Please help a Mom figure out how to care for this snake...

[Sweetpea3829]

Hi everyone...

My 9 yr old son asked for, and received, a corn snake as a pet almost three years ago. "Razor" has done well, but I'm pretty sure we're not doing what we're supposed to be, in regards to heating, etc. Please be gentle...I agreed to this snake, not realizing how involved they were and I didn't want to back out once I had told him he could have one. I realize we may not have been the best snake owners up to date, but I'd like to do better. Which is why I'm here.

The snake is in a tank that sits on top of our science table. I think it's maybe a 20 gallon? But I'm terrible with dimensions so I'm not sure. The room she is in is actually one of the colder rooms in our house. It gets pretty chilly in there in the winter, but I am unwilling to move her to the boys' room because...7, 8 and 9 yr old boys. I can almost guarantee she'd end up somewhere in the house.

Up until now, we've used a tank heater light bulb that sits right on top. There's a thermometer in there but I'm pretty sure it's not entirely accurate. I was initially using that reptile carpet for the bottom, but we've since changed to the snake shavings that Petco sells (I do not know what they are called...aspen?).

We have a larger tank to transfer her to...maybe 30 gallons? I also have a Reptitherm UTH (30-40 gallon size). I've had it for awhile but do not know how to set it up and this is where I need help, lol.

1) Do I need a thermostat for this UTH? If so...please recommend one that is a) not too pricey and b) adjusts automatically. In other words, I do not want just a dimmer. In the summer...the snake tank can get quite warm when the sun is setting, as it shines in through the window and hits the tank. I would prefer a thermostat that will adjust accordingly, because my 9 yr old won't remember every day, to go in there and turn her light/heater off during the sunset.

Is this what I'm looking for? http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiT...med+thermostat

2) Is the UTH enough of a heat source? Or do I still need the heat bulb that sits on top? I would really like to not need that on top heat source as it gets pretty hot and the kids sometimes knock it over.

3) Should I add that reptile carpet back in, on top of where the UTH is placed? And then add the snake shavings on top of the carpet? In the past, when we used the carpet, the snake would manage to slide herself underneath it anyways, so I'm not sure it's going to help prevent burns anyways.

4) Given that our snake's tank rests on top of a table, what do we need to consider when placing the UTH? Eventually, my husband plans on building a stand but...it's a project that is on the bottom of a very long list of projects. So for awhile, the tank will remain on top of the table. I'm assuming we must elevate it to allow for the pad? Will the pad damage the table? Is there a fire risk?

5) Is there anything else I need to know/consider?

Thanks for your help and advice and suggestions! I really appreciate it!

[chilliscale]

Welcome and no judgement from me. Lucky corns are very tolerant and forgiving. Corns were my first snake and I recently got one again because they are such cool snakes.
1. I can't speak on the thermostat mentioned but I will give you my take on it. Best bet would be to buy a proportional thermostat such as herpstat but these are a little pricey, but well worth their weight in gold. Next option which I have used for years on species more tolerant of temp fluctuations is a dimmer. Given your room stays within 5 or so degrees, this is an acceptable option for corn snakes.
2. The uth is plenty of heat as long as your room temps are dropping into the 60s for extended periods. As long as the little guy has access to a hide on a hot spot of around 85-90, he will thrive.
3. Aspen shavings are fine. When I used glass, I cut and glued ceramic tile to the bottom of the tanks. It helps disperse heat more gently and evenly. You can also put tile between the heat pad and table instead with similar results.
4. As long as the uth is regulated, I wouldn't worry about it. When I first started keeping snakes I used towels under my tanks with no problems. The bottom of the tank should have a gap for uth to fit. If it doesn't I would recommend the little sticky rubber feet you get at any hardware store. They look like a half bubble. Just big enough to allow the uth and cord from being crushed
5. Post pictures and welcome to the forum. Give us a little more info on your snake.

