I’ve used a wide variety of different heating sources over the years with my corn snakes, and of all the options available, I personally prefer using heat pads for reasons we will talk about further down.
Do Corn Snakes Need Heat Pads as a heat source?
No, corn snakes do not have to use heat pads or heating mats as their heat source.
You can use heating rocks, heat lamps and a variety of other heating devices on the market today.
With that being said, I have had bad experiences with other methods and I have found heating pads to be the best option.
Advantages of Using Heat Pads and Mats as a Heat Source
First off, it’s important to understand the heating needs of your corn snake. This will help us understand the pros and cons.
Corn Snakes, like all reptiles, are ectotherms.
This means they can not control their body temperature internally like we do.
They have to control their temperature using outside factors like the sun, or shade, or a warm rock, and so on.
You may have heard the phrases “warm blooded” and “cold blooded”. Corn Snakes are “cold blooded”.
There is no exact perfect temperature that a corn snake likes to be.
They like to explore and travel across a spectrum of temperatures, depending on their current mood and needs. This spectrum tends to fall within a typical range.
Corn Snake Temperature Range
A corn snake has a temperature range from 75 degrees Fahrenheit to 92 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius to 33 degrees Celsius).
This is a very broad range that changes depending on seasons and situational need.
For example, a hibernating corn snake may be comfortable at the lower end of the temperature range.
So, as the needs of the corn snake change, you can see how important it is to give it a wide range of options, to roam freely and choose it’s own temperature.
This is why many corn snake owners like to set up their vivarium in a way that has a warmer end of the tank, and a cooler end of the tank. This creates a temperature spectrum in between.
Heating pads are a perfect way to create this spectrum.
The pad goes under the tank on the “warm side” of the tank. The heating pad also needs to be temperature controlled with a thermostat.
Many heating pads come with a temperature control device.
Do not use a heating pad or any heating source without a reliable thermostat/temperature controlling mechanism.
You do not want it to get too hot!
Heating Pad vs Heat Lamp for Corn Snakes
You can technically create the desired heating range using a heat lamp, but there are some downsides to using a lamp.
The main issue is the light itself would be turning on and shutting off as the temperature controlling device tells it to. This can lead to day and night confusions with your snake.
Corn snakes need to know day and night the same way humans do.
Another concern with heat lamps is that corn snakes can get too hot or get burnt if they are able to climb up too close to it.
Heating pads and mats don’t have this issue as it’s not a light and they don’t get too hot if you are using a good thermostat.
What is the Correct Corn Snake Bulb Wattage?
If you are going to go with the lamp option, and since many people ask, I will point out that the wattage of bulb for corn snakes is 40-60 Watts.
Heating Pad vs Heating Rock for Corn Snakes
I have used heating rocks in the past and I did not really like it. I found that it did not do an adequate job of creating a good temperature spectrum in the tank.
To be fair, it could have just been the specific type or brand I was using and perhaps there is better technology these days.
I also found the heating rock to be annoying to clean. The corn snakes would poop on the rock and the heated rock would heat up the poop and dry it onto the rock.
In Summary
There is much debate in the corn snake world when it comes to heating, and many other things in general.
Many people swear by heat pads, and others are doing just fine with heat lamps. Both sides will conclude that their way is the best way.
Ultimately, it is your decision.
The best way to make this decision is to learn as much as you can about corn snakes and their natural environment, then apply common sense.
As a general rule of thumb, always give your corn snake as much space as possible, with as many different options as possible.
This includes temperature choices, as well as other things like hiding options.
One thing I learned later on in my corn snake owning journey, was to give more complex choices to my pet snakes.
For example, if the water is on the cooler end, and the hideout rock is on the warmer side, they only have 2 choices. Do I want to be warm and hidden, or cool and vulnerable.
You should consider things like a hiding option on both ends.
The more you start to think in this way, the more you will be better equipped to make these better decisions for your pet snake.
