Need Some Advice on Corn Snake tank

Good Morning everyone!
First thread-post on here since I joined in December! My apologies in advance if someone has already addressed this in a different thread and if I've used improper image sizes.
Anyways, almost two weeks ago I bought my first corn snake from a Craigslist ad. Her name is Zinger! She came with her tank, water bowl, lamp with clamp, red light, a plastic greenry, a fake branch, brown reptile carpet, and some type of wood (don't worry, I've attached some pictures below). Because I already have another snake, she is currently being quarantined in a decently lit room in the basement. So far she seems really good (no mites, no signs of infections), but she was in a bad shed when I got her.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/0ED1P9D.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/tDmvofe.jpg

I would like to point out that the previous owner did not mention if they had recently cleaned the tank (at the time), so I deep cleaned the tank and accessories about a half hour to an hour after the snake got home. I replaced the aspen substrate (except for a handful or so which I placed around the hot side of the tank) with Forest Floor/cypress (due in part it was the only substrate I had at hand and hadn't been used before). Added in another hiding spot (the plastic bowl with a cut entrance) and threw in my only available thermometer/hygrometer. I also put a heat pad on the bottom right of the tank, but it's not currently plugged in (I don't have a thermostat to keep it under control).

I have concerns about this current set-up, however. Tank dimensions are about (rough estimates) 30"L x 12"w x 2' h. Might be 29 gallons.
The bulb pictured here puts out A LOT of heat: it's a 120v 250w bulb and even at about 8-10 inches away from the top of the tank I've temped some spots to be 100 (which is bad, I know). Should I get a dimmer (if so, what kind) for this, or do something else? I'm not a big fan of the red lighting, but for right now it'll do. By the way, the substrate in some places is about 3-4 inches, if that makes a difference.

Whenever I check on Zinger, I always find her on the cool side of the tank. I realize this is mostly due to the hot side probably being too hot, but I also wonder if it's because her hot side hide is too exposing. Should I replace the hide with something else? Like a broken flower pot?

Zinger is an adult corn snake, maybe more than 3-4 years old: she's about 2 1/2 to maybe 3 1/2 feet? One of these days I will find a tape measure of some type. No matter, at some point I want to upgrade her cage to something that has more width and length (or at least more length). Any suggestions as to what tank dimensions/gallon amount I should look for? Or certain brands of tanks?

Should I get more "greenry" in the tank? I understand the more stuff I put in there, the more I have to clean. But if it would make her more comfortable, I'll do it.

I believe that should be it for right now. Thank you for taking the time to read through this! Any additional advice or anything of the sorts would be greatly appreciated!

P.S.
I might also try for bio-active vivariums in the future, but not until next year. Any advice or links to good diy bio-active tank projects for ball pythons and corn snakes? Also, apologies for any grammatical errors.

Judging by your estimated dimensions your tank should be a 29 gal or 37 gal. It's the same amount of floor space as a 20L just a little taller. Plenty of people keep adult corns in 20L's. General rule of thumb is the length plus width of the tank should be more than the length of the snake. I.e. 30+12=42". You said your snake is 30"-42". So that 20L should be enough.

If there is a certain dimension you are trying to obtain due to available space, you can use this chart to find the corresponding gallon equivalent. http://www.alysta.com/books/fishtank.htm

I would try ditching the red light/heat bulb. Then plug in the heat mat (uth). Depending on the ambient temp of your house you can even go without a heat source for a tiny bit of time till you can get a thermostat.

First of all you should not be running any heat source without a thermostat...

thats step number one... get to your local shop or go on amazon and quickly order for expedited delivery a jumpstart or something similar to handle that. You will need two. One for the light and one for the UTH. Those lights can get SUPER HOT. I use one Justin to warm prey and they can easily get to 130 in minutes sometimes hotter.

You also need to get an infa red gun and a digital thermometer. Most of us here use accurate.

You will also want two identical hides so the snake isn’t forced to choose.

What is the temp in the basement ?? Unplug all heat sources until regulated. Corn snakes are strong and adaptable. If the basement is too cold find a room w a decent temp and move the tank there.

