Pat the baby biak green tree python

Trade you! Mine just sits there all day in a tight little coil.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SDA

Trade you! Mine just sits there all day in a tight little coil.

---

Lol nope :D I think i got lucky with my first GTP(knock on wood). Pat seems to be settled in and has ramped up his feeding drive by about 100%. Today was his 4th feeding and i almost got bit by the little bugger. He was sleeping in his favorite little plant. So i held the little fuzzy mouse around the front of his face outside of the plant. He didnt respond so i touched it to a spot on him i found. He moved and buried his head. So then i went to rub him with a Q-Tip thinking he might be asleep. Well yup he was asleep but he woke up when he smelled the mouse and came flying out of the plant about an inch from grabbing my hand lol. He then hung there coiled and ready. I picked up his little mouse on the forceps and before i even got it to him, he lashed out and grabbed it and wrapped it while hanging off his plant. He has gone from the nice little well mannered eater to a mouse beast lol. And he doesnt even bother killing the mice. This is the second one that he just ate while it squeaked going down. Definitely going to switch to FT once he is up t hopper mice as i dont want any accidents.

VERY NICE pick up John - you beat me to another benchmark snake - I better get my pennies together for my BHP before you get one. LOL

Aw little cutie best wishes with her. Makes me want to give green trees another chance. Maybe later in life.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BR8080

VERY NICE pick up John - you beat me to another benchmark snake - I better get my pennies together for my BHP before you get one. LOL

---

Hahaha too funny. I was actually talking to the reptile gal last week and she was trying to figure out what i would get next. She guessed Woma since i've been on a python kick with Caesar and now Pat but i told, if i got another python, it would be either a Black Head or a Sorong or Jayapura cross. I want that sweet blue stripe.

I'm sure you will beat me though. I am pretty well tapped atm and i dont see a new snake in my future for at least 6 months or more.

And thanks. I was worried Pat was going to be a problem feeder etc but he is turning out to be a well settled little garbage can. He started out kind of weak on the food drive but the past 2 feedings, he has been gung ho and hasnt even bothered killing the pinkies and fuzzies. He just gulps them down as they are squeaking and kicking. Kind of disturbing seeing a snake yawn to reset its jaws and hearing a squeak come out of it lol. He is definitely going to FT when he is up to stuff that can actually bite him.

I don't know how and I don't know why but this is all your fault! After telling your Ganja just sits there all day she was like a little locomotive last night all over her tub and drinking like a drunk fish. Thank a lot, you somehow made my GTP jealous of yours and decided to get all active an uppity :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SDA

I don't know how and I don't know why but this is all your fault! After telling your Ganja just sits there all day she was like a little locomotive last night all over her tub and drinking like a drunk fish. Thank a lot, you somehow made my GTP jealous of yours and decided to get all active an uppity :P

---

Lol yeah Pat sometimes gets the wild hair. I think it seems when they gotta go poop or piss or they are thirsty. Usually after i mist the cage, Pat will come out and drink water of his scales or plant leaves or the side of the glass. Was walking by and caught Pat out drinking water off the glass today.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...2a5862bb_h.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

Hahaha too funny. I was actually talking to the reptile gal last week and she was trying to figure out what i would get next. She guessed Woma since i've been on a python kick with Caesar and now Pat but i told, if i got another python, it would be either a Black Head or a Sorong or Jayapura cross. I want that sweet blue stripe.

I'm sure you will beat me though. I am pretty well tapped atm and i dont see a new snake in my future for at least 6 months or more.

And thanks. I was worried Pat was going to be a problem feeder etc but he is turning out to be a well settled little garbage can. He started out kind of weak on the food drive but the past 2 feedings, he has been gung ho and hasnt even bothered killing the pinkies and fuzzies. He just gulps them down as they are squeaking and kicking. Kind of disturbing seeing a snake yawn to reset its jaws and hearing a squeak come out of it lol. He is definitely going to FT when he is up to stuff that can actually bite him.

---

I'm glad he's eating for you - that can be stressful waiting to see if they're going to eat or not. Those Biaks are amazing - BIG and colorful.

