🐍 Snake Keeping
Heating Wattage Selector
Heat source size by enclosure dimensions.
Gear actually worth buying
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Reptile thermostat (proportional)A proportional thermostat (Herpstat, Inkbird) prevents overheating — essential for any heat mat or lamp setup. On/off thermostats cause dangerous temperature swings.
Digital thermometer/hygrometerA dual probe thermometer (warm side + cool side) is the minimum setup. Inkbird and Govee have accurate sensors at low cost. Analog dial thermometers are not precise enough.
Under-tank heat matZoo Med and Zilla heat mats are the standard for colubrids (corn snakes, king snakes, ball pythons). Always use with a thermostat — never plug directly into the wall.
Hide boxes (warm and cool side)Two hides minimum — one on the warm side, one on the cool side. Snakes that can't hide become stressed. Exo Terra plastic hides or simple cork bark both work.
Frozen feeder mice (small/medium)Frozen/thawed mice are safer than live prey (no bite injuries) and easier to store. Rodent Pro and RodentPro supply consistent sizes. Thaw in warm water, not microwave.