Corn Snake Help! Temperature confusion!

Question

I have a Corn snake, and before her cage seemed to be colder than what it was saying, so I bought a different thermometer and placed it more toward the middle of the cage rather than at the top where the strip thermometer was. So I have one strip thermometer, hovering at the top, and a round thermometer (cause the name escapes me) near the center. The on at the top is reading 10 degrees more than the one in the middle. Which one is right, both? if so, which one should I regulate to optimal temperature?

I have a 30 gallon tank, with a 150 watt light bulb, and the thermometer in the middle says it doesn't get over 82.. which someone else said my Corn Snake needs to be in 84-85 ish. But the one at top is saying it's near 100.

Is is just placement? What should I do?

Before this I had a 100 watt light bulb and the thermometer in the middle was saying it wouldn't get over 80... and at night it got to 70....

Answer 1

What you need to do is stop buying 'toy' thermometers which can be inaccurate up to 20 degrees.  You simply can't regulate your snake's heat with a strip thermometer or a little round peel and stick meter.

The snake will live a long time, so you need to invest in a good digital probe thermometer or a therm gun (after all, you'll be using it many times as you replace bulbs, clean the tank, etc.), to set accurate temperature gradients for your reptile.

I didn't see any mention of a UVB souce.  Corns are diurnal, and they need sunlight.

I'll post some links below so you can do a bit of research on the needs of your snake, and the best way to set up its habitat.

Good luck, and I hope this has been helpful.

Answer 2

honestly, a 150 watt bulb sounds like a little too mcuh for a 30 gallon tank. But you'll need a better thermometer. A thermometer stuck to the back of the tank is not going to tell you the temperatures at the bottom that the snake is feeling. you can go to Walmart and buy a digital one with a probe, or better yet, buy a temp gun. I have a temp gun and it is the best thing I ever bought to care for my reptiles. I just point it what I want to know the temp of and push the button. It is extremely accurate up to a tenth of a degree. I got mine from http://www.tempgun.com

Answer 3

scratch the lamp, go with a heat pad and leave it on 24/7. if you stay with the lamp a 40 watt or 60 watt from the supermarket or grocery store is more than enough heat( remember the lamp is really for heat only. corns  DO NOT NEED ANY SPECIAL LIGHTING . so stay away from the more costly  "reptile bulbs", they are not needed).12 hours on 12hours off is good and make sure the room there in doesnt get much colder than 70 degrees at night .

Answer 4

It could be the placement but, I'd lower it to the 100 watt.