LOL - I've been watching Derek Roddy, Ike Lightener, and Enginee837 BHP projects.....hope to get one soon (in the next 12 months).

Picking up a used T25 with RHP's pretty cheap in Chicago when I visit in Feb to make more room :-)

Good luck with Pat.

And once again, Pat's excitement gets the best of him. He snagged his little fuzzy mouse and was so excited for dinner, he is eating it butt first again lol. Last night, i caught him down on the floor holding onto his little deli cup humidity water dish with his body and swimming in it with 1/3 of his body and head. He did this for a good 15 mins and then got bored and went back up top to the top perch and stretched out under his heater lol. Such a goofy little snake.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...842a61d5_h.jpg


Little dude powered down that mouse in about 30 secs flat lol. Although i think it might have been a little big for him. He has a pretty noticeable bulge but he seems pretty darn happy lol.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...0ee7346d_h.jpg

Great pic of the little guy in action! Haha go Pat!

Just wondering what did you use to adhere the rod holders to your glass?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MissterDog

Great pic of the little guy in action! Haha go Pat!

Just wondering what did you use to adhere the rod holders to your glass?

---

Lol thanks. I am very pleased with his progress. He doesnt seem pissy although if you wake him up, he does tend to hiss a little. Think he is grumpy wake up person lol. But once he is awake, he is fine. I use zip tie cable mounts from Home Depot https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commerci...B-10/303810319

Then i just take a dremel with a cutting wheel and cut one of the 4 sides off so i can slide the perch into it. The other side i leave all closed. They fit 1/4 inch oak dowels perfect and they are rated to like 50 lbs or something crazy like that. They are self adhesive too.

Maaaaan....GTP's are my weakness, I see them in their display cages like yours and I just want lol......one day maybe.

Idk if this was covered yet but.....f2?......or import?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KevinK

Maaaaan....GTP's are my weakness, I see them in their display cages like yours and I just want lol......one day maybe.

Idk if this was covered yet but.....f2?......or import?

---

Thanks. He's an indonesian farm baby lol. I really didnt want to drop $1000+ for my first GTP after hearing how fragile they are. But now that i have one and so far everything has been going great, i am feeling more confident and there possibly might be that bank breaking high blue one in the future ;)

I hope really much so that you don't suffer the issue with imports and even CB of imports (parasites). Good thing you are getting a fecal done soon

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

Thanks. He's an indonesian farm baby lol. I really didnt want to drop $1000+ for my first GTP after hearing how fragile they are. But now that i have one and so far everything has been going great, i am feeling more confident and there possibly might be that bank breaking high blue one in the future ;)

---

I can understand that, the fragile nature of babies would definitely concern me especially during shipping but it's awesome he's doing well for you. ....and a high blue is like.....the stuff of the gods to me lol. I saw one at the NARBC when I was younger and the breeder had to pretty much ask me nicely to leave his booth because I kept staring at it and blocking potential customers who may have actually had the cash to buy it :rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SDA

I hope really much so that you don't suffer the issue with imports and even CB of imports (parasites). Good thing you are getting a fecal done soon

---

Well CB and farm raised are pretty much the same thing. They are hatched in Indonesia and then importers like Bush Master and such import them, usually treat them for parasites and then get them a few feedings and sell them. You know, CB babies get a bad rep but if it was as bad as a lot of people say, said importers probably wouldnt be in business long.

Every reptile has some amounts of parasites. Usually they live in a peaceful existence. It's when the snake gets stressed or somehow gets its immune system lowered and susceptible, that the parasites/bacteria overrun it and then you got the problems. And funny part is i was told babies actually dont get worms or nematodes as much as subadults and adults. Maybe it has to do with the foods they eat as babies freshly hatched arent eating the wild birds and stuff in the jungles that probably are loaded with nematodes? But you very rarely see babies with worms bumps under their skin like adults. But yeah, I'll get a fecal done anyways later after he has settled in and stuff. He has an insatiable appetite, cruises around at night all over, poops and pisses regularly and isnt losing weight and is gaining weight so I am personally not too worried atm. I still dont use any of the same utensils or stuff as for my other snakes though.

