corn owners..how does this sound?

My new corn snake will be coming in the morning, and I wanted to run my setup by you to see if everything sounds right. She will be in a 20 gal long aquarium with a screen top (this is the aquarium my BP had, but I learned that tubs are the way to go). The aquarium has been thouroughly sanitized and disenfected. The aquar. has had three days to stabilize and these are my numbers....75 cool side, 85-86 hot side (checked with a dual probe digital thermometer). There is a hide and water on each side with climbing stuff in the middle. Humidity between 30-40%. Hot side UTH on a t-stat. This is my first corn, so I think I need more opinions to feel better about the set up. Thanks!

Sounds pretty good, except make sure your screen top is very VERY secure. Escaping corn snakes are a very common thing. Tubs aren't necessarily better, but some people prefer them. I keep most of my snakes in them because they are cheap, easy to clean, and easier to maintain temps and humidity. I know a lot of breeders use them for these reasons, especially when they have dozens, if not hundreds of reptiles.

I think the cold side could stand to a raise a couple of degrees, probably to higher 70s, 80 at most. 75 should be more of a night temperature. But everyone will tell you differently. Other than that you sound ready :) Good luck with the little girl!

Is this a baby corn? Because a 20 gal tank would be HUGE! You might want to try a smaller tub inside the tank, until it gets a bit bigger. That's my :twocents:

Yeah I had my corn in a 20 gallon when I got her but it seemed to big she hardly came out and was real skittish...so I moved her to a 10 gallon and after about a week in there she calmed down and comes out now

I'm not sure of the exact size of the corn that is coming...she is six months old, so not a newborn exactly. Would adding a bunch of extra hides help to make her feel more secure...or should I try to rush around and set up a 10 gallon for her?

you could try adam's method of putting a bunch of balled up newpaper in there

My baby corn is in a 20L and seems to be doing well with it, so long as there's some nice secure places to hide. I give him some fluker's moss in his hides too that he can push up and make little blockades to make himself feel more secure too if he needs. He'll often rest his chin on it while he's peeking out at me when he's not making his rounds. :)

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Originally Posted by kzooherpetoculturist

you could try adam's method of putting a bunch of balled up newpaper in there

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I learnt that here too from Adam and did it with my Ball. When I got my corn I did exactly the same thing and she loves burrowing underneath the paper.

sounds like a plan, I'll do it...she showed up today, my brother signed for her and put her up, I'm stuck at work. She has four hides in her cage, and I'll crumple up some paper too. Another question....I've been reading care sheets all over the internet..is a basking spot of 90 degrees safe for a corn? Some sheets say yes, others say no?

From what I've seen/experienced corns don't like temperatures that high. I'd say 85-88 range for the highest temp in the tank. But like everything, everyone will always have different opinions so there really is no right answer. Do what you think is best and your snake will let you know if there is a problem. Just be sure to catch that problem ;)

Also to make him feel more secure, you can put duct tape around the bottom edge of the tank. That way it might make him feel better that "no one can see him." I did this with my ball and he bucked up really well.