When should I expect the first shed?

I bought Zim on December 5th, 2006. The humidity in his cage stays at around 30. ( I can't seem to raise it. I mist the cage, but nothing seems to help) He has a water dish in his tank as well. When should I expect his next shed. I didn't ask the guys at the petstore when he shed last.

Well I guess I should expect it now. I went to move the tank to a new spot in the room, to help boost the temps, and I peaked inside the hide on the cool side (he never uses his hides) and saw a snake skin. I didn't even notice the signs that he was going to shed. What are the signs for a snow corn? Also, is it ok to handle him after he's newly shed?

Also I need to get him out of the tank because while moving the tank I spilled a little of his water and got the newspaper wet and he also went to the bathroom and I want to clean it out and put some fresh paper down. Is this ok to do, or should I leave him alone in his hide?

Well I moved the hide and got some pics of him new and shiney. I also removed the shed skin and untangled it and pulled it out to full length. He shed all in one piece and shed the eyecaps as well. I've heard that this is the best way to shed and if he sheds in pieces that means the humidity is too low. The temp is rising since I moved the tank and should be up to normal temp by tonight. The humidity is around 42-warm side 45-cool side. I'm misting the tank every few hours to keep the humidity up. I'll also see if I can measure the skin and get some photos up here. I can't find the wire that connects my camera to the comp, so photos are a no until I can find that cord.

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

Well I guess I should expect it now. I went to move the tank to a new spot in the room, to help boost the temps, and I peaked inside the hide on the cool side (he never uses his hides) and saw a snake skin. I didn't even notice the signs that he was going to shed. What are the signs for a snow corn? Also, is it ok to handle him after he's newly shed?

Also I need to get him out of the tank because while moving the tank I spilled a little of his water and got the newspaper wet and he also went to the bathroom and I want to clean it out and put some fresh paper down. Is this ok to do, or should I leave him alone in his hide?

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I have an adult snow corn female and the only time i know she is in shed is when i find the old skin lol.I take each of my snakes out after they shed and check the tail area and the eyes to make sure everything come off.To make it easier to see if the eye caps both come off check the face area of the old skin and if you see 2 eyes then they both come off.

Here is a pic from last year of my snow female. http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...hons/mera1.jpg

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

Well I moved the hide and got some pics of him new and shiney. I also removed the shed skin and untangled it and pulled it out to full length. He shed all in one piece and shed the eyecaps as well. I've heard that this is the best way to shed and if he sheds in pieces that means the humidity is too low. The temp is rising since I moved the tank and should be up to normal temp by tonight. The humidity is around 42-warm side 45-cool side. I'm misting the tank every few hours to keep the humidity up. I'll also see if I can measure the skin and get some photos up here. I can't find the wire that connects my camera to the comp, so photos are a no until I can find that cord.

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What are your temps? Its best to keep corns at 80 to 85 on the hot side.If you have any questions ask away as i have been breeding & keeping corns for 2yrs and starting my 3rd soon.

Temps are low but on the rise.

Cool Side: this morning: 68
Cool Side: now: 73

Warm Side: this morning: 74
Warm Side: now: 77.5

I'll take him out tonight to check his head and tail to make sure. I got some good pics of him with my camera, so my fiance is going to burn them onto cd tomorrow for me so I can upload them. Both eyecaps came off. I made sure of it when I checked the skin. I've kept the skin in a ziplock back to measure later. I don't know the exact length of him yet. I don't even know if its a him or her.

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

Temps are low but on the rise.

Cool Side: this morning: 68
Cool Side: now: 73

Warm Side: this morning: 74
Warm Side: now: 77.5

I'll take him out tonight to check his head and tail to make sure. I got some good pics of him with my camera, so my fiance is going to burn them onto cd tomorrow for me so I can upload them. Both eyecaps came off. I made sure of it when I checked the skin. I've kept the skin in a ziplock back to measure later. I don't know the exact length of him yet. I don't even know if its a him or her.

