Any Herpetologists out there?

Question

My daughter got a corn snake and I'm not sure if I should turn the light off at night. There are 3 of them 2 are 25 watt moonlights and one is some kind of bright heat bulb that they use at the petstore. There is also a heat pad under the tank. When they're all on the temp is about 70 on the left and 80 on the right. When the lights are off on the right side the tank is 70/70. Is that ok for night? If not, what should I do different? I have repticarpet on the bottom, a water bowl on the left side, a hidey rock in the middle and foliage on the right side, with some large branches in between. Do you think he's happy?

Answer 1

You should keep a heating light on at night that is red in color and turn off all the others. As they don't see red, it looks dark enough for them so they can have their normal circadiam rythm and go to sleep.

Some heat pads under the tank can get too hot and burn a snake or any other reptile. If the temperature stays constant and warm enough at night (he may want a wider gradient than 70/70, but for sleeping at night sounds acceptable) you may remove the heating pads. I've seen too many reptiles burned due to heating pads. For some reason, they know is too hot when they receive the heat from up above, but kinda stupid to know is too hot if they are receiving the heat from below. They are not adapted well that way.

Make sure the foliage doesn't touch any of the lights, some plastics can burn up easily. Other than that the setup sounds good, have fun w your daughter's new pet :-)

Answer 2

never listen to a pet shops advice you do not need a light except maybe a red light but thats only for your benefit because a snake cannot see red light corn snakes come out at dawn and dusk mainly so if you have a bright light they are going to hide away also a bulb gets hot and will burn your snake if you insist on using a bulb then make sure you have a cover to stop the snake burning itself, my advice to you is ditch the light completely and get a heat mat.

Take the light out and put in more hides your snake will not be entirely happy in that setup you should have a hide on the heated side and on the cool side so that the snake can regulate its temperature. Also YOU NEED to be using a thermostat to control the temp of the heat mat.

Also not doubting everyone on here but I have seen some very bad advice to do with reptiles if you want to ask questions I recon you should sign up to http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/search.php?searchid=59212 and ask the questions there you will get alot better advice than asking here

Answer 3

hello, in regards to your problem, if the temp doesn't fall below 70 when the lights are off then by all means turn them off at night, in regards to your total set up, your snake should be very happy though i recommend putting a hide at both the hot end and the cool end of the tank instead of in the middle, this way the snake doesnt have to compromise between feeling secure and being the right temp. hope this helps.

Answer 4

To the previous answer: a few reptiles are freeze tolerant in parts of their body for short periods, but a freezing body core temperature will kill any reptile as it's blood stops flowing and ice crystals form and rupture the red blood cells. The reptile would literally asphyxiate for lack of oxygen as it's red cells explode. Desert reptiles are not as tolerant as you say. The northern-most reptiles tend to be most tolerant, along with box turtles. But eventhough ambient temps might fall below freezing, the reptile burrows, etc. to insulate itself....

After 20 years studying herps in the wild and captivity, I consider myself a herpetologist. Much more than just a person who keeps reptiles as a fixture, or pet ( known as a keeper ). Even Steve Irwin didn't have any formal herpetology education.

It is ok to turn the lights off at night. But some night time heat would be beneficial, so use either one moonlight and/or an undertank heater, or non visible light emitting heat element/projector. The single moonlight and heat is beneficial to keeping them close to natural wild conditions, as corn snakes are nocturnal hunters for the most part. I most often find them in the wild when I am looking for Western Diamondbacks on a warm night, on secluded roads, where they like to hunt. They may also benefitfrom being feed at night, or in low light conditions. Especially being new, they may feel more secure eating in their new surroundings if you do not crowd them, and lower the lights.

Temps. should be in the mid-low 80's during the day, and mid-high 70's at night.

I recommend against the repticarpet. It is hard to clean up waste without taking it out to wash, the reptile can get it's teeth or other parts ( if applicable ) stuck in it, and it can cause an abrasive effect on the belly over time. Stick to aspen bedding or cypress mulch. Hint, in Petco get the aspen from the small animal section instead of the reptie section...same stuff, but more expensive in the reptile department. If you can't find treated cypress mulch at a pet store, you can use the non-dyed chemical free cypress mulch at Wal Mart. A large bag is only a couple dollars. I recommend heat treating it in the oven on baking sheets at between 275-300* for 45min-1 hr. to kill any potential woodborne bugs/parasites. Depending on your sea level altitude of course...and keep an eye on it once it gets to temp. so that it doesn't smolder. Reptibark works too and is already treated if you don't want the hassle, though it costs more.

A very good summation of what you are doing, but you forgot an important element..what size tank it is set up in. The more room you can give him, the better off he will be. Remember, they HUNT in the wild, they aren't FED, and they get needed exercise looking for food and water this way. Provide space, clean and quiet environment, access to clean water, food about once a week at most, or every 2 weeks at latest, make sure prey is appropriate size and is not too large, and don't bother him too much until he gets settled in and is eating.

http://www.anapsid.org/corn.html...

Answer 5

Turning the light off at night should be fine. If you live in an area where temperatures might cause the tank to drop below 65 at night, get a red heat lamp which is made for nocturnal animals. This will provide neccessary heat without disrupting your pets regular habits.

Answer 6

Hi, I turn off the lights at night with a timer, I also have a heat mat on a thermostat, so when the lights go off the temperature will drop and the thermostat will turn the mat on.
Lights and mats should be controlled by a thermostat and ALL bulbs should be guarded.
Your temps seem to be good, so just do as your doing with turning the lights off at night and every thing should be fine.

Answer 7

you definitely dont need the light i have a corn snake and all you have to use is a heating pad no lighting at all he will be fine