Go fill up that amazon cart ASAP and pony up for one day delivery

Also you may want to or should get a Che light instead of the heat lamp

Do not do as suggested above and just plug an unregualted uth in

no unregulated heat sources that is like reptile 101

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Do not do as suggested above and just plug an unregualted uth in

no unregulated heat sources that is like reptile 101

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phillybuds is correct. You shouldn't use an unregulated heat source. I was more stating that the uth could be used in a pinch as a slightly safer temporary alternative to the heat bulb. Best option is to remove the heat till it can be properly regulated.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

First of all you should not be running any heat source without a thermostat...

thats step number one... get to your local shop or go on amazon and quickly order for expedited delivery a jumpstart or something similar to handle that. You will need two. One for the light and one for the UTH. Those lights can get SUPER HOT. I use one Justin to warm prey and they can easily get to 130 in minutes sometimes hotter.

You also need to get an infa red gun and a digital thermometer. Most of us here use accurate.

You will also want two identical hides so the snake isn’t forced to choose.

What is the temp in the basement ?? Unplug all heat sources until regulated. Corn snakes are strong and adaptable. If the basement is too cold find a room w a decent temp and move the tank there.

Go fill up that amazon cart ASAP and pony up for one day delivery

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I do have an infrared temp gun, and the thermometer/hygrometer in there is a Acu-rite Thermometer with wired Sensor model 02067.
The room I have her in is about 55-60.

That’s too cold. Can you bring her upstairs to a warmer area ?

how soon can you get thermostats ?

Comfortable temps for corns are 72-75 on the cool end and 85 max on the hot end, so she's definitely too hot with that light. If you can put her in a room that's around 70 and get a UTH, that should be all the heat she needs. Edited to say that you definitely need a thermostat with a UTH.

I highly recommend using regulated UTH ("belly heat" works well for snakes, as long as it's not too hot, as they can/do get burned accidentally); using a light for warmth on a temporary basis is ok, but it needs a lamp dimmer from any hardware store, not expensive & very useful. I use some overhead lights (red & black bulbs usually) for warmth for some of my snakes that enjoy basking in their branches and you'd be surprised how fast even a low wattage bulb can over-heat a cage. That's probably why this snake had a bad shed too, heat lights really dry out the air. Corn snakes appreciate & do well with a humid hide* on the cool side of their cage anyway, with some damp sphagnum moss inside.
*Get a plastic food container of adequate size & shape, cut a hole (doorway) in the lid, put in soaked moss, & you'll find your corn snake in there quite often, really loving it, both for the humidity & the "cave-like" coziness.

And btw, that tank size is fine for now, but as corn snakes grow, I like a 40 gal. "breeder" tank for them ultimately.

Hi! Sorry for the late reply, I got busy and then I had work! ^^;
When I got home from work last night I unplugged the heat lamp and my mom helped me move her cage to the second story of the house in the office (it's the warmest room).
I just ordered the necessary items last night, but they won't arrive until Monday (the local hardware stores and even pet stores didn't have what I was looking for, unfortunately).

Not sure how to edit my original post (if it's somewhere simple and I missed it, please forgive me) but I wanted to update you guys! I'll have pictures later, but several days ago I got a thermostat for my UTH. I also replaced the red heat lamp with a CHE, which has a light dimmer attached to it. Unfortunately the plan I had for my identical hides went poorly (I tried to gently break a soaked terracotta pot in half; it couldn't handle hammer time) so tomorrow I will get two plastic bowls and cut entrance holes in them.

May I also suggest a different water bowl, one that's completely flat on the bottom (not rounded like this one is), because it's very easy for a snake to tip &
empty that water bowl. Not only is that messy, but these things tend to happen AFTER we clean a cage, not before when it's dirty (LOL), and also, if a lot
of cool/cold water suddenly soaks down to the hot glass where the UTH is, it's possible to crack the glass. (Aquarium glass is "tempered" & pretty tough, &
I've been using UTH & spraying dilute disinfectant to clean tanks for many years without any breakage, but a liquid spray is far less of a shock to hot glass
than the sudden flood from a dumped bowl of water. Better safe than sorry!)

Getting your heat equipment regulated to the right temperatures & making sure you aren't over-heating the whole cage (don't heat more than a third) is the
most important thing to do first, but I just wanted to mention the water bowl while I'm thinking of it.

I don't think you can edit your original post; as far as I know, we only have 10 minutes from the time we post to edit any of our posts here.

The best water bowls are at Walmart. I got a big one for less than $1 and it even doubles as a hide.

You can easily make hides with the small water bowls as well. Just buy two small ones and carve an entrance on the side. The plastic is so cheap and cuts so easily you could probably do it with a butter knife.