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Are you using a thermostate to control the heat source? By the way what are you using for the heat source? I use Exo-terra UTH (8x11 or 8x8) on each 20gal tank and they are controled by a thermostate from this place www.reptilesupply.com. I use the $28 one or if they changed the price its the first one on the heat control screen.Your heat needs to rise a little more to be at least 80 to 85 range on the hot side.Will be watching for the pics :)

I'm not using a thermostat or UTH. My only heat source is a heat lamp and space heater. I'm used to living in a hot dorm room so now that I'm back home, I can crank up the space heater and be just fine. Since my last post the temps have risen

Cool side: 73.2
Warm side: 78.5

Its just a matter of waiting for the space heater (which my grandmother turned off) to get the room temp up. The space heater is able to get the warm side up to 85 no problem, so by the morning, we should be in the 80s.

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

I'm not using a thermostat or UTH. My only heat source is a heat lamp and space heater. I'm used to living in a hot dorm room so now that I'm back home, I can crank up the space heater and be just fine. Since my last post the temps have risen

Cool side: 73.2
Warm side: 78.5

Its just a matter of waiting for the space heater (which my grandmother turned off) to get the room temp up. The space heater is able to get the warm side up to 85 no problem, so by the morning, we should be in the 80s.

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That heat lamp is why you are unable to keep your humidity levals at the correct levals.It dries out the air.If you would buy a UTH and a thermostate you would be able to keep your temps at the correct setting,even if Grandma turns off the space heater(plus its safer).

I will be getting a 32qt rack next month along with a thermostat so heating and humidity problems will be solved. Right now the tank is sitting on a storage trunk that would be damaged by a heater and the heater says to use a different kind of substrate than what I have so the snake isn't sitting on the direct heat. I can deal with spraying the cage every hour or so until I get that rack.

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

I will be getting a 32qt rack next month along with a thermostat so heating and humidity problems will be solved. Right now the tank is sitting on a storage trunk that would be damaged by a heater and the heater says to use a different kind of substrate than what I have so the snake isn't sitting on the direct heat. I can deal with spraying the cage every hour or so until I get that rack.

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I have my 20gal tanks setting on wooden shelves and the Exo-terra UTH come with little rubber legs so you will have a gap under the tank for air exchange.This also stops the overheating.I use simple everyday newspapers for the substrate of all my snakes.I have never had any snakes get burned as long as you use the thermostate to control the heat out put.

where can I get a cheap thermostat then? I saw one on the internet for $130. I have also seen an iron stand at Petsmart for $40 that has an open bottom; perfect for UTH.

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

where can I get a cheap thermostat then? I saw one on the internet for $130. I have also seen an iron stand at Petsmart for $40 that has an open bottom; perfect for UTH.

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I use the $25 one and have several in use now.I even have one on my 41qt adult ball python rack and will have one in use for my hatchling rack.This is the place i order from http://www.reptilesupply.com/index.php?cPath=30_74.

Ok, I can order it possibly on Friday. I get paid on Thursday and I'm also buying a stand to put the tank ok so that I can use the UTH.

Stand- $40
Thermostat - $25

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

Ok, I can order it possibly on Friday. I get paid on Thursday and I'm also buying a stand to put the tank ok so that I can use the UTH.

Stand- $40
Thermostat - $25

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Let me know if you have any other questions :D .I am sure you will notice the diffarence once the UTH hits the 80 to 85 area.

Well temps are perfect right now. Warm side is in the low 80's and cool side is in around 74. Can't wait to get that thermostat and such so I won't have to worry about temps as much.

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

Well temps are perfect right now. Warm side is in the low 80's and cool side is in around 74. Can't wait to get that thermostat and such so I won't have to worry about temps as much.

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Yea it will remove the need to worry once you have the thermostate set.Now when you first plug everything in it will take a little while to hit the correct temp range.Try not to have your heat lamp directly over the UTH as it will make it shut off sooner.It will make the sensor think its at the set temp.

