You could then use a rheostat to “dial down” the output of your heat lamp or other heating device. After all, they get exposure to UVB light from the sun when they live in the wild. Your goal is to duplicate this in captivity, by using a heat lamp or some other kind of supplemental heating device. Aiicioo makes excellent pet products and their ceramic heat lamp creates a natural sun-like heat with no light. Test the temperature of the basking spot with a thermometer. Kenyan Sand Boa Cage Question – Heating the Cage. The idea here is to create a temperature range or “gradient” within the snake’s cage, as we’ll discuss below. A corn snake needs a vivarium which allows it to fully stretch out. If there’s absolutely no heat, however, then you should take them out and handle them since your body heat can also be a source for them. It is vital that the snakes have access to cooler areas. Corn snakes should have roughly 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark each day. Plug the heat lamp into a timer and then plug the timer into the wall. If you do not have a lamp they do make rocks that I have heard does work. It is best to choose one end of the tank as the basking spot, and then leave the other end of the tank as the cool, unheated spot. Their purpose is to supply heat. For one thing, it makes the habitat look more attractive and brings out the beautiful colors of your snake. Once you’ve done that, you can monitor your corn snake’s behavior to see if you need to adjust the temperature range. Depending on your snake you will need a heat lamp. Okay, so you need a heat lamp or mat or something for your corn snake cage, to create the ideal temperature range. is this true? There are a few more things you have to know about snakes . Which method you use is a secondary concern. Heat lamps have been used in the past with corn snakes but they are not a suitable as heat mats. Let’s start with the basics. The heat lamp should be kept at least 12 inches from the bottom of the enclosure. Plug the heat lamp into a timer and then plug the timer into the wall. So you have to provide an alternative source of heat for your snake. Can a Ball Python Kill an Adult Human or a Child? This is a common question among first-time snake keepers, and rightfully so. Get the right sized tank for your snake. They mostly inhabit open woods, forest clearings, and forest edges. But they absolutely need some kind of heat. For example, if your snake spends all of its time on the cool side, the warmer side might be a bit too hot. I've heard they need a heat pad for digestion, and only some people say that you have to have a heat lamp? I think it will be more natural for the snake, since the only source of heating in nature for him is the daily sunlight! Although they have been proven to be effective at keeping the snakes alive and reproducing, they’re not optimal. So, do you need to use a heat lamp on the cage? If you are concerned about “belly heat,” here’s some good news: the branch will naturally absorb warmth from the heat lamp, warming the snake from below when it sits on it. Attach your heat lamp to the snake's terrarium. A word of caution though. You can measure the temperature inside the cage with an adhesive stick-on thermometer strip, or even better by using a temperature gun. If you use an under tank heating pad you do not need the heat lamp. On the other side, we have UV-spectrum light bulbs that are specifically designed to give off UVA and (more importantly) UVB rays. The short answer: Like all reptiles, corn snakes need some kind of supplemental heat when housed in captivity. Corn snakes are relatively inactive snakes, who don’t need particularly large enclosures. Personally, I use the new Arcadia Deep Heat Projector (DHP) for all my snake setups. Generally speaking the best corn snake heating is likely to consist of two parts: a heat lamp to create a suitable basking spot and a heat mat to produce a gentle background temperature. Heat Lamps for Snakes | THE TRUTH!! Some reptiles cannot live without UVB lighting. Published on Nov 7, 2017. Can I take my pet snake to the store to let him sample which kind of mouse he likes better.