Is my corn snake going to die?

Question

my heat bulb went out and i cant get on into tomorrow....so i put a regaular light bulb....and its really bright but i cant turn it off at night because it will get so cold but i know night time is when he comes out but with that light hes not goin to kno its night time......

i put a light bulb in it just because it gives off alittle heat...do you think he will be ok into tommorow

Answer 1

yes he will live

dont worry its just a night

Answer 2

your snake should be fine as if it was in the wild it would have cold night but still it would not be used to of cold night but i think he/she would be OK hopefully i would take the normal light out though as it may heart his skin

good luck =)

Answer 3

no just if you dont get it by his feeding day he might not eat.

Answer 4

He should be O.K

Answer 5

Corn snakes digest by warming up with belly heat.  They should always have an under tank heater.  They are nocturnal so they do not need lights of any kind.  The heating pad needs to be controlled with a thermostat (they sell them for this purpose) or a dimmer switch (found at hardware stores for lamps).  Measure surface temps under substrate with a digital probe thermometer.  It should read 85F.  Place the mat under one end of the tank only.  For more advice, join the forums at:

http://cornsnakes.com/forums/

Answer 6

ya,

it will be more then ok lol

mine doesn't even use a lamp or anything it usually warm inside so when we turn the ac's on i close the door a lil and at nightime i put my celing fan on in the winter it's next to the heater it is there now but the heat is off lol

Answer 7

Snakes like to cool off at night especially corn snake. They are very hardy snakes and he should be fine 1 or 2 days without a light at night. He only needs the light during the day, 12 hours on 12 hours off. You may want to get a heating pad for under half the tank make sure to check the temperature on the glass to ensure your snake doesn't get burned, that is why we recommend heating pads you can control the temperature where as an under tank heater can get very hut and hard to adjust.

Answer 8

i would turn off the light one night wont kill it they have cold nights in the wild unless you live in alaska or sumthin the light will probably stress it out being on all night

Answer 9

Number one, your corn snake is NOT a wild animal, and it's not used to "cold nights in the wild."  There's a reason wild snakes don't tend to live nearly as long as captive snakes do.  The snake's temperature has most likely been closely regulated since it was hatched in an incubator (not under leave debris in the wild).

It won't hurt him to go a night without heat if the room temperature is 70 degrees or above.  His water will get quite chilly, though, and I'd recommend removing his water bowl within an hour of turning off the light, until you can get a new heat source for him.

Be careful of the wattage on the regular bulb you're using, and use a thermometer to check the floor temperature (where the snake dwells) under the light.  Raise the lamp, or lower it (whichever is needed), to obtain a temperature between 80-85 degrees.

If you'd feel better leaving the light on, you can create a 'night cycle' for the tank by covering it with a dark scarf (thin material, which will permit good air flow, and not greatly reduce the heat).

I'm posting my "Basic Corn Snake Information" for you here.  I hope you find it of some help.

You will find many suggestions for corn snake care.  A lot of it is contradictory.  It's always a good idea to research an animal before you obtain it.  Once you obtain the reptile, I would strongly recommend that you have it examined by a qualified/reputable reptile vet to make sure its healthy and disease/parasite free.  Any contradictory information you have discovered can also be resolved by your vet.

You will want to use a substrate for your corn snake. I prefer Carefresh bedding.  There are many sites you can google for cornsnake care, and alternate substrates. Never use woodchips (pine or cedar, etc., they can control oils dangerous to your snake).

A good UVB strip light will provide vitamins and keep his colors vibrant. These can produce heat (but don't get as hot as a basking light). Keep it on the hot side of his tank and monitor the temp. on the floor where the snake dwells, to make sure it's not too warm for it.

You can take your corn snake outdoors for short periods and some direct sun (never put it on the ground - hold it) if the temp. is over 70 and no warmer than 80. The snake will overheat easily, so be mindful of how much sun/heat its getting.

You'll want to keep the hot end of his tank around 80-85 degrees. You can achieve this with an under tank heater, but you'll need to use a rheostat to adjust the temp. of the pad, and a good thermometer or thermometer gun to read the actual temperature of the glass. Strip thermometers just are not accurate. The cool end of the tank should be about a ten degree difference.

Humdity is important. You'll want to keep it around 60%. It should be increased to 70 % during his pre- and shed periods. You'll need a spray bottle mister, or a cool steam steamer. Use distilled water (this won't leave spots on the glass like hard water will).

The snake should have a hide on both sides of the tank so that it is able to feel secure as it moves around to adjust its body temperature. Also use commercially purchased products (no limbs/mulch from outdoors as mites/parasites/mold, etc can be present, and cause your snake problems). It will need something rough (a ceramic climbing limb, or rough bark hide) to rub on while shedding.

You'll need to provide a shallow ceramic bowl which is large enough for the snake to crawl in and soak before it sheds. Make sure this doesn't get too warm (keep it closer to the cool end of his habitat). Keep the water clean, and disinfect the bowl if the snake illiminates in it. Change the water frequently (3-4 times a week). Since the snake will enter the bowl to soak; only fill it about half way with declorinated water.

Once every 3-4 weeks, you will want to strip the habitat down, and discard the bedding.  Disinfect the tank with a 50/50 bleach/water solution (make sure you rinse everything very well, and dry/air it before setting up again). Clean all the ceramic limbs, and follow the manufacture's instructions for baking wooden hides in the oven.

Of course, there's the normal maintenance cleaning. Remove any fecal waste when your snake illiminates and all the soiled bedding around it.

I would strongly recommend that you only feed frozen prey. Live prey can seriously injure your snake and create expensive vet bills. Always be sure the prey item is brought up to room temperature before feeding. The organs thaw the slowest, so carefully feel for cool spots before feeding (there should be none).

Feeding your snake dead prey can be easier, and reduce the risk of the snake striking you accidently, if you invest in reptile tongs (these look like tweezers, only a foot long).

For more information, you can google corn snakes, and follow all the links provided.

I hope this has been helpful.

Answer 10

He should be fine. Corn snakes are native to the southern United States and the temperatures can dip pretty low at night. They are nowhere near as sensitive to temps as some of the more tropical snakes are. As long as he's not currently digesting food I wouldn't worry about it. I would be more worried about the regular light bulb giving off too much heat (unless you have a thermostat hooked up to it, which you should no matter what). Plus he probably wouldn't appreciate a light being on all night. :)

Answer 11

ya h**l be perfectly fine but get the light fast or h**l will get sick

Answer 12

Your snake will be fine, if it gets cold he will just get a little lethargic, if you are extremely worried about the temperature, put a heating pad under the tank so he will have a hot spot. I would turn off the normal light bulb, the light will just cause dirstress because his body does have an inner timer telling him when to be active.