The gal i got my guy from said, she has never had an issue from her importer ever with babies and they all have thrived which is kind of the reason i got him. The first time she had some in, i was going to pull the trigger but she talked me out of it as she knows I'm a boa guy and like to handle my snakes a lot. But after looking at them all the time, i decided to pull the trigger on this last batch she got lol. And she told me, all her imports are treated for parasites before being sold. But like i said, I'll take a poop in for my vet one of these days lol. I have to try and get a fresh one which is hard as the little bugger cruises around as night which is when i sleep for the most part haha.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KevinK

I can understand that, the fragile nature of babies would definitely concern me especially during shipping but it's awesome he's doing well for you. ....and a high blue is like.....the stuff of the gods to me lol. I saw one at the NARBC when I was younger and the breeder had to pretty much ask me nicely to leave his booth because I kept staring at it and blocking potential customers who may have actually had the cash to buy it :rofl:

---

Haha yeah. A high blue guy would definitely set me back. Only problem is would want a baby and as far as i know, there is no guarantee that one will be high blue even if the parents are.

And yeah, Pat is actually doing awesome. He has put on some weight and i can definitely see he has filled out from my aggressive feeding schedule to try and get him all bulked up and stable. A few more of the feedings and i will cut him back to every 7 days. Just doing every 4 days right now for about a month to make sure he poops, pees and does the snake stuff normally. I am actually pretty surprised too as his poop or pee doesnt smell. I have to check every couple days for poops on the floor. My boas, you can tell when you open the cage. Its smells...like...poop lol. Might be because Pat's poops are so tiny lol.

And he went from the kind of shy feeding a couple weeks ago when i got him to now he is as bad as Caesar when he smells dinner. Last time he almost got my hand and this time, i wasnt even ready as i just rubbed the mouse on him and he hissed. So i went to move the mouse a little to a better position and as i was pulling it back to move it, he shot out of the plant again like a bullet lol. He latched on and wrapped the mouse and the forceps. Luckily i can just slide the forceps out.

I too was worried about his fragile nature which is why i dont handle him. I usually use a Q-Tip or twisted paper towel to tickle him and get him to move. It worked the first week. Now though, i tried to get him to move off his plant so i could move it and yeah, he wasnt having any of that lol. He stood his ground and turned his head and looked at the Q-Tip. He then did the same thing with the paper towel lol. i never did get him to move. It's like with the nice intake of food and bulking up, he is also getting more bold and standing his ground. No more running away for the little worm haha.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SDA

I hope really much so that you don't suffer the issue with imports and even CB of imports (parasites). Good thing you are getting a fecal done soon

---

I thought your Aru was an import too? If not, what breeder did you get him from? And how was the interaction? I know a couple breeders but they have long wait lists and their stuff is $900+ starting. There are a few like Harlin Wall and Ryan Burke at Clockwork Reptiles but I believe they import Indonesian babies and then treat them and get about 10 meals or so in them and then sell them.

My cousin hooked me up with someone breeding for fun. I'm still not sure he was the right person to get from even though he was really nice and took good care of his snakes but if I did it over again I would definitely save $1000 for a quality US captive bred from a top breeder. This species and most breeders are not taking the precautions they should. Mine is doing good so far but had a health hiccup and required a vet visit. Thankfully she has a clean bill of health and the vet is amazing enough to treat her properly but it really has made me paranoid lately. Once I get a few feeds and poops under her, I will relax.

Trust, me you want to get a fecal as soon as you are comfortable taking yours in, it's worth it to get a clean parasite bill of health.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SDA

My cousin hooked me up with someone breeding for fun. I'm still not sure he was the right person to get from even though he was really nice and took good care of his snakes but if I did it over again I would definitely save $1000 for a quality US captive bred from a top breeder. This species and most breeders are not taking the precautions they should. Mine is doing good so far but had a health hiccup and required a vet visit. Thankfully she has a clean bill of health and the vet is amazing enough to treat her properly but it really has made me paranoid lately. Once I get a few feeds and poops under her, I will relax.

