Uri New Snake Owner

[slabbed69]

Ok its seems I posted in the wrong listing for my previous question how much is to much soaking.. my bp soaks alot during the day he did not do that until he starting getting that milky color is in eyes which means he will shed soon.. so is that normal here iis his set up and a couple of pictures of him the butter bucket has a 1/4 inch of water in it and during the day he sits in there and comes to his log hide at night 92 on basking 80 on cool side day and night

the pink bowl keeps a skim of water and the rock in the middle is usually inside the pink bowl from keeping it from tipping.. he uses a 100 w red light for heat and heating pad for belly warmth i just cleaned his cage thats why its in my truck


This next pictures it was actually pitchblack i took my camera and flash and wanted to see what he was doing it was also a couple of minutes after i just put him back in the cage thats why temp is a bit low..


my son is holding him in this one :-)

[disabled.101]

Get an acu-rite to properly measure the temps. Also I would replace the hides they seem way to large for him. Cover up the sides and back of the tank in order to provide him with more security. How are you measuring the humidity? (the Acu-rite solves this as it measures humidity)

Cute python though

How are you controlling the lamp and the UTH by the way? If you aren't you need to get a thermostat. Until the thermo-stat arrives dimmer switches will do the job.

[zantedeschia]

I would say he's not soaking so much as he's hiding. Heh. Heh cause I'm the one who says don't listen to these guys, work with what you got, but I think you could do a lot better.

IMO get rid of the log hide, get rid of the rocks and get rid of the pink water bowl.

I like the exo-terra hides http://www.google.com/products?clien...ed=0CB0QrQQwAg But other people will tell you that you can cheaply make a hide out of plastic water bowls, small litterboxes, etc. Or you can cut a door in the side of you butter dish, turn it upside down. Better to have 2 hides.

As for non-tippable water dishes, I like the kind you can stick in a corner http://www.google.com/products/catal...CB0Q8wIwBTgA#p but people will tell you that you can get a cheap glass bowl at the dollar store, it will do just as well.

I'll see about getting pics of both my python cages, give you an idea.

[Nuzum1978]

I too recommend the Accurites for temp/humidity. Get 'em at WalMart for $7-12. Ditch the log. I had one when I first got mine and she prefers something much more enclosed. I say cut the bottom of the butter bowl, flip it over, and make a door. Give 'em one on the warm end and one on the cool end.

You should also check/read up on mites. Snakes soak if they have them.

[Kaorte]

I agree that your snake is picking the hide that he likes better, not trying to soak. If you have more of those plastic containers, I would suggest using those for hides. Flip them over and cut a small entrance in the side. I use plastic bowls from the dollar store (4 for $1!!). Easy to clean and very cheap. Just loose the log "hide" it provides no real cover for your snake.

Also, You need some accurate thermometers. Those stick on things are generally off by 10* in both directions. The accurite weather station from the home depot, lowes, or walmart is about $12 and measures hot side, cool side, and humidity.

Since I bet you don't have a thermostat or rheostat controlling the under tank heater, keep with the repti carpet until you get one. You 100% need something controlling the UTH or else it will cause burns to your animals. Once you get the thermostat and proper thermometers you can use a different substrate. Repti carpet is good for animals that leave small droppings...but ball pythons poop pretty big. Which means it is going to be hard to clean that carpet every time your snake craps. I personally like paper towels or aspen.

Also, you don't really need the rocks over the UTH. It would be preferable to put a hide over the UTH as that is where they will spend most of their time.

[zantedeschia]

Okay here are pics of my setups. As you can see they're minimalistic, snakes don't need much. I've got 2 heat sources and I put in the damp moss to boost the humidity. I had just fed everyone so I didn't drag any of them out for picture taking.

Charade's tank is way too big, it was given to me. I keep saying I'll replace it one of these days. 300g and he takes 2 adult mice! He's got the medium exo-terras. It doesn't show but there's cypress on the left side also for boosting humidity.



Paradox has the large exos. I had gotten an XL for him but turned out to be too big. Wood is so they have something rough to rub on when they shed. I know ambient is reading 80 but I have an overhead lamp on the right side and the UTH on the left side warms it up a few degrees too.



Enigma's cage to show the corner water dish and how much you can shove into a 10 gallon. He's got aspen/cypress substrate cause he didn't seem to like the paper all that much. Tho with him, it's really hard to tell, he doesn't act like any of the other snakes. The corns and pythons strike immediately upon feeding, Enigma's like, oh a mouse? I'll get to it later. Waits for it to come to him then strikes faster and harder than any of the others. I also give him a paper towel tube for a second hide, took him out of it to feed him. His second heat source is a t-rex UTH that slides under.

[slabbed69]

update... he shed in a full piece.. he also has not been in that hide since he is out and about and active i guess it had to do with him shedding but im going to take a couple of the suggestions given on the forum and redo his cage