Data

[kwjones001]

Still no snakes, but we've been doing a lot of research. I'm getting the "reptile room"/office set up. It currently houses a Russian tortoise and a leopard gecko. I've got an Accurite Indoor/Outdoor thermometer/hygrometer for the room, and individual probes for the gecko's 20 gallon long enclosure. How often do you log temp/humidity data for each enclosure and ambient air? Is there a IOT sensor that people are using to automatically record the data?

Ideally I want to set up a heavy duty 6' long wire shelving rack over the tort's enclosure so I can hang his UVB light better and grow greens/weeds for him on the next shelf up. We're still planning on getting my daughter a BP. It would be easier (cheaper?) if she liked the same morphs my wife and I do. I think she still has her heart set on an ivory. We have reptile expos in the area for the next two weekends and then Repticon Baltimore is Memorial day weekend. My wife also likes corn snakes and hognose snakes. We think it may be a decent idea to get one of those as well in case the BP decides to skip a meal. Do you log how often you attempt to feed and feed weight? How often do you record your snake's weight?

Since I'm looking at a 6' x 2' shelves, I could fit a 40 gallon and 20 long...maybe 2 40 gallon breeders sizes on the shelf above the tortoise greens. Top shelf will be for tubs of supplies. Ambient air temp has been around 72 at night and up to 79 in the afternoon as long as the door stays closed. Humidity is still around 30%, which has me looking at a humidity controller to hook up one of our ultrasonic room humidifiers. The gecko has a humid hide, and the tortoise likes to bury himself in the substrate.

What other data should be logged for husbandry? Is there an app that is commonly used to collect and combine all of the environmental and husbandry data?

Quaranting question...obviously, my set up is less than ideal for a quarantine set up. What are some suggestions for people if they don't physically have the room to quarantine? What kind of precautions can I take? I have hand sanitizer in there already that has to be used before and after touching the gecko and tort.

[Lord Sorril]

How often do you log temp/humidity data for each enclosure and ambient air?

If thermostats are regulating heating elements for your room/enclosures then your logs should show steady temperatures-then there is no need. If you are messing with the rooms humidity then you definitely want to track that on a daily basis. Too much humidity will get you in a lot trouble fast.

Do you log how often you attempt to feed and feed weight?

Most people will weigh their snakes regularly after they expel the bulk of their last meal. I personally don't weigh my ball pythons. There are feeding charts and percentages you can use if you know the weight of the snake--since I feed prey items on the small side-I am not concerned about overfeeding. I will weigh a snake regularly if I suspect is has some sort of medical condition.

maybe 2 40 gallon breeders sizes on the shelf above

I did something similar for a while. Even being 6' tall it was a stretch to clean the 40 gallon on the shelf above.

Ambient air temp has been around 72 at night and up to 79 in the afternoon as long as the door stays closed.

I assume each enclosure will have its own heating elements: 72F is too cool for a ball python without one. You will want ambient around 78F minimum. Don't go cheap on the thermostats (Herpstat/VE's are recommended).

Humidity is still around 30%, which has me looking at a humidity controller to hook up one of our ultrasonic room humidifiers. The gecko has a humid hide, and the tortoise likes to bury himself in the substrate.

Snakes will use humid hides as well. It might be easier than adding humidity to the entire room.

Quaranting question...obviously, my set up is less than ideal for a quarantine set up. What are some suggestions for people if they don't physically have the room to quarantine?

You can use a Sterilite bin with holes melted/drilled for ventilation on the top and sides, a UTH on a rheostat (thermostat preferable), and a CHE on a thermostat. Put the bin in a closet (put bungee cords around it if the top is not secure), and turn on the closet light during the day. Remember: there should be no sharing husbandry items between snakes inside vs. outside quarantine until you are satisfied there is nothing that will be transmitted to your main reptile colony. You are looking for any behavior/physical abnormality/odd excretion that does not appear normal.

[kwjones001]

In saltwater aquariums, a lot of people will set up automation and monitoring systems that will alert them of any changes, control lighting, temp, water flow water chemistry, and the list keeps going. I don't know if something like that exists in the reptile community. If it doesn't, that's fine. I can try to cobble something together that does the same thing, but why reinvent the wheel if you don't have to. I just need to know what sort of things need to be monitored on a regular basis. Temp, humidity, feeding, weight, overall health, etc., seem like good starting places. When things go bad, or even good, having that kind of data for someone else to look at can be valuable.

Right now I'm using an Inkbird style thermostat for the gecko's UTH. My thinking for tracking encosure temp/humidity data is it could show problems with equipment going out. Maryland's weather is...weird. Desert dry in the winter and super humid in the summer. The slightly OCD side of me thinks everything should be rock steady and never change, the other side of me says it changes all the time in the natural environment and some change is OK.

Snakes will more than likely be in glass terrariums with UTH and CHE. I would prefer the front opening style like Exo-Terra or Repti-Zoo. I know the drawbacks, but we prefer them visually. I've looked at the Herpstats online. It looks like you need at least a Herpstat 2 to control both temp and humidity in a single enclosure, or control temp or humidity for multiple enclosures. My wife has expensive taste in animals, but I'm not sure I can get her to spring for a Herpstat 4 or 6.

[dakski]

I use sensorpush sensors in all my tanks for temp and humidity monitoring and their wifi gateway to check when I am not home. I've read of remote thermostats, but that can get crazy expensive and also difficult as although ambient air temps can change, depending on what heating elements you are using, ground temps can change less. IR temp guns are the best for reading ground temps and that is what you should go with.

I always have someone home or close if things get really out of whack, but I don't worry too much as I have redundant thermostats on all my tanks. More worried about temps dropping usually than rising, but I look for consistency within a range. I like the humidity reading as well especially for snakes, most of whom like decent humidity.

Sensorpush is sold on amazon and has a free app.

https://amazon.com/SensorPush-Wirele...s%2C147&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.com/SensorPush-G1...XN0C9RRNJFNT4M

[Midwest]

I just have a small temp/humidity display with probes in the tank. I always take a glance at them when I walk in the room. Then at least once a day I lift both hides and check the floor surface temps with a digital thermometer gun. I don't keep any logs or anything. I just adjust accordingly from what I see each day. I have only had to adjust things once or twice since November. I had the set up up and running for a couple weeks before we bought the BP so I had it where I wanted it when he came home.