General Care Question

Alright, thanks for the input.

One other thing that came to mind tonight, I was reading other posts on the forum and I've been researching a lot (its what I do when I'm bored) and from what I see, people who breed or have multiple snakes use plastic tubs that fit into a sort of drawer system. Right now I do use a glass 10 gallon tank, but I wonder, would he like it more in a plastic container? I can't afford the pvc for a few weeks, so I want to make sure he's as comfortable as he can be.

I got him 2 hides from reptile basics and he hasn't been out much or at all since except when I fed him today.

Tanks are just a different set of problems. Tubs often have difficultly keeping ambient temps up. Rack systems (drawer things) usually use a heated room to control ambient and cool end temps. For a single snake it seems over kill to me. There are few options to heat the cool end of a tub tanks offer more solutions that way. Humidity management isn't that hard, a humid hide during shed cycles is often all that is needed if you can hold 40-50% in the tank the rest of the time.

I've never had issues keeping ambient temps up in tubs, when I've used them separately from racks. With a solid top, they hold warm air and moisture in.

However, what I usually recommend to ball python pet owners is something no one has mentioned yet--a good quality solid-top reptile cage from a company such as boaphile or Animal Plastics. With front-opening, locking doors, they are escape proof, most models come with built-in heating, and they have a solid top which holds heat and moisture. Just add thermostat.

Much better than a tank, much prettier and more secure than a tub.

So uro seems to be confusing my hand with food, that or he just doesnt like me to much. How can I help curb this bad habbit?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Miles

So uro seems to be confusing my hand with food, that or he just doesnt like me to much. How can I help curb this bad habbit?

---

What do you mean? Describe whats happening to make you think this.

Personally I have neverbeen able to get more than two degrees over the room temp when the room temp is 60 that is a problem that cannot be easily solved with a tub. I would guess if a room temp was in the mid to high 70s it should be ok.

A snake striking fast and with drawing is usually stress related. I would just give him some peace and correct temps and leave him alone for a bit let him settle in for a week or so. They usually will calm down as long as the temps and there is correct hides. I also like to add some sort of over head cover either plants or balled up newspaper something.

He's struck at me a few times.

How do you approach him?

U can also use plexi glass to cover half the tank that keeps in humidity great for me

I approach from behind and stroke him real lightly for a few seconds till he calms down some then pick him up (both hands)

Also, today after handling Uro I noticed little black bugs on my hands. I put him back and imediatly cleaned my hands and I'm about to go purchase some 'mite off' as I'm 90% sure they're snake mites. my question now is how can I prevent them from coming back once I kill the little bastards, and the little spritz bottle, is that stuff safe to put on Uro?