New to the forums, and BPs, help please!

Ranco's or Johnson's thermostat's rock!!! They work great!


Also, plugging two different types of heating device into the same thermostat will cause problems... the heating devices have to be of the same wattage for the thermostat to work effectively.

Work on getting those temperatures measured accurately (and at floor level) and tweak them until you get a warm side of about 92 degrees.

You don't really need a 'tree', but watch very closely that the basking temperatures don't burn your snake. (especially with that heat lamp)

I have a couple questions. How long have you had your snake (do you know how old too) and what type of 'hidey hole' do you have? You want small dark hides.

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

Work on getting those temperatures measured accurately (and at floor level) and tweak them until you get a warm side of about 92 degrees.

You don't really need a 'tree', but watch very closely that the basking temperatures don't burn your snake. (especially with that heat lamp)

I have a couple questions. How long have you had your snake (do you know how old too) and what type of 'hidey hole' do you have? You want small dark hides.

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I've had the snake now for 4 days, and she is 3 weeks old. I got her from a snake rescue center that bought them from a reptile show in the area. The women (who runs the snake rescue center) gave me a vet paper passing her with a clean bill of health, and she's had no problems with her.


She's very active- it's almost odd though, while everyone says not to handle new snakes very much, she seems 100% more active when handled, and seems to HATE her tank. She always sulks and wont move for hours on end in her tank.

I fed her yesterday and haven't disturbed her at all, and since feeding she's soaker herself once.




An update though: I took out the basking light, unplugged and everything and switched it back to a 50 watt bulb. I also returned the log-thing, and placed an identical hidey-hole as the other one. I also removed the stick on hygrometer, and thermometer, and replaced both of them with digital ones, so I have 2 digi. therms.- one for each side of the tank, and one hygrometer for it as well.

Her hidey-hole is provides a great shelter for her, it's made of resin and is insanely dark in there, and by how she acts to it- quite snug, too. Its just the right size for her, not too big, and like I said, very dark. It has two entrances for her, one smaller than the other, but bother pretty much on the same side.

It looks like a pile of rocks, but not exactly REAL rocks. She likes is very much though, so I'm happy for her for that.

Awesome! Got any pics???


In any case, snakes don't sulk. They don't have emotions that we as humans define them. BPs are not very active snakes... they spend 90% of their time curled up inside their hide, digesting food or sleeping, and they're perfectly happy with that.

When you get her out, she becomes active because she's trying to get away to a darker, tighter, safer spot. Natural instinct.


Any pics yet? :D LOL, we love pics around here dude!

EDIT: Just reread the post... please follow the no holding for a week rule, even if you've already broken it---start over. She will settle down faster, eat better, and be happier for it. It's hard, we know.... but worth all the perks in the end!!!

Alright, starting today, no handling. her tank is set, everything is perfect, so here we go.

Also- on the cooler side of her cage it reads 81 degrees right now. That's also the side with the ventilation. should I make the hole smaller, so it retains more heat over there, or is it fine as is?

The hot side is right now 93.5 degrees, and getting cooler, and the hygrometer reads 57%.


I think the cool side will heat up a little more as well as raise the hygrometer if it close the top up a little more.... any suggestions?

3 weeks old? :O WOW that is a baby! I'd definitely work on establishing a good feeding routine, and limit handling sessions. I agree with Lynn. The activity you're seeing is likely more due to stress and a flight mechansim. I'm not saying NO handling (after the initial settling in period), but definitely watch for stress in the form of extreme activity or a refusal to eat.

You can also use the heat lamps, if necessary by raising it's distance from the top of the tank with a clamp. (again IF necessary)

Good luck with your new baby. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Thedotw

I've had the snake now for 4 days, and she is 3 weeks old. I got her from a snake rescue center that bought them from a reptile show in the area.

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She was "rescuing" them from a reptile show?

I am new to the forums too. I have set my tank up in the same way you have. I hav the tin-foil on the top and have on one end a 75 watt light bulb and a big watering bowl and a hide, on the other end she also has a hide and a climbing limb. I went and bought a Mozilla digital thermometer and hydge. Her temp's range at 84 when the light is on and 70 when the light is off at night. Her humidity runs at 51 to 55% when light is on and shoots up to around 67-75% at night when the light is off. I have had absolutely no problems with her. She has shed one time since I have had her and it was in 1 piece. I live near a dam, and went and got 2 small rocks for her to help during shedding.

:taz:

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Originally Posted by brelea79

I am new to the forums too. I have set my tank up in the same way you have. I hav the tin-foil on the top and have on one end a 75 watt light bulb and a big watering bowl and a hide, on the other end she also has a hide and a climbing limb. I went and bought a Mozilla digital thermometer and hydge. Her temp's range at 84 when the light is on and 70 when the light is off at night. Her humidity runs at 51 to 55% when light is on and shoots up to around 67-75% at night when the light is off. I have had absolutely no problems with her. She has shed one time since I have had her and it was in 1 piece. I live near a dam, and went and got 2 small rocks for her to help during shedding.

:taz:

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You might want to consider a red 'reptile' bulb that you can leave on 24/7. 70 is a bit too cold. I do keep the majority of my collection at the 92 warm side and 82 cool side, I do have one that I am using VPI's technique of a constant ambient temp of 80 degrees. (she was being a pain in my butt not eating, but after 2 days she ate like no one's business)

Congrats on the first shed.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

She was "rescuing" them from a reptile show?

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I dont question her. :P


She said she bought them for like 3 bucks each (Her and a brother who was gone before I got there) from a guy who was breeding snakes. There were a bit too many for him to take care of so he set up shop and was selling a few at the show.

Other than what she said, I have no idea of the particulars.




BUT ALSO:

She's definitly far from not eating. when I fed her (yesterday) she didnt just lunge at the pinky, but she ripped it from the tongs I was feeding her with. She devoured it in like 10 seconds flat.


that brings me onto a question though- how do I know to up her much she eats, and when to switch to fuzzies?