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

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 2

Yes definitely, you need to recreate the light patterns of it's natural habitat (ie north america) and give it a day and night to prevent it's body clock and rhythms getting all mixed up.

In order to maintain suitable temperatures you may need to adjust your heat mat at night as it is your only heat source at that time. You want to keep the nice gradient all the time so that the snake can regulate it's own body temps all round the clock.

"Do you think he's happy" I don't believe that snakes are capable of happiness as such, but I think you've got a pretty good setup. The only thing I'd suggest is a couple more hides. He/she needs one on each side at least, so that he feels safe and secure in the hot and the cool side and is not choosing an unsuitable temperature, just because that's where the shelter is. Anything will do as hides - toilet rolls, small boxes, depends on the size of the snake and what you've got lying around.

Answer 3

Not a herpe specialist, just an amateur naturalist who has kept lots of animals in his time.
I usually try to keep the environment of my animals as close to their natural habitat as I can.
These days I tend to keep those animals found naturally where I live, keeps my electricity bill down. They definitely need some night-time though.
I love keeping animals, but over the years have made some mistakes about the amount of attention, food or environment an animal needs.
Today I'm rather proud of my 6 Mosquito Fish in an 120 litre tank, with river sand and lots of rocks from the local stream. And 4 types of indigenous plants. I feed them a wide variety of foods, trying to mimic what they would normally get. And if I sleep on a friend's couch for the weekend, they are more than happy with algae off the rocks. I keep them next to the window, with no lighting or heating.
I mention this because after many years trying I think I have finally succeeded in creating an easily maintained habitat that fools the animal into believing it is free. My Nirvana.
Hopefully you can provide something similar for your corn-snake. And that it grows to enjoy being handled.

Answer 4

i know many herpetologists who've stages in Zoology, biology, or molecular biology. do you decide on herpetology to be a job or a activity? i know lots of people who've greater paying jobs and do a little herping in basic terms as a activity, in spite of the actuality that that's their genuine pastime in existence. Examples of this contain plumbers, electricians, college instructors, and molecular biologists. you could no longer relatively be a "herpetologist" strictly, yet you could actually artwork with nature, you in basic terms ought to be a "naturalist", who's usual with slightly approximately each thing (timber, birds, rocks). As a naturalist, you could actually concentrate on herpetology (i know some people who try this), you in basic terms ought to acknowledge slightly approximately each thing else in nature. once you're nevertheless youthful (thirteen, 15) volunteering at nature centers and zoos is an wonderful thank you to earnings journey for a job as a naturalist. you additionally can artwork at a zoo, and have a glance into to particularly artwork on the reptile abode.

Answer 5

I think it depends on how warm it is where you live...I live in Seattle, and in the winter it's cold enough that I kept the light on all the time for my snake. It sounds like you're probably alright (i'm not a herpetologist, but i used to own a corn snake).

Answer 6

Corn Snakes don't need light, they need heat. A heat mat is enough. All the info you need is here: http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/

Answer 7

Think of how it would be in the wild...Cut off all the lights and give it some cool-down time...

Answer 8

Sounds like it!

Answer 9

try tis site http://books.google.co.uk/books?vid=ISBN0764100556&id=YbRai3T2_A4C&pg=RA1-PR2&lpg=RA1-PR2&ots=kW6Tt17R1m&dq=how+to+care+for+a+corn+snake&sig=BPuXRieOei6mZCfgiF9XOvl-qWg#PPP1,M1