Trust, me you want to get a fecal as soon as you are comfortable taking yours in, it's worth it to get a clean parasite bill of health.

---

Ouch. Luckily Pat has been going up and up on his deal so like i said, I'm not hugely worried. My philosophy has always been, 'if its not broken, dont fix it'. A lot of times, going to the vet can cause more stress and actually create problems. Dont get me wrong, I will eventually get a fecal done but atm I'm not too worried about it. If i saw huge weight loss, loss of appetite, really smelly poop or funky looking poop, then i would be worried for sure. But Pat's little poops are nice and dark brown, dont look funky or anything like that. He is gaining weight and has done nothing but increased in his appetite and attitude as he has become much more bold and and inquisitive. To tell you the truth, i have never had a fecal done on any of my snakes. My beardie has had blood tests and fecals done. None of my snakes have ever had a problem. Rosey had a sinus infection from pushing in her old cage and cutting her nose but that has been it.

I was pretty stressed too with Pat but he has had 5 feeds with me and like i said, each feeding is more gung ho than the last and now i actually have to watch myself as he seems happy to go for it now when he smells a mouse haha. He has had 4 poops with me too and probably 5 or 6 pisses.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SDA

My cousin hooked me up with someone breeding for fun. I'm still not sure he was the right person to get from even though he was really nice and took good care of his snakes but if I did it over again I would definitely save $1000 for a quality US captive bred from a top breeder. This species and most breeders are not taking the precautions they should. Mine is doing good so far but had a health hiccup and required a vet visit. Thankfully she has a clean bill of health and the vet is amazing enough to treat her properly but it really has made me paranoid lately. Once I get a few feeds and poops under her, I will relax.

Trust, me you want to get a fecal as soon as you are comfortable taking yours in, it's worth it to get a clean parasite bill of health.

---

Oh i forgot to ask, what hiccup in health did your little guy have? I'd be worried about such a small fragile snake having to go to the vet.

Woah! I caught Pat actually out on a perch during the day! It's like the second coming of Jesus. I usually only catch him on perches at night. And dang they digest as fast as retics lol. Pat had that monster lump Monday from the fuzzie mouse that was a little too big(woops) and now the lump is gone lol. Waiting to find a nice size BB poop on the cage floor. He has definitely filled out nicely and is getting that nice triangular round look instead of the high triangle look :D
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...e3f49e01_h.jpg

Hey if you are looking for a hand mister that works great, I just got this in and have been loving how easy it mists

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00002N8OB

Thanks. I just use a regular spray bottle set on the mist lol. Does the job and cost me like $3.

LOL I was too but got tired of having to squeeze the trigger so I got this. 10x better that the spray pump

Well, Pat was sleeping on his plant this morning after a hard nights cruising all over last night lol. So i gave him a good misting and i guess it woke him up. He then couldnt decide if the plant was still a good spot or the perch was better. So it looks like he went 50% in on both lol. Such a goofy little guy. Last night he was seeing how high could stand up in a corner from the floor and took a huge piss.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...957c4bc8_h.jpg


Well, looks like the perch won out lol.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...b980cf4c_h.jpg

What a little stunner


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. And the most exciting part is the little guy is a machine at night. He rivals Caesar on a hungry night...or Dottie on any night haha. He drops to the floor and cruises around. Sits on the edge of the deli cups and plays scuba diver, Goes up on the live plants and sits on them and his perches. Sits on top of the elevated water bowls. Sits half on 1 perch and half on another. He is just gogogo all night long haha. Then come morning, i usually find a piss and/or poop on the floor somewhere haha. Guy pisses as much as Caesar. I'm pretty much changing his paper towels every other day. Here's a new pic of him getting ready for lights out and his night long escapades. You can see the excitement building :P
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...44f8a556_o.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SDA

LOL I was too but got tired of having to squeeze the trigger so I got this. 10x better that the spray pump

---

Totally agree! I got tired of them breaking too.

I've had this one since 2014 and use it daily. It is a dream for my ETB and GTP.

