cause them to bend or twist too much

6.Dens and Decor - I initially looked at the Exo Terra Reptile Den as I like the idea of being able to take the out side section off to view the snake insde, ideal for the Terrarium but if I get a wooden Vivarium it would be pain having to remove it whenever I opened the door(s).
I have also read that Corn snakes predomanently spend most of their time on the ground they do accaisionally climb, so is it worth investing in all the decor I have listed above? The vines etc?

I wouldnt bother personaly, also I dont think the sizes of the dens are very big. (very quickly outgrown)

7.Gerbils vs a Corn Snake - As I said, I have a Gerbilarium with 4 Gerbils inside, where I was planning to put the Vivarium is about 8-10 feet away, given how snakes scent/sense their prey is this going to be a problem? Will it be able to smell them or stress out the snake knowing their is a food source there but not be able to get to it?

To be honest I dont know. If the snake can smell them it might go into "feeding mode" which may cause it to strike.

Anyway, thats finally all for now, apologies for the long post, thanks and kind regards in advance.

Mick

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quote:

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Originally posted by LittleMick

Wooden Vivarium 24"x18"x12" (looking at the Vivexotics range) nice to move into in a year or so but too big for now
Exo Terra Heat Wave Desert Mat 26 x 28cm just big enough to cover 1/3 of the floor space
Habistat Temp Thermostat go for a matstat you're unlikely to need the 300w capacity of a temp stat
Bulb, Holder and Guard don't go for a bulb for heating
T-Rex Aspen Bedding
Scooper
Exo Terra Dial Thermometer x 2 waste of time, go digi
Breakout Disinfectant
Exo Terra Water Dish Medium depends on size of the snake
Exo Terra Rock Outcrop Small depends on size of the snake
Exo Terra Forest Branch Small optional
Exo Terra Bendable Jungle Vine Small optional
Digital on/off timer wouldn't bother, timer isn't needed for anything
Bacterial Handwash

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quote:

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Originally posted by LittleMick

Thanks scorpioleah, I really can't think it would make much difference, as they are all rodents, so unless the snake can tell the differnce by the scent/tatse of a large rodent and a small one.
This is beginnning to be a really tough decision now, lol.

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