Re: I lost a snake...
 

:r:r:r
Thank you both for my laugh of the day.

Re: I lost a snake...
 

Wanger has good advice. When i found my kingsnake after his escape, he was under the hot water heater (two floors below where his cage was.)

Re: I lost a snake...
 

So I had the snake out today and was letting it slither around in my hands. It pooped on me so I put it back in the tank and when I cane back I saw him crawling along the lip inside the tank between the top and tank. They are escape artists! Good thing I have heavy stuff ontop

Re: I lost a snake...
 

Hope it's heavier than your thermometer, Rich. ;)

Re: I lost a snake...
 

Oh I sure do. I have a very heavy book, good size ceramic bowl, stack of 200 blank cd's and some other things. Probably weighs 15lbs:tu

Re: I lost a snake...
 

you should probably invest in one of those locking lids they sell. what size tank do you have it in?

Re: I lost a snake...
 

Look for a better sealing cage, honestly. I have all my snakes currently in Oceanic Lizard Lounges. They are a bit pricy, but worth it (to me).

A couple examples:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/3...b7cfbd43_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/2...7c2b2269_b.jpg


I know there are other cages that you can get that seal pretty well, but for small snakes the screen tops on Critter Cages and the top that you can buy separately are too easy for them to escape from.

Re: I lost a snake...
 

Yeah I know I need a better lid. Its all I had lying around. The only bad thing is that my local pet store isnt that great in the way of lids. They just have the regular screen tops. I guess I'll have to look around online? Any sites I should look at?

Re: I lost a snake...
 

:tpd::mad::mad:

Re: I lost a snake...
 

I'd suggest going to a good local pet store and look on craigslist or somewhere else online for something good. It all depends on how much you want to spend on a good cage, though.

Re: I lost a snake...
 

www.thatpetplace.com

I've been to their B&M store, and it's amazing. Everything and anything you can think of.

Re: I lost a snake...
 

Corn snakes are nocturnal do not need a basking light like other reptiles who need the UV light for the D3 and calcium uptake. My preferred caging method was sweater boxes mounted in a rack system where the top of the shelf was tight enough to make sure they couldn't escape. I would use heat mats on the back 1/3 of the shelf for heat. They need a cooler spot to move to, so flourescents lights are better than heat lamps which can overheat the whole cage.

Re: I lost a snake...
 

I am not up on snakes so was interested in seeing what a "corn" snake is.
Good looking creature.

Re: I lost a snake...
 

yeh most snakes dont need a uv light

Re: I lost a snake...
 

That works for a breeding population, but if you're looking to display an animal, it won't help all that much, honestly, which is what it sounds like he wants to do.

Snakes get their calcium from the prey items they ingest (rodents, etc), unlike most lizards (the insect and veggie eaters), so the lighting isn't critical. Fluorescents can be great for being able to bring out some colors, especially with something like a brazilian rainbow boa (my dream snake). If the cage is large enough, a heat lamp/spot bulb is fine, and gives a more natural feel to the heating spot. Though I will say that I use undertank heaters for my corns and Dumeril's. They need those heated places to aid in digestion.

...and they're native to Florida. :) The premier corn snake breeder is still there, if I'm not mistaken. Bill and Kathy Love wrote the book on corns.

Re: I lost a snake...
 

I have a question about feeding. When I buy pinkies Im assuming they are just mice right? I know a guy whos daughter has gerbils and they are reproducing like crazy and Im curious if I can feed the baby gerbils to the snake?

Re: I lost a snake...
 

Once it gets big enough you can probably feed it kittens.

Re: I lost a snake...
 

The problem with feeding it gerbil pinkies is that they can associate the smell of gerbils and not mice with food, and refuse to eat mice, in which case, scenting would be needed to get it to eat mice again. That being said, in general, corns are not considered to be picky eaters, but unless you have a constant supply of gerbils, I'd recommend against it, just in case.

Re: I lost a snake...
 

I hear there are plenty of gerbils to be found in Fire Island.:D

Re: I lost a snake...
 

corns will eat any rodent really lol there not pickie some snakes are i dont think i have ever seen a pickie corn lol