A few questions from a newbie.

[porangi.chris]

Hi,

Brian, my 2yr BP moved in on Friday and is now living in a wooden 4ft,2ft,2ft enclusure. I have placed a hide at each end (Bark) and am using bark chippings as substrate. I'm hoping to get some plant matter to decorate and provide further cover soon until then its just some more bark/twig type stuff.

I have some questions which I really appreciate some answers to - so here goes guys.

He seems to yawn alot - he's otherwise healthy and I don't believe the shop would have sold him if he was unwell so could this mean he is hungry? I was told not to feed him for 7 days.

I am heating the viv at one end with a ceramic heater hung from the ceiling. Directly below the temperature is just a sneak under 90 so I'm assuming it should be much cooler at the far end. However I am not adjusting the temperature on a daily basis dropping it down to 80 ish at night. Should I be? In which case is there an easy automated way? Currently Brian is spending the whole day curled up under the cool end in his hide, he's not touching the hide at the hot end but gets a little active during the late evening.

Finally how do people go about feeding the snake. Should I take him out the viv or leave him in. Am I right to defrost the mouse for 8 hours and then warm it up in a bag immursed in warm water?

What other plant matter do people recommend?

I'm sure I have thought of other questions during the last few days but this will do for starters.

Thanks in advance guys. I'll post some pics as soon as I get some.

Chris

AH - I knew I'd forgot something. How does one measure humidity????

[MATT FISHER REPTILES]

wow. that is a lot of questions lol.

humidity is measured by a guage you can get at most pet stores. i leave all my bp's in there cages when i feed but i have 50. sometimes the stress of moving them into a smaller container can stress them out to the point where they will not eat.

and your thawing methods sound good. expect i submers the rat/mouse in almost scalding hot water. that way by the time i take it to the snake it is still hot not too hot but relly warm. your cage might be a tad to big but i would need to see a pic of the snake in it before i made that assumption. how long is the snake now???

and the yawing thing is proabbly not a big deal. he may be about to shed. are his eyes black or a whiteish tint to them?

[JLC]

Welcome to BP.net!

Hi,

Brian, my 2yr BP moved in on Friday and is now living in a wooden 4ft,2ft,2ft enclusure. I have placed a hide at each end (Bark) and am using bark chippings as substrate. I'm hoping to get some plant matter to decorate and provide further cover soon until then its just some more bark/twig type stuff.

What sort of "plant matter" were you meaning to get? BP's will pretty much destroy any live plants you try to put in there. But plastic fake vines and such can work nicely. Just be sure to keep it clean.

He seems to yawn alot - he's otherwise healthy and I don't believe the shop would have sold him if he was unwell so could this mean he is hungry? I was told not to feed him for 7 days.

Yawning can be a sign of nervousness and is commonly seen in BP's that have just moved into a new home. Some RI (Respiratory Infection) signs to watch for would be him having his head propped up at an angle all the time...drooling or bubbles around his mouth...him rubbing his face up against stuff in his enclosure...and noises while breathing such as whistling, popping, or wheezing.

I am heating the viv at one end with a ceramic heater hung from the ceiling. Directly below the temperature is just a sneak under 90 so I'm assuming it should be much cooler at the far end. However I am not adjusting the temperature on a daily basis dropping it down to 80 ish at night. Should I be? In which case is there an easy automated way? Currently Brian is spending the whole day curled up under the cool end in his hide, he's not touching the hide at the hot end but gets a little active during the late evening.

I bolded the words that most concern me. Is the heater hanging down INTO the cage? If so...there is a danger of him being able to touch it and get burned. Even if it seems too high up, you'd be amazed at how far they can stretch and how well they can climb. A picture of your enclosure would help.

You need to get an accurate digital thermometer to measure both the warm side and the cool side of the enclosure. You can't make any assumptions about what the temps are. Even in a small enclosure, the warm side may not provide enough radient heat to keep the cool side warm enough.

You want a basking spot around 90-92...and the rest of the enclosure an ambient temp around 82...preferably nothing below 80. You can maintain these temps 24/7...there's no reason to offer a night-drop in temps.

Finally how do people go about feeding the snake. Should I take him out the viv or leave him in. Am I right to defrost the mouse for 8 hours and then warm it up in a bag immursed in warm water?

I, and many folks here, prefer to feed BP's within their own enclosures. If you're concerned about him ingesting some substrate, you can put a papertowel or something down under the mouse. (This obviously only works with f/t or prekilled... lol) If you defrost hours ahead of time, do it in the fridge...don't leave the rodent out on the counter overnight. Then warm it up in a bag dipped in hot tap water. (Never use boiling water or water heated in a microwave, as it may be too hot and cook portions of the rodent)

What other plant matter do people recommend?

Plastic.

AH - I knew I'd forgot something. How does one measure humidity????

A little device called a hygrometer. Don't use the plastic dials from the pet store...they don't really work. You can get a single digital unit that measure temps in two different places (warm side and cool side) AND humidity...all at once. Pretty inexpensive, at Wal Mart, Target, Home Depot or other such stores. Usually in the lawn/garden or hardware sections.

(I was interrupted while working on this post, so there may already be answers posted ahead of mine...but I'd put in this much time already so I thought I'd go ahead and finish...hope it helps!)

[crisstyle21]

Welcome Im too lazy to answer all those questions but listen to guys above me. I was gonna say the same thing but didnt feel I should just repeat what there saying. So listen!!

[porangi.chris]

Thanks for the replies guys its good to know that there is support out there.

OK so I have no need to change the temps but need to get them right from the offset. Digital business it is then and that will deal with humidity too.

Plastic artifical plants as well.

Feeding in cage - ace all sorted. I'll be going for my first feed on friday so wish me luck.

I don't think he is about to shred as his eyes are still black.

The ceramic heater is guarded and I have been watching carefully seems OK.

The viv is quite large but he is still longer than than it so I think its OK.

The funny thing is I bought him from a friend who I worked with 10 years ago. We lost contact when we both changed industry. I bumped into him in the reptile shop he now runs. He's kept snakes for 30 years now and he seemed happy with my choice of enclosure.

Do you guys use astro turf for substrate or would it be worth splitting the tank half turf/half bark.

Thanks again

Chris (and Brian)