Re: New to all of this.....LOTS OF QUESTIONS
More questions -
How do you keep the heat and humidity in w/the screen top?
What should the humidity be at?
Any other alternatives to a screen top on a glass aquarium?
Is this heating pad just crap or defective? Should I get another kind?
Is the cypress bark okay to use?
Should we use the carpet instead?
And if so...should we wait to change it....we are worried about stressing the snake out more..
If I do get an additional lamp....should I mist the tank several times daily?
Re: New to all of this.....LOTS OF QUESTIONS
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki
A couple of thoughts ...
1. It is EXTREMELY difficult to provide a proper heat gradient in a 10 gallon tank ... the dimensions don't leave much room for creating multiple "zones" of temperatures. Also, since heat rises, glass tanks with screen tops don't hold heat well at all.
2. The stick on thermometer and plastic dial are basically worthless. They have no reliable accuracy and your snake needs precision when it comes to temps.
3. Pet store employees have to be knowledgable about A LOT of different species of animals ... usually they know "just enough" about each one to skate by even in good pet stores ... a well versed, expert pet store staff is rare, but they are out there.
OK, now on to what you can do.
1. Most important ... get yourself a digital thermometer from Walmart, Target, Home Depot, etc ... it will be the best money you've ever spent on your snake ... anywere from $9 - $30.
2. If the UTH isn't working right, I would set the 10 gallon up with 2 heat lamps for now ... You'll have to play around with different wattage red bulbs, but if the 75 watt bulb is getting the one side to 92, then maybe a 25 watt red bulb can get the other side into the low 80's.
3. Keep asking questions ... you'll get there.
In the long term, you might want to research other caging options that are easier to heat as well as look into investing in a quality thermostat to hook your heating devices to, that will maintain the temperatures your snake needs automatically.
-adam
Adam -
Just realized you are in Maryland just like me.......are you going to be at the reptile show in Havre De Grace this weekend?
Re: New to all of this.....LOTS OF QUESTIONS
Humidity should be 50-60%. I used to use contact paper (but plastic wrap or anything nonporous would work well) to seal up the screen lid. Allow a hole for the lamp, and one or two small opening for good ventilation.
Cypress bark is ok. Some people use the reptile carpet and like it, others don't. I use aspen myself.
I don't know what to tell you about the heating pad. I would fiddle with the thickness of bedding and get accurate temps before deciding what is needed there.
Re: New to all of this.....LOTS OF QUESTIONS
Quote:
Originally Posted by ziggy7
Adam -
Just realized you are in Maryland just like me.......are you going to be at the reptile show in Havre De Grace this weekend?
I might be up there delivering some snakes to a customer, still trying to work that out.
What part of Maryland?
-adam
Re: New to all of this.....LOTS OF QUESTIONS
Quote:
Originally Posted by tigerlily
Humidity should be 50-60%. I used to use contact paper (but plastic wrap or anything nonporous would work well) to seal up the screen lid. Allow a hole for the lamp, and one or two small opening for good ventilation.
Cypress bark is ok. Some people use the reptile carpet and like it, others don't. I use aspen myself.
I don't know what to tell you about the heating pad. I would fiddle with the thickness of bedding and get accurate temps before deciding what is needed there.
Thanks Christie! I never thought in a million years that I'd have a snake....my son and boyfriend were dying for one and I finally gave in....funny thing is....I'm getting attached to it already......
Re: New to all of this.....LOTS OF QUESTIONS
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki
I might be up there delivering some snakes to a customer, still trying to work that out.
What part of Maryland?
-adam
Baltimore....Belair Road/Overlea area....
I looked at your website.....you've got some great looking snakes.....kinda makes me wish I had known about you before my purchase....not that I'm disappointed w/this snake.....seems to be healthy, etc....I just hate not knowing what I'm doing.....
Re: New to all of this.....LOTS OF QUESTIONS
Quote:
Originally Posted by ziggy7
Thanks Christie! I never thought in a million years that I'd have a snake....my son and boyfriend were dying for one and I finally gave in....funny thing is....I'm getting attached to it already......
They do have a way of "snaking" their ways into your heart, don't they? I started with one pet ball python. Figured that was it (this was in July). Now I have three girls coming at the end of the month and am making plans to purchase some het males for future breeding. I've been bitten bad!
Welcome to the forum, it's really one of the best places on the net with great people here to help you!
Re: New to all of this.....LOTS OF QUESTIONS
Quote:
Originally Posted by ziggy7
Baltimore....Belair Road/Overlea area....
I looked at your website.....you've got some great looking snakes.....kinda makes me wish I had known about you before my purchase....not that I'm disappointed w/this snake.....seems to be healthy, etc....I just hate not knowing what I'm doing.....
You're close ... my shop is right off of 695 in Catonsville. It's cool to meet local people ... don't worry about the snake ... you'll get there.
2 books to look for this weekend at the show ...
"The Ball Python Manual" - It's a classic and it's cheap ... covers a little bit of everything ... some parts are outdated, but it's a "must have" in any ball python owners house.
And
"The Complete Ball Python" by Kevin McCurley ... It's a little more expensive because it's a hard cover, but it covers everything you could ever want to know about keeping ball pythons. Kevin is THE MAN when it comes to ball pythons and his book ROCKS!
-adam
Re: New to all of this.....LOTS OF QUESTIONS
Quote:
Originally Posted by rabernet
They do have a way of "snaking" their ways into your heart, don't they? I started with one pet ball python. Figured that was it (this was in July). Now I have three girls coming at the end of the month and am making plans to purchase some het males for future breeding. I've been bitten bad!
Welcome to the forum, it's really one of the best places on the net with great people here to help you!
Oh wow.....I do tend to be a bit obsessive at times so it's possible I may turn into a snake person....
Re: New to all of this.....LOTS OF QUESTIONS
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki
You're close ... my shop is right off of 695 in Catonsville. It's cool to meet local people ... don't worry about the snake ... you'll get there.
2 books to look for this weekend at the show ...
"The Ball Python Manual" - It's a classic and it's cheap ... covers a little bit of everything ... some parts are outdated, but it's a "must have" in any ball python owners house.
And
"The Complete Ball Python" by Kevin McCurley ... It's a little more expensive because it's a hard cover, but it covers everything you could ever want to know about keeping ball pythons. Kevin is THE MAN when it comes to ball pythons and his book ROCKS!
-adam
Catonsville...what a small world...I grew up in Woodlawn so I'm familiar w/that area.....
I have the first book already....I'm gonna hit the library for the other one along w/the store for a decent thermometer.....
Thanks for all of your help.....I'm sure I'll be on here quite a bit w/plenty more questions......
