Rack husbandry

[Daigga]

I'm finally about to make use of my rack, and I have some last minute husbandry questions.

1. Do I need to provide a hide in the rack tubs, or no? I'm using sterilite 41qt's, the measurements are about 35"L by 16"W by 6"H

2. How much substrate should be used? I have about an inch of loosely packed (read: dumped and spread) zoomed shaved aspen. More, less, or fine?

3. How often should I mist to maintain humidity? I have 3 small holes on the front and back of the tubs with 2 on each side. I'm a stickler about my humidity levels since I've had problems with sheds in the past.

4. I picked up some nice heavy ceramic water bowls at the dollar store. Does it matter that they're patterned? They're big enough for an adult to comfortably coil around, they were quite the deal, and I find them charming. This is a silly question, but I really want to be sure I do this right.

With the current set up and a very fresh mist, The ambient temperature in the tubs is around 80, the hot spot is 90, and the humidity is hovering around 80-90% though I just misted the bedding about 15 minutes ago and I'm expecting it to drop some.

This last part is kind of unrelated, but how long do I wait to feed a new snake again? I'm getting a new snake tomorrow with the day after being feeding day though I'm not planning on offering him anything for another week at least, but I've had my new baby since Thursday and I don't remember exactly how long I should wait. I'm leaving on business tomorrow so my husband will be taking care of my snakes, but I'd really prefer to get some food in the little one before I go.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

I'm finally about to make use of my rack, and I have some last minute husbandry questions.

1. Do I need to provide a hide in the rack tubs, or no? I'm using sterilite 41qt's, the measurements are about 35"L by 16"W by 6"H

It really depends more on your snakes. Some of the snakes I kept in racks did better with hides, some didn't seem to care.

2. How much substrate should be used? I have about an inch of loosely packed (read: dumped and spread) zoomed shaved aspen. More, less, or fine?

Fine

3. How often should I mist to maintain humidity? I have 3 small holes on the front and back of the tubs with 2 on each side. I'm a stickler about my humidity levels since I've had problems with sheds in the past.

This is a case of trial and error.

4. I picked up some nice heavy ceramic water bowls at the dollar store. Does it matter that they're patterned? They're big enough for an adult to comfortably coil around, they were quite the deal, and I find them charming. This is a silly question, but I really want to be sure I do this right.

LOL! No, your snakes won't mind. Well, unless they are very ugly water bowls - then they might

With the current set up and a very fresh mist, The ambient temperature in the tubs is around 80, the hot spot is 90, and the humidity is hovering around 80-90% though I just misted the bedding about 15 minutes ago and I'm expecting it to drop some.

This last part is kind of unrelated, but how long do I wait to feed a new snake again? I'm getting a new snake tomorrow with the day after being feeding day though I'm not planning on offering him anything for another week at least, but I've had my new baby since Thursday and I don't remember exactly how long I should wait. I'm leaving on business tomorrow so my husband will be taking care of my snakes, but I'd really prefer to get some food in the little one before I go.

You can wait a week or so for it to settle in, but it also wouldn't hurt to offer food right away. I would suggest quarantining the new snake though.

[200xth]

Depending on individual snake preferences, you may need to add hides. When mine were hatchlings in their big tubs I had 2 or 3 hides. As they got older some still seemed to prefer having hides, some don't care anymore.

You'll need to mist as often as required to keep your humidity where you want it. Alternatively, you can provide a humid hide for the snake.

Ball pythons hate water bowls with patterns on them. But who cares, what do they know about decorating anyways?

You can try feeding a new BP whenever you want. Some people wait a week. I always offer mine the day or day after I get them just to see how their response is. If they don't eat, they wait til the next scheduled feeding. Most of them eat the first day from what I have seen. However, I think it's personal preference. Waiting a week has no real downside, so if you choose that route you'll be fine.

EDIT: I type too slow. I could have just agreed with the post above had I seen it before I started.

[Darkbird]

1. Some do and some don't. I don't, but if you have them anyway, it certainly won't hurt.
2. Should be fine, you'll find they move it around some anyway.
3.Your going to be the only one really able to answer this, depends too much on environmental factors outside the tub, number and size of vent holes, etc.
4. They don't care what they look like, as long as they get to shove them around and occasionally dump a bit of water. At least that's what mine seem to like.

As for the feeding, I've had some that would eat the day they got home, the next day, or not for 3 months. Generally it a good idea to let them settle for a week, then try feeding.

Edit: Or I could have waited and just +1 on what the faster typers said, lol.

[mandalorian]

Do you mind posting a picture of the water bowls you bought from the dollar store? Also, how much are they. thanks

[Eric Alan]

...bowls you bought from the dollar store...how much are they...

Is it just me?

[bcr229]

Is it just me?

LOL some "Dollar Stores" sell items where the prices are even dollars, not a dollar per item (or items).

[Eric Alan]

[Daigga]

These are them, water bottle for scale. They were only a dollar each, and they just happened to have exactly 7 (the number of slots in my rack ).