Solo 418 One-Hand Pressure Sprayer, 1-Liter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BX4VXI..._F-zyAbZN2KGDP

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

Thanks. And the most exciting part is the little guy is a machine at night. He rivals Caesar on a hungry night...or Dottie on any night haha. He drops to the floor and cruises around. Sits on the edge of the deli cups and plays scuba diver, Goes up on the live plants and sits on them and his perches. Sits on top of the elevated water bowls. Sits half on 1 perch and half on another. He is just gogogo all night long haha. Then come morning, i usually find a piss and/or poop on the floor somewhere haha. Guy pisses as much as Caesar. I'm pretty much changing his paper towels every other day. Here's a new pic of him getting ready for lights out and his night long escapades. You can see the excitement building :P
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...44f8a556_o.jpg

---

Great looking GTP! I'm glad you finally got one. I know you've wanted one for awhile.



You might try to add a branch over the perch to give it a bit of cover. Both my GTP and ETB perch under their branches and are very rarely in the open on the perch during the day but both perch all day. I bet if you could add some cover to the front of the tank it would work too. Just something to make it seem as if he is hidden and make him more comfortable with being out on his perch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

Great looking GTP! I'm glad you finally got one. I know you've wanted one for awhile.



You might try to add a branch over the perch to give it a bit of cover. Both my GTP and ETB perch under their branches and are very rarely in the open on the perch during the day but both perch all day. I bet if you could add some cover to the front of the tank it would work too. Just something to make it seem as if he is hidden and make him more comfortable with being out on his perch.

---

Thanks. And yeah, I've thought about putting something up top but havent really come up with anything yet. The live plants i put in there are growing like crazy, so soon they should be tall enough to offer cover lol. I did cover his top with tin foil though to not only hold in humidity but also to provide a 'covered' top so he feels more secure.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...e5ecd088_h.jpg

Well i fixed Pat's perches so they dont spin anymore lol. He still LOVES his freakin plant. I moved it thinking he would lose interest in it. Nope, he still found it and sat in it haha. I then decided to try and tickle him off the plant. Well he thought it was dinner time and immediately spun around and stared at the twisted paper towel haha. So i gave up. But then it seems he decided to move. He's stretched out on his top perch now just relaxing. He definitely looks like he has grown a good bit and has really filled out but i think its just me as I've only had him about 3 weeks. He did have a shed with me the first week i got him. Anyways, here he is stretched out kind of lol.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...dc7dd4ca_h.jpg

Lol, well another update on Pat! He ate his 6th meal with me and i barely had to touch him to get his attention lol. He smelled it and woke up and was pretty much ready. He is definitely filling out too and looks like he is getting ready for another shed. He is just a little beast. Here he is after eating and heading to the heater haha.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...34599e6b_h.jpg


And him camping under the heater.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...bbf1f774_h.jpg

I'm loving watching this kid grow up. Thanks for posting about this lovely little guy! Brightens my day every time :).

Thats awsome, congratulations!!!

Thanks. Wanted one since i was a 12 year old kid and only took about 30 years or so to finally pull the trigger lol. I'm pretty excited and now that the flood gates are open, I'm sure i will be getting a few more haha.

I'm nervous about your probe placement. If the snake lays on it the heat will ramp up.

What's your heat source? Have you tried any other locations?

I use a 40 watt CHE Nano. It's fine. He has laid on it before and it still only tops out at 85F. It's more the ambient in the cage. Plus, like i said, i only use a 40 watt nano CHE which are the tiny ones about 2 inches in diameter if that, so he has plenty of space to get away from the heat if he wants. He actually spends most of his time sleeping on a perch behind his plant on the other side or actually on top of the plant itself. He only comes over to the warm side after he eats.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

I use a 40 watt CHE Nano. It's fine. He has laid on it before and it still only tops out at 85F. It's more the ambient in the cage. Plus, like i said, i only use a 40 watt nano CHE which are the tiny ones about 2 inches in diameter if that, so he has plenty of space to get away from the heat if he wants. He actually spends most of his time sleeping on a perch behind his plant on the other side or actually on top of the plant itself. He only comes over to the warm side after he eats.