Will do. I can't wait to get my rack. But here is a question. The rack I'm getting has room for 4 snakes, but my grandmother won't allow me to get any more snakes, so would it be pointless to get the rack now? Should I wait to move out, or just get it and use it for Zim and have it for when I do get more snakes?

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

Will do. I can't wait to get my rack. But here is a question. The rack I'm getting has room for 4 snakes, but my grandmother won't allow me to get any more snakes, so would it be pointless to get the rack now? Should I wait to move out, or just get it and use it for Zim and have it for when I do get more snakes?

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Well if i was in that situation,i would wait on getting the rack.No need to get Grandma mad at you especially this time of the year(not saying any other time is any better though).You will have no problems finding a rack in the future when it is needed.You might find someone that would build on for you and you would have it then not when its delivered lol.

You might want to try "bed a beast" or something like that for your substrate. It will help alot with the Humidity. And your corn WILL LOVE IT. I never seen no news paper in the wilds.

I saw aspen shavings in the petstore today? It looks like hay or something. Would this work?

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

I saw aspen shavings in the petstore today? It looks like hay or something. Would this work?

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Some use it for their corns with positive results.

Well I've heard corns like to burrow into thier substrate. Right now, Zim is showing off his climbing skills. He's up on top of the old thermometers that I don't use anymore and up near the top of the cage.

I'll use newspaper for now, but get the aspen when I run out of newspaper. As for climbing, should I get him a branch or something since he likes to climb?

That would probably be good, My little corn loves to climb I have some plastic plants in her tank and she is always climbing in them or she stays perched on the top of the plants. Maybe she thinks she is arboreal from watching my carpet python in the tank next to her :P

I love taking care of plants so I was wondering if there are any safe live plants I can keep in Zim's tank for him to climb about on?

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

Well I've heard corns like to burrow into thier substrate. Right now, Zim is showing off his climbing skills. He's up on top of the old thermometers that I don't use anymore and up near the top of the cage.

I'll use newspaper for now, but get the aspen when I run out of newspaper. As for climbing, should I get him a branch or something since he likes to climb?

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Yes you can use branches and such but remember these two things.If you use any from outdoors bake them until you are sure ALL bugs are dead(about 1hr) and make sure your corn does not use them to escape(climb up to little opening).

What about plants? Any safe live plants that I can put in there to make the cage look nicer. When I run out of the newspaper I'm going to get some natural looking substrate so he can burrow in it and also get a fake branch for him to climb on. Is there any substrate I can use that looks natural (other than aspen...I might use it anyway though.) and is safe for the snake?

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

What about plants? Any safe live plants that I can put in there to make the cage look nicer. When I run out of the newspaper I'm going to get some natural looking substrate so he can burrow in it and also get a fake branch for him to climb on. Is there any substrate I can use that looks natural (other than aspen...I might use it anyway though.) and is safe for the snake?

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To be honest i would not even mess with live plants.Reason is you would have to water them and keep dirt in the enclosure and it would be just to much to cleanup.If you really want to use something you could get some plastic plants.Now as far as substrate some use the repti bark stuff,but i have known several people who have lost snakes due to swallowing some of that bark.

I won't use anything that has resulted in deaths. I just recently lost my bearded dragon to crushed walnut shells. I won't repeat that mistake. I'll stick to the newspaper or apsen shavings.

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

I won't use anything that has resulted in deaths. I just recently lost my bearded dragon to crushed walnut shells. I won't repeat that mistake. I'll stick to the newspaper or apsen shavings.

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I am so sorry about your beardy :( .Yea some say they live in stuff like wood chips and such in the wild but we never know how many die from eating that stuff either.In my opinion its not worth the risk using it,so i use newspapers only.Maybe my snakes will read a few clips in the paper and feel more at home lol:P :D

I got the Bed-A-Beast substrate. It says its safe, so if anyone has any experience using this stuff, let me know. I haven't put it in the tank yet, but I plan to tomorrow. I changed out the bulb in the heat lamp for a higher wattage and Zim LOVES IT. He was out from under the newspaper this morning. The temps are perfect. 72 in the cool side, 85 in the warm.