I have had a baby corn snake for a few weeks and it has everything it need, waterbowl vivarium heat but even though i keep a thermometre checking the temperature is at least 23 degrees C at the cold end and 26 at the warmer end whenever i take him out he feels very cold . Any advice ?
2007-12-11 04:01:30 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Kudos to you for checking on this one. It means you're a good beginning reptile keeper if you worry about everything. New parent syndrome is normal with people who have new pets, not just people with new babies. I remember when I first got my corn, I would freak out if she fell off her climbing branch, or pooped a different color, or felt cool to the touch, or did anything different. If the temperature is acceptable, you won't need to worry, but if the tank temperature is too cool, then you can start worrying. They're often cool to the touch because they're cold blooded. My corn is always coldish when I take her out, but she has enough heat available should she need it so I don't worry.
If you're worried about him, "tuck him in" at night. (At least that's what I call it. You basically just put them on the warm side when it starts getting cool at night. Like you would make sure a child is warm enough at night. Except with a snake, you can't give them an extra blanket, so you move them to the warm side of the tank) It's a good thing to do for little ones that are more prone to respiratory infections. I did that for my corn's first winter. I figured it was easier for a too warm snake to move somewhere cooler than for a too cold snake to move somewhere warmer. So that's why I started doing that.
Hope this all helps.
2007-12-11 08:08:02 · answer #1 · answered by snakegrrl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Corns need an under tank heating pad set at 85F (29C). Measure this with a digital probe thermometer for accuracy. This is very important, because they digest with belly heat. You can plug the UTH into a thermostat or dimmer switch to regulate. Put 2 inches of Aspen or other safe substrate on the bottom of the tank. Put a hide over this area, and another on the cool end. The snake will thermoregulate itself by burrowing to warm up (gets closer to the pad) or moves away to cool down.
An excellent forum to join for asking questions and learning about corns is:
http://cornsnakes.com/forums/
2007-12-11 10:11:16 · answer #2 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make sure that the temperature at the bottom of the tank is in the optimal range. If your snake is still feeling cold then take him out and hold him for a while to warm him up. He may also be feeling cold to you because his body temperature is naturally lower than yours.
2007-12-11 04:30:05 · answer #3 · answered by angelofdysfunktion 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The temperature that your habitat is to low. For better health you need to increase it to about 30 degrees celsius. The current temp is a good night time temp though. You need to provide a hotter basking area during the day, especially for babies. Good Luck.
2007-12-11 06:33:19 · answer #4 · answered by John E 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can also try getting a heating pad. the attach to the underside of the enclosure so that the reptile doesn't come into direct contact with it. heat rocks are not good because prolonged exposure or incorrect temperatrure can burn them.
Look at these: http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=113&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=1
You can get them at most pet stores and such.
2007-12-11 04:37:20 · answer #5 · answered by rustyfan 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Corn snakes are cold-blooded creatures. This means that they need heat to heat up, unlike us, who always have heat in our bodies. If you hold your snake, then put him on your neck(if hes strong enough to cling) or just hold him. Your body heat will warm him up quickly.
2007-12-11 04:11:48 · answer #6 · answered by spark_55 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Get a higher power heater.
2007-12-11 04:04:44 · answer #7 · answered by kittenslayer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just warm him up with your hands if you're worried about it. But unless he's digesting food, just make sure he doesn't get cold enough to go into hibernation, and you'll be fine = ) Snakes only need to warm up to digest their food, so if they're cold while they're not digesting, I wouldn't worry about it.
2007-12-11 04:21:37 · answer #8 · answered by Ugly Angel 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I would be worried if your Corn snake felt warm and not cold; cold skin on snakes; such as cold noses on Puppies; is a good sign.
For example: Rabbits do not do well in hot weather; but are fine in cooler seasons.
ALL CRITTERS NEED WATER 24/7..: )
2007-12-11 04:33:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anna 3 · 0⤊ 6⤋
Get him a heat rock so he can sit directly on it and get nice and toasty.
2007-12-11 04:09:01 · answer #10 · answered by misses_DNA 2 · 0⤊ 11⤋