---

That's good.

If you have the wire style fixture for it you can also mount it directly to the wire on the last outer ring pointing inward. That's how I set up my ETB temporally while waiting on that cage. Worked well but I was using a full size che.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

That's good.

If you have the wire style fixture for it you can also mount it directly to the wire on the last outer ring pointing inward. That's how I set up my ETB temporally while waiting on that cage. Worked well but I was using a full size che.

---

Ah yeah. No way i want to use a full size CHE in such a small cage. It's only an 18x18x18 cube. So i have the mini CHE in the back right corner of the cage so the rest of it as well as anything below the top perch where the probe is mounted will drop temps fast. The middle of the cage is around 79F and the floor of the cage is 77F.

I understand the concern but if you think about it, say the snake sits on the probe. The snake is say 79F which is the ambient of the middle level. Well the CHE would go to 100%. That would heat the air around the probe plus it would heat the snake. Once the temps on the snake hit 86F or the air around the probe hit 86F, it would shut it off. So really it doesnt matter if the snake sits on the probe or not since the snake is so small to begin with. I do agree, i would kind of worry if it was a full sized large CHE or a very thick heavy bodied snake. But really, if the snake's temp got too high for it, it would leave as long as cooler temps and spots were offered.

And yeah, i was kind of worried about the CHE size until i saw the Zoo Med Nano line of stuff. It's like a mini version made for their glass terrariums. Stuff works awesome. Like i said, the CHE is about 2 inches in diameter. They have a 25 watt version too which i tried but it wouldnt heat the perch past low 80s being on 100%. The fixture is only about 4 inches in diameter too which offers 3/4 or a little more of the cage to just be left with ambient room temp. They also offer red lights and basking lights for them as well in the 25 watt and 40 watt range.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

I understand the concern but if you think about it, say the snake sits on the probe. The snake is say 79F which is the ambient of the middle level. Well the CHE would go to 100%. That would heat the air around the probe plus it would heat the snake. Once the temps on the snake hit 86F or the air around the probe hit 86F, it would shut it off. So really it doesnt matter if the snake sits on the probe or not since the snake is so small to begin with. I do agree, i would kind of worry if it was a full sized large CHE or a very thick heavy bodied snake. But really, if the snake's temp got too high for it, it would leave as long as cooler temps and spots were offered.

---

I think you're fine only because of the equipment you're using.

The snake blocking the heat from being delivered to the probe may cause the air to rise and the tstat to turn off.... But will it do it in time to not give the snake a burn from above? Will that even work at all? That's my worry. If the snake puts it's cold belly on the probe what happens then? Will it still detect the air warming? I agree the snake's size may help under the current circumstances but at some point things will need to be changed.

As to snakes moving. If snakes always moved when the heat was getting too hot we shouldn't see burned snakes from run away heat mats, lamps, or flexwatt. They should have felt the heat and moved but we know that's not always how it goes and burns happen.

I mainly bring this up so others seeing your cage and this thread don't blindly copy it and cause harm to their snake. It seems that in your situation if we changed even one thing we could have issues.

Well with a full size CHE, yes it might give a burn but with the Nano stuff, it doesnt get hot enough, unless you touch it. Like i said, the 25 watt one topped out low 80s...iirc it was around 82F and that was running 100%.

Heat tape is different in that most burns occur off glass tank floors. And some of those heat tapes like the Zoo Med ones can hit 145F. I would question if that kind of heat could even reach a snake through the air in time to burn it before the snake moved. If it was a ramping heat, the snake would move off it long before it got hot enough to burn. If it was an instant 145F and you threw the snake under it, i bet the snake would move like lightning off it lol.

Now heat that it can come into contact with, i could see it burn which is what we mostly see with belly burns. If you look in the wild, I'm sure in some hot places like Australia, rocks there can get hot enough to fry and egg yet snakes and lizards survive there. I'm guessing they just avoid that kind of heat. In a cage with a glass bottom and unregulated heat tape plus an inch or more of substrate, the snake burrows down to get more heat and more or less instantly hits that 145F hot glass which gives it the burn. This all hypothetical though as i havent actually seen it happen or ever had to deal with a burn to any snakes ever.

