Any suggestions?

[Cumminsman]

This is my set up for my BP. Just seeing if anyone would make changes. I know it's a large tank but it's all I had and I figured as long as he places to his he would like it. There is a UTH on the side with the small black hide but he seems to like being on the cold side under the rock. I have been kinda fighting with the temp and humidity but it has gotten a lot better since I put the foil on the one side. I switch between the light and the heat lamp.


Josh

[bcr229]

Is your UTH on a thermostat? If not it will get hot enough to burn your snake, which may be why he's avoiding it.

Switching to cypress mulch as a substrate will help retain humidity.

[Cumminsman]

No it's not on a thermostat. Where is the best place to get them from? I have like 3 layers of paper towels where the UTH is.


Josh

[Solarsoldier001]

You can get a dimmer at homedepot for the time being. But you can get thermostats online on Amazon for rancos. Or spiderrobotics.com for herpstats


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[The Golem]

Since you ask for suggestions:
In addition to a dimmer for the UTH to control the temp: the black hide is way too big, these snakes like to wrap into a tight ball in a small space to feel secure. And more covered areas / crawlspaces would help.

This is the $15 dimmer from Home Depot I used for the UTH (and still use for lamps) for a few months before plunking down the $$$ for a VE300:

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/cred...r-white/935870

I put a piece of tape and marked the temp so there's a baseline indicator for where it should be. Then you can check the temp of the glass inside and adjust the dimmer to ensure the temp is within the recommended range.

[PitOnTheProwl]

No it's not on a thermostat. Where is the best place to get them from? I have like 3 layers of paper towels where the UTH is.

This would explain why your snake is picking the worst hide in the tank to take refuge.
Either regulate or unplug the UTH before you cause any harm and hope you already haven't.
Paper towels don't stop the heat and your snake can burrow.
120+ degrees is not their ideal temperature, get a temp gun and either a thermostat OR dimmer and cut it back to 95 or less.

[Gio]

I bought my son a royal and we did what almost every first time buyer does; We bought a glass tank and heat lamps. Luckily I went form not being much interested in snakes to becoming very interested in them and went on to research various biological studies, and read and continue to read a great many other texts, studies of general and species specific literature.

I'm not sure the age of your royal but yes, the tank is too big. You, and more importantly the snake would benefit if you'd wrap the sides and back of the tank, preferably with some type of insulation material like reflectix. Not only will this assist with heat and humidity, it will make the tank more secure for the snake. You can certainly put a nice background wrap around it before you insulate it. It will be much more visually pleasing.

As mentioned your snake is using probably the worst hide in the tank, and it is for reasons mentioned above.

There is a thread here on how to set up a glass tank by THE SERPENT MERCHANT. I strongly recommend you read it.

Here's another little tidbit you may or may not like or be able to accomplish. We moved the royal's tank down to the basement snake room, where it is dark, and there is almost zero human or animal traffic except when I'm down feeding or observing them.

That move made a big difference in the snake's behavior. The once boring royal is out every night doing her thing and moving about which is what a nocturnal animal should do. Prior to that we'd rarely see here out.

It understandable that you may not have that option, or may want the snake in a room you are in often.

Personally, I'd look into cypress mulch substrate or coco husk. Even aspen will allow your snake to burrow if it's insecure.

There is a lot to digest here, and I could go on, but start with making that large tank as small as you can by "darkening out/wrapping" the sides like I mentioned and get the equipment others above have mentioned.

It's not difficult, and you will see improvements.

Good luck.

[Gio]

Here is an insulation option.


It looks like this, and I also recommend doing the bottom of the tank as well.



There have been modifications since this picture, but this is a 40 Gal. tank.



This is probably the most up to date shot. Eventually that tank is going away and will be replaced by a professional plastic tank like the ones on the side.



This top cage is all a royal would ever need.

Currently is houses a coastal carpet.

[Cumminsman]

First off I just want to say, you all ROCK! I never expected to get so much help. I am going to take all comments and run with it! I will post more pics as soon as I do some major changes. Again, thank you so much for all the help and comments. Sorry it took so long to reply. I operate heavy equipment for a living and work CRAZY hours.


Josh

[Gio]

First off I just want to say, you all ROCK! I never expected to get so much help. I am going to take all comments and run with it! I will post more pics as soon as I do some major changes. Again, thank you so much for all the help and comments. Sorry it took so long to reply. I operate heavy equipment for a living and work CRAZY hours.


Josh

Hey,

I was in the same position when I started. I did what the pet store told me to do and then I came here for my son's snake. I had a Herpstat II ordered the next day and made some big changes. It's not rocket science, and for the most part snakes are fairly resilient animals.

A responsible keeper can make a mistake or two, learn and go from there.

You'll get it all dialed in.

You have a great attitude and I know the snake will be in good hands.