How essential is heating for corn snakes?

Question

I have a corn snake hatchling, about a month old, and since we've had him he has had no heating, as the heat pad we bought didn't work. Is heating absolutely essential for a corn snake and is it important that I get one quickly? Also, from my research I have heard that corn snakes are fine with a heat pad alone, but others also say that a heat lamp is important. What exactly do I need?

Thank you for any answers!

Answer 1

Heat and humidity are very important to a reptile's health and 'happiness.'

As far as using a UTH pad alone - that's fine if it's putting out heat in a range necessary for the health of the particular snake.  Did you check it with a digital probe thermometer, or a Infrared therm. gun?  Strip thermometers are inaccurate up to 20 degrees, and can't be relied on.

What percentage is the humidity in the tank?

Is there UVB on this tank?  Your snake is diurnal and needs sunlight.

Is the other side of the tank, the 'cool side' warm enough or cool enough?  That needs to be within a specific range as well.

You won't die if your house is 40 degrees all the time, but I bet you won't be too comfortable/happy, either.

Does he have a hide, and a shallow ceramic bowl for soaking?

You should have done some homework before you got the snake, but since you haven't - it's time to knuckle-up and get it done now.  I'll post some links below to get you started on that.

Be a good owner.  The snake can't hop outta the tank and crank up the thermostat!  It's your responsibility to provide for his needs.  YOU put him in the tank.

An informed owner is a happy one with a healthy and content pet.

I hope this has been of help

Answer 2

supplemental heating is NOT essential if room temps are in the low to mid 80'sF. and never drop below 75F.  whats important is that your giving your snake   temp. variations within an acceptable range. how you accomplish this is up to you.  its  the heat that matters not so much how its provided normally this is not the case in most peoples homes, but  for most of my colubrid breeders i use no supplemental heating from the last half of spring  into early fall (snake room has reached 90f in mid summer maybe even more and has dropped to 70F at night before too.) for me to turn on the heat for a few months in fall before i cool them way down for the winter. then its back on for the  first half of spring. so thats about 4 months out of the year any extra heat is on. i hope this info helps you make your decision. remember this hobby is not an exact science its kinda like an art as well . beware computer chair/care sheet experts!  good luck!

Answer 3

a small heat pad will do fine.  any reptile needs heat to digest food properly.  so its likely that your snake wont die, and its not too urgent, but you little guy will be very unhealthy, and most likely unhappy.  

Answer 4

Yes, it needs an under tank heat mat.  You need to get one, plug it into a dimmer switch or thermostat, and get the surface on the bottom of the tank to 85F.  Use a digital probe thermometer to measure this.  Corn snakes are nocturnal (hide in the dark during the day and active at night) so they do not need any lighting of any kind.  Without adequate belly heat the snake will have a difficult time digesting food and will become ill.

http://cornsnakes.com/forums/