I've talked to a few guys on the GTP boards and they do the same set up. Most use flexwatt though taped to a cage side and use the t-stat probe to monitor the ambient. The biggest thing i was told was to not use a belly heat unless it only covers 1/4 of the cage floor since if the GTP grounds, it would be stuck sitting on the heat tape and could overheat. But like i said, the CHE i am using is one that doesnt reach that high of air temps and again, it covers a 4 inch surface.

And i disagree, i dont see my set up causing any harm to the snake as like i said, the heating im using is a small caliber set up, not something like an 8 inch dome with a 100 watt CHE on a 18x18x18 cage. And yes if we changed something like a big CHE or big dome, then i could see possibly a burn but before that, i would expect to see the snake ground itself and not perch at all.

Heck i even have my hi temp shutoff set to 95F so if the probe reaches 95F+, it will shut the whole system down. I mean really i probably dont even need any heating. A few of the breeders i talked to said they dont even use an external heat source. They just keep them in an ambient room that varies from 77-82F from night to day and their GTPs grow and breed fine. I only give Pat the mini CHE because he seems to like the heat after eating.

But hey, we all have our views and thought and i appreciate your concerns about the probe.

Oh and one other thing concerning air temps, if you ever had monitors before, they love to sit under 120-130F heat lamps which dont burn them. The air temp would more overheat and dehydrate unless you are talking something crazy like 150F+ on flesh.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

Well with a full size CHE, yes it might give a burn but with the Nano stuff, it doesnt get hot enough, unless you touch it. Like i said, the 25 watt one topped out low 80s...iirc it was around 82F and that was running 100%.

Heat tape is different in that most burns occur off glass tank floors. And some of those heat tapes like the Zoo Med ones can hit 145F. I would question if that kind of heat could even reach a snake through the air in time to burn it before the snake moved. If it was a ramping heat, the snake would move off it long before it got hot enough to burn. If it was an instant 145F and you threw the snake under it, i bet the snake would move like lightning off it lol.

Now heat that it can come into contact with, i could see it burn which is what we mostly see with belly burns. If you look in the wild, I'm sure in some hot places like Australia, rocks there can get hot enough to fry and egg yet snakes and lizards survive there. I'm guessing they just avoid that kind of heat. In a cage with a glass bottom and unregulated heat tape plus an inch or more of substrate, the snake burrows down to get more heat and more or less instantly hits that 145F hot glass which gives it the burn. This all hypothetical though as i havent actually seen it happen or ever had to deal with a burn to any snakes ever.

I've talked to a few guys on the GTP boards and they do the same set up. Most use flexwatt though taped to a cage side and use the t-stat probe to monitor the ambient. The biggest thing i was told was to not use a belly heat unless it only covers 1/4 of the cage floor since if the GTP grounds, it would be stuck sitting on the heat tape and could overheat. But like i said, the CHE i am using is one that doesnt reach that high of air temps and again, it covers a 4 inch surface.

And i disagree, i dont see my set up causing any harm to the snake as like i said, the heating im using is a small caliber set up, not something like an 8 inch dome with a 100 watt CHE on a 18x18x18 cage. And yes if we changed something like a big CHE or big dome, then i could see possibly a burn but before that, i would expect to see the snake ground itself and not perch at all.

Heck i even have my hi temp shutoff set to 95F so if the probe reaches 95F+, it will shut the whole system down. I mean really i probably dont even need any heating. A few of the breeders i talked to said they dont even use an external heat source. They just keep them in an ambient room that varies from 77-82F from night to day and their GTPs grow and breed fine. I only give Pat the mini CHE because he seems to like the heat after eating.

But hey, we all have our views and thought and i appreciate your concerns about the probe.

Oh and one other thing concerning air temps, if you ever had monitors before, they love to sit under 120-130F heat lamps which dont burn them. The air temp would more overheat and dehydrate unless you are talking something crazy like 150F+ on flesh.