[chilliscale]

And please, go and invest in an indoor outdoor thermometer.I have been using the accurite brand ones for 10+ years and they work awesome

[Mike41793]

1) Do I need a thermostat for this UTH? If so...please recommend one that is a) not too pricey and b) adjusts automatically. In other words, I do not want just a dimmer. In the summer...the snake tank can get quite warm when the sun is setting, as it shines in through the window and hits the tank. I would prefer a thermostat that will adjust accordingly, because my 9 yr old won't remember every day, to go in there and turn her light/heater off during the sunset.

Is this what I'm looking for? http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiT...med+thermostat

Yes, you need a t-stat for any UTH. If left on its own, it can spike up high to temps that could burn the snake. I would suggest a basic herpstat, that is the brand I like best, but if you're looking to for the cheapest route, check out this one: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-Star.../dp/B0047KKOMI

with the thermostat, it wont apply power to the UTH if the desired temperature is reached already. there is a probe to tell it that the temp is all good. so at sunset the UTH just wouldn't be on, if it got that hot.

2) Is the UTH enough of a heat source? Or do I still need the heat bulb that sits on top? I would really like to not need that on top heat source as it gets pretty hot and the kids sometimes knock it over.

no, the UTH with the t-stat will be plenty. And yes, that is a dangerous scenario. Those bulbs get super hot and could easily start a fire if knocked over, worst case scenario.

3) Should I add that reptile carpet back in, on top of where the UTH is placed? And then add the snake shavings on top of the carpet? In the past, when we used the carpet, the snake would manage to slide herself underneath it anyways, so I'm not sure it's going to help prevent burns anyways.

Ditch the carpet. that stuff is a breeding ground for bacteria. If you want a layer on the bottom just use newspaper and replace it whenever its soiled, but its not necessary to have that base layer. Make sure the shavings you're using aren't cedar or pine, they can be harmful to the snake. You want aspen, cypress, coco husk, or kiln dried pine.

4) Given that our snake's tank rests on top of a table, what do we need to consider when placing the UTH? Eventually, my husband plans on building a stand but...it's a project that is on the bottom of a very long list of projects. So for awhile, the tank will remain on top of the table. I'm assuming we must elevate it to allow for the pad? Will the pad damage the table? Is there a fire risk?

There is, especially if you're using a cheaper t-stat. To minimize risk i would elevate the tank with furniture feet pads or something like that. anything to raise the tank an eight or quarter inch up to allow air flow.

Hope this helps!

[SmoothScales]

Listen to Mike, he gave you some great information there.

Just a note - I would steer clear from a dimmer and go with that Hydrofarm. In a room that has a pretty big temperature change depending on the time of day, dimmers are awful. They don't adjust based on surrounding temps, just keep plugging away at what you've set them to. I had a snake in isolation that was on a dimmer for a little while in a similar situation as you've described - cooler during the morning and early afternoon, but then the space it was in would heat up later in the day until evening because the sun would beat on that side of the house - and if I didn't reset the dimmer twice a day, it would spike to 98° during the warm part of the day and drop to 73° during the coolest. Thermostats are much more reliable - adjusting to more power when it's chilly and less when it's warm.

[Kokorobosoi]

Everyone here gave you really good advice.

But just because I can bet you have them handy with that many boys... Hockey pucks work to raise the tank in a pinch. I would get that Uth off the table. I dicoloured my one side table with one flush before I noticed.

[GoingPostal]

An under tank heater is only going to create a hot spot, not change the ambient temp, so if it's varying hugely you should find a area that stays a stable temp. Sunlight shining in a glass tank is not a good idea and can get dangerously hot very fast so I would move it or black out the side getting light to prevent that. I use herpstats for thermostats and would recommend them, along with accurate thermometers for a quick temp check and a temp gun for more accurate numbers.

[Sweetpea3829]

Thanks for all of the wonderful advice, folks!

I'm going to go ahead and buy that Hydrofarm...and some hockey pucks, lol. Because believe it or not, ours haven't gotten into that yet.