Hi, my names Joe. I'm 24, and work with computers

Basically I run a car owners club so know how useful a forum is/can be and I must say i've been very impressed with this site so far! Looking forward to becoming a regular around the place Also I know that forums hold a lot of trust worthy information as it's peoples first hand experiences and not some shop clerks opinions or what they've read from an out of date book!

I've been looking into getting a corn snake for a while now and have been slowly building up my knowledge and learning all I can! But now i've started getting all the kit together and are getting close to my trial run to get the temps just right. I have a few questions and I hope you can help me out! (Oh and thank you to Mitch moshi, i've loved your newbie thread as it answered a lot of my other questions)

Right.....

1) My next purchase on my list is a stat and a heat mat. Now my viv is made of 15mm contiboard. Will I be ok placing this underneath the viv, will it generate enough heat?

2) Kind of related to number 1, but do I place the temp sensor on the stat on the floor of the viv to make sure the temp is correct for the snake or a little higher on the side?

3) If I was to get a hatchling, i'd get myself a RUB for the first couple of months but I was wondering...If I setup my viv with the heat mat in place should I place the rub inside the viv with a third on the hot side and the rest of the RUB in the cool side?

4) A lot of people talk about feeding their snake in a RUB so that the snake doesn't associate the viv opening and feeding time! Makes sense, but my question is, people also mention you shouldn't handle the snake after feeding for 24 hours. Is it ok to put the snake straight back into the viv from the RUB after a feed?

5) I plan to have my vivarium setup on my chest of draws in my room which used to have a 3foot fish tank on it. Only downside is this is next to a window. I know snakes shouldn't be put into direct sunlight, so luckily the viv will only be side on to the window. But my thought was that one corner might get a couple of hours sunlight, would I be ok to use this as the warm side and the part in the shade as cool side. Or could the sun upset the snake?

If you've managed to get this far down, I am sorry! But thank you for reading and I look forward to reading the replies

Joe

hi and to rfuk u will learn lots here

right answers to your questions

1...... i would put the heat mat inside the viv but make sure its taped down with strong tape like duck tape or carpet tape so the snake cant get under it and burn itself, i wouldnt put it out side as the wood wont let much of the heat through.

2...... put the sensor inside the viv on top the substrate over the heat mat and i would also put the thermometer probe in the same place as the stat probe.

3...... yes if you get a hatchling put it in a rub inside the viv on the mat but only cover a 1/3 to half of the rub with the mat.

4...... i feed all of my snakes in seperate tubs/rubs and all i do is when they have finished leave for about 10 mins to get out of feeding mode, then gently pick them up making sure you dont touch the bulge in the belly where the mouse is as it can harm them internally and place it gently back in its rub/viv, it works every time for me and i have yet to be bitten after feeding.

5...... yea use the side closest to the window for the hot end because if it gets too hot the stat will kick in and do its job making sure the temps dont get too high.

hope this helps

jamie

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Hi Joe

Welcome to these forums, as you've seen in my thread everyone is very useful and no question is too stupid

Glad my complete novice status at this has helped

Good luck with your snake x

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Soon to be new snake owner ( Hurricane Anery Motley Corn on order. ETA Sept 08 )

Currently looking for: 3ft vivarium.


DON'T SELL ME ANY VIV/SETUP STUFF UNTIL AFTER MAY 25TH! unless I ask really really nicely

x

I don't bother to feed in a separate container for my snakes - they know if food is coming because I'm waving it on tongs at them, and if I wave my hand around like food, I deserve to get bitten

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Ssthisto - "Try Ms Lovett's Meat Pies" That distracts me every time you post

I'm a Lovett Not in the Family meat pie business though

__________________
Soon to be new snake owner ( Hurricane Anery Motley Corn on order. ETA Sept 08 )

Currently looking for: 3ft vivarium.


DON'T SELL ME ANY VIV/SETUP STUFF UNTIL AFTER MAY 25TH! unless I ask really really nicely

x

This really depends on the snake. My royals can are fed in there viv and can be handle if need be immediately after feeding. Althought the only time I'd do this is to clear any substrate caught in its mouth etc...

But for larger snakes like retic and boas, handling straight after feed is a big fat NO! (unless you have a death wish) But corns should be OK, it personal prefference.

I have my heat mat inside the viv, but be very careful using any kind of tape in a viv, If you do make sure the are no lifting sides and check it on regular occasions.

If the snake gets stuck to the tape , you could damage or loose some of its scales. Try to use something on top that will allow heat to pass through it, but will be too heavy for the snake to get underneath, a piece of slate or a ceramic tile for example. Some people use some perspex over the top the mat then sealed with snake friendly sealant, or screwed down.


As for feeding, its really up to you, I personally feed my corns and royal in feeding boxes lined with kitchen towel, the reason for this in mainly that I use Aspen for bedding and want to reduce the risk of them consuming some of it with the mouse and causing impaction of aspen in the gut.

If you do this allow a bit of time after feeding and carefully move them with two hands back in the viv to avoid any regurgitation or a bite.


EDIT - Sensor on top of substrate.

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0.0.1 - Classic Corn (Munch)
0.0.1 - Amel Corn (Abe)
1.0.0 - Royal (Monty)