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Specific questions
Hi, Im a new to snakes and a 1st time owner.
Just bought a corn snake (named Roger) and from the morph pictures ive seen, he looks like a Normal het Lava, Charcoal, Diffusion (67% poss Anery) but i could be wrong. Young one, he's no longer than 10 inches. Heres the questions I have.
1: Heating
My apt is 24deg so around 74farenheit. I bought an undertank heater (tropical) and reptile bark substrate for my glass 20galon tank. The heater barely seems to be working.. i cant really tell the difference between the cool side and the heated (1/3 of the tank) side of the tank, on top of substrate or under the tank itself. For these reasons i bought a Sun-Glo bulb and a UVB one in case too. Im scared the tank might be too cold as i was told 75farht is the minimum temp, 85 being the higher one. your thoughts? is it fine, should i use the bulb or remove it?
2: Humidity
The reptile bark was bought moist but it seems to have dried up. Do i keep it this way or should i mist the tank every now and then to keep the humidity up?
3: Handling
Some sites suggest i should handle the snake more or less frequently.. 15mins per day or other day. Others say once per week. I have left him(her) alone now for 48 hours as shouldnt be fiddling around with him until he gets accustomed to his new home.. so once a week or every other day once he settles in?
4: Shedding
I've seen that his eyes are misty/milky.. actually bluish and silvery which according to what Ive read, means hes about to shed (once his eyes turn back to normal). Some people have suggested to bathe the snake in 75farht.. My main problem is this: I dont want to overhandle the lil dude since i just got him and he hasnt adapted yet. Should I still, if just to see whether his eyes have gone back to normal or to bathe him.
5: Feeding
I was told to feed it outside of his tank, especially with the bark around, but also not for him to associate any hand-in-tank with food.. One site said, other than pinkies, i wouldnt be a bad idea to feed him a grasshopper every now and then with the mouse. your thoughts?
6: Other
Anything else I should know about? oh! how do i know if its a make or female?
Thanks a bunch guys!! Glad to meet you and I'm going to be around regularly. have yet to post a picture of little Roger (might change if its a female)
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