I am building a 4x2x2 for a Corn Snake. I plan to line the bottom with ceramic floor tile as an insulator- floor and walls. It’s all going up of my big corner desk- that I will literally attach the tile to the walls- super insulation. I was going to just use the wall, but learned that is not cool- bacteria, mold, etc. I plan to do a bioactive set up on top of that 5" substrate. I don’t want to have to buy all new expensive substrate material every month or two. I also feel that bioactive is more natural. Some guys on YT did not change out in 10 years! I will spot clean regularly.
Two (2) main questions please…
Do I need a belly heating pad?
Daytime HEAT. I will have a Halogen and thermostat (IN TANK or ON TOP- 24" away?)
More context if it helps…
I will also have a 6500k full spectrum LED for the plants. UV-B bulb too. Not sure if I need an under tank heater. It would be a pain to build since I have no bottom. I would have to build like a box inside that I could access from outside. It would be over the tile floor. Inside, what the snake would touch would probably either be glass- like a Pyrex bowl or maybe more ceramic tile. The tile should hold heat great. It will be on 3 sides+the floor. Front doors are glass and mess screen at top.
At night, it gets as low as 70F.
Although popular, I heard DHP’s don’t do much regarding UV and I prefer not to run a heater all night. I heard they also put out a little light and can dry out humidity- not as bad as ceramic.
If you’re building the enclosure, then build with a screen top and keep heat lamps outside of the enclosure. Escape artist corns are also break-in artists. I was just consoling someone who’s corn got cooked by getting inside a bulb cage.
Juveniles should not be subject to night temp drops while digesting.
Red-eyed corns should not have much UVB exposure. Corns don’t need supplemental UVB.
I love DHPs. They put out no real visible light. I mean, if you point a camera at one for a long exposure shot, you’d detect a faint glow. Your eyes wouldn’t.
I like a dry aspen enclosure with a humid hide. With diligent spot cleaning, I very seldom change out all the substrate. Less than yearly. I’ve got nothing against bioactive for corns, as long as it’s not a swamp, but I’m not interested. I also think that a novice corn keeper should get very familiar with their regular care before jumping in to bioactive. Just my opinion.
Good luck! I look forward to seeing the finished product.
My only note as a non-corn keeper is that if you plan to do this:
Make sure to consider how you will manage cleaning the enclosure or managing an emergency enclosure move if it is attached to the wall. Not talking down on your plan AT ALL, just noting that this is a good time point to make sure you make life for your future self easier, rather than harder.
Cool plan, would love to see it once it is finished!
Since tile is being considered because of the mold/rot/bacteria chances…
On top of the added weight you will also need to seal the tile somehow or you could see mold and such coming in between or behind the tiles. Grout will just add more weight. Silicone sealing will need extra cure time.
