Time to upgrade my setup

My girl is slowly outgrowing her current set up and I think I'm gonna upgrade soon. She's currently in a 20 gal long and I was told that would be sufficient for her life, but since I'm not breeding and have no reason to save space I figured I'd bump up a bit. I'm looking at the 40 gal breeders (36" x 18" x 12") and I'm also planning on switching from Repti-Bark to astroturf and getting different hides.

So what I'm really wondering is if I should treat the move to a larger cage with different substrate and hides as a "new snake" i.e. leave her alone for a week or if that isn't really an issue with an adult snake?

Also has anyone on here used astroturf and how hard is it to maintain a steady hot spot?

Like outdoor AstroTurf or the reptile carpet like stuff? Any time I move one to a different tank (tubs now :) )I don't treat them different then before but I just do what seems right for my snakes so if she's seeming stressed an that give her time to get used to the bigger space.

I plan on using straight up astro turf. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Zoom-Park-...rds=astro+turf

Except it won't be some brand name pet product. Probably going to get 2 pieces from Home Depot so I have a spare for when I'm cleaning the other one. I'm planning on switching because I have to keep the substrate shallow on the hot side so that the heat is high enough and Loki tends to push the substrate around exposing the glass and heating pad. I figure this will be cleaner, neater looking, and safer for her.

Not sure maybe someone else has used it but I never have sorry man

I made the same move just a few minutes ago. I recently switched to mostly belly heat instead of lamps. Both my boys kept pushing my shallow cypress around too so I got some reptile carpet. The "doggy mat" stuff you're looking at will probably work. Just make sure it'll hold up to your constant heat, and it's thin enough for the heat to get through.

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/...ps870e79f1.jpg

I wouldn't use regular astro turf. In my expierence with turf that is not properly laid the end will begin to fray and the backing starts to flake off. Now I have never used it with snakes though. If it was me I would use the pet specific carpet first. I would think it would be easier to clean and properly disinfect.

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Originally Posted by KMG

I wouldn't use regular astro turf. In my expierence with turf that is not properly laid the end will begin to fray and the backing starts to flake off. Now I have never used it with snakes though. If it was me I would use the pet specific carpet first. I would think it would be easier to clean and properly disinfect.

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This leads me to another question, why do I need to disinfect? I don't disinfect her bedding now and that is no more antibacterial than turf. Obviously I change her bedding after "movements" and I had planned on using that same schedule.

I had kinda figured that if turf could take 300 lb lineman falling on it, it could handle some heat and a snake. Also I'd read about people "burning" the edge of the turf so it holds together.

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Originally Posted by rpandresen

This leads me to another question, why do I need to disinfect? I don't disinfect her bedding now and that is no more antibacterial than turf. Obviously I change her bedding after "movements" and I had planned on using that same schedule.

I had kinda figured that if turf could take 300 lb lineman falling on it, it could handle some heat and a snake. Also I'd read about people "burning" the edge of the turf so it holds together.

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When your snake has a movement the carpet would need to be cleaned and disinfected. Even if it only urinates the urine will soak through the carpet and the carpet and floor will need to cleaned. I don't think regular astro turf is going to hold up to regular cleaning. But maybe. Like I said before I have not used it and personally wouldn't.