---

I said I think your current setup as it sits is fine. What I implied was if we changed any one factor we could have issues and I don't want a noob GTP owner seeing your probe placement and thinking it is correct so they run off and throw it under a full size che or rhp. That will end in disaster.

I've tested my che in my arboreal cages. If the probe is moved or covered the top perch gets to cooking. Maybe it burns the snake, maybe not, but it certainly reaches the danger zone and could also cause neurological damage from the extreme heat.

Go to the people in the GTP boards and see if they recommend mounting the probe on the perch using a real che your rhp. I'm genuinely curious to see if some do. I've yet to see a keeper here do it and recommend it for an arboreal snake.

I agree that if you throw the snake on a hot surface it will leave. The issue is the thing you said you doubt, time. Will a che have enough time to burn the snake? I believe that is the key. If it slowly runs away because the probe gets covered, moved, or whatever it's that gradual rise that the snake doesn't notice until it's too late. Ever had a sunburn?

A monitor and a delicate GTP are very different from very different places. They can not be compared. Just as animals that live in the desert may thrive in those conditions while a GTP would be dead. That's like comparing a Western Diamondback to a GTP. It's apples to oranges.


With that I'm done and wish you years of enjoyment. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine. They are truly great animals.

Thanks. And yeah, so far I'm pretty happy. I think he is getting ready for his second shed with me as he is getting dull and his head looks like it is getting the pre shed swell but I'm not sure as I havent had a GTP long enough to really read their shed tells lol. And they are pretty awesome. Think the flood gates have been opened and i might need a couple more haha. Come on high blue one :D

Well it looks like Pat has been chatting it up with Caesar and Dottie. Not sure how he managed to get up there but i looked over while watching TV and saw his fat little belly and tail hanging down lol.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...f07dde45_h.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

Well I pulled the trigger on one of the snakes I've always wanted and picked it up today. Meet Pat, the little 6 month old biak.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...9bfa27a0_h.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...8f89eee5_h.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...0634549c_b.jpg

---

Very nice snake. I had a tree python for a short time. He was mean as heck and bit every time I went near him. A friend wanted him for a display snake for a classroom. They were not going to handle him so I gave him to them. Still loved by his students especially during feeding time.

Gratz again.

Thanks. And so far Pat is pretty laid back except during dinner time. I havent tried to handle him much except when i was switching him from tubs to his cube and when he fell off his perch onto my bed and i had to kind of direct him with my hand back onto his perch so i could lift him. He did tag the gal i bought him from twice lol. Even drew blood both times. But like i said, for me so far, nothing. He sat half on my hand and looked around. Thats about the most interaction ive done with him yet. Want to let him settle in for a couple months and grow some. Im scared ill hurt him being so small.

Haha, its time for the nightly where's Pat game. Lights went out and now he has decided he found a new perch area. He is holding the plant with his tail while part of his body is draped over the humidity probe wire and another part of his body is wedged between the top of the cage and the lip. Such a crazy little snake.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...1da3e28b_h.jpg

I cant wait to see him try and caudal lure me over to him haha.

Alright, i know its been awhile since i posted a pic of Pat and you all are dying to see one....so here is Pat after a fuzzie mouse relaxing.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...95a5445f_k.jpg

You know after you mentioned Pat being active in the other thread I couldn't help but notice how active Ganja is now in her pvccages cube. I can tell you have adequate hiding spaces, perches and heating and I assume you have the lights on timers but I wonder two things...

1) Is more space better even for neonates? We are told they should live in a tiny tub until a year old but is that really the best for them? People used to swear ball pythons only should live in small cages but Dante is so much more active in his 4 foot cage. Queso, my neonate rosy boa is super healthy and active in his 20 long tank.

2) Is lighting on a cycle as beneficial for them as for others. Since placing Ganja in the new cube and having the LED light on a timer she is so much more active than in the tub. Same thing with Dante and Queso. They have a much better and more active routine on a lighting schedule.

So I wonder, is your setup then the better option for healthy neonates? Pat is eating like a horse and active so barring stress I would assume that is a good sign. I mean I am thrilled Ganja is being so active, it makes me think her muscles will strengthen now.

What do you think?