You can also find very suitable "water bowls" for even less by shopping in thrift stores, & on one of my recent trips I found great savings on large but
shallow rectangular plastic food containers that appeared to be new (sold at Walmart for lots more!) for a buck apiece. And thrift stores often support
good local community causes too...this one (my favorite) raises money for our local Humane Society Shelter, so I often donate stuff & then shop too.
Just a thought, if your budget is tight.

Thrift Stores, eh? That's a great idea!

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

You can also find very suitable "water bowls" for even less by shopping in thrift stores, & on one of my recent trips I found great savings on large but
shallow rectangular plastic food containers that appeared to be new (sold at Walmart for lots more!) for a buck apiece. And thrift stores often support
good local community causes too...this one (my favorite) raises money for our local Humane Society Shelter, so I often donate stuff & then shop too.
Just a thought, if your budget is tight.

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Are thrift stores the same as our charity shops in the UK ?

Or are they poundshops !?!

Either way I use both to find cheap water dishes and fake plastic / silk foliage for my snake vivs


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Are thrift stores the same as our charity shops in the UK ?

Or are they poundshops !?!

Either way I use both to find cheap water dishes and fake plastic / silk foliage for my snake vivs


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

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I'm not sure, not having been to the U.K. but it sounds similar. Our local "thrift stores" (aka re-sale shops) include some that support a women' & children's abuse shelter,
the local hospital, the Humane Society shelter (as already noted), and the home for mentally-challenged. Some thrift stores are just "for profit" too, but for some reason I
always find way better things that were donated & I suspect they also come with "good karma".

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/4yRke0W.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/asJVv48.jpg
Will these flower pots do? I got them at Dollar General the other day (haven't put them in the tank yet because I just fed Zinger on Tuesday and I didn't want to disturb her). I haven't washed them yet (they're kinda dusty on the inside and have a strong plastic smell to them), but I was planning on cutting a small entrance on the side for both of them.
As for the water bowl, I think I have a flatter one somewhere... just gotta clean it. xD

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rodop

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/4yRke0W.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/asJVv48.jpg
Will these flower pots do? I got them at Dollar General the other day (haven't put them in the tank yet because I just fed Zinger on Tuesday and I didn't want to disturb her). I haven't washed them yet (they're kinda dusty on the inside and have a strong plastic smell to them), but I was planning on cutting a small entrance on the side for both of them.
As for the water bowl, I think I have a flatter one somewhere... just gotta clean it. xD

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First, they appear to be too tall? Also, I would NOT use anything with a strong plastic smell...it will only get worse in a heated cage & I would assume
that what is off-gassed is unhealthy, especially for a snake that will have reduced air-flow in the cage. (personally, I'd return them & try for much better-
I recommend the ones from Reptile Basics)

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/m2Qi570.jpg Don't mind the paws in the distance.
Returned the flower pots and got these at a different store: they're 9.75 in x 6.75 in x 2 in. All I would have to do is cut a hole and remove the little stubs (these are drawer organizers) and obviously wash. And only at a $1 each! :'D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rodop

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/m2Qi570.jpg Don't mind the paws in the distance.
Returned the flower pots and got these at a different store: they're 9.75 in x 6.75 in x 2 in. All I would have to do is cut a hole and remove the little stubs (these are drawer organizers) and obviously wash. And only at a $1 each! :'D

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You've just inspired me to go to Dollar Tree tomorrow to try to find something similar, maybe a little smaller. These look perfect!

Actually, I got these from the Dollar Tree! xD I'm not sure where you'll find them in your store, but I found these next to the kitchen utensils....

You did good! When you need bigger hides, some ppl use kitty litter-boxes, though I'd imagine they cost about the same as regular hides from Reptile Basics?
(it's been a while but theirs are quite reasonable) Part of what I enjoy about keeping snakes is the creativity I get to use. It's very satisfying to see our pets
comfortable with what we've devised for them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

You did good! When you need bigger hides, some ppl use kitty litter-boxes, though I'd imagine they cost about the same as regular hides from Reptile Basics?
(it's been a while but theirs are quite reasonable) Part of what I enjoy about keeping snakes is the creativity I get to use. It's very satisfying to see our pets
comfortable with what we've devised for them.

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:'D #whenyoufinallygetsomethingright Not sure about prices...