New Girls' Setup - Comments & Suggestions welcome!

Mods, wasn't sure if it was appropriate to place in husbandry or pics, so feel free to move if needed!

Hey all, I am so excited about getting my three girls (yes, I decided to go for the dark girl with all the blushing too!) later this month!

Part of the fun is setting up their enclosures. I just took some quick shots of what I've got so far. I haven't decided the substrate yet, and will be placing my order for flexwatt and a thermostat later this month (another reason I haven't added substrate yet). Will probably start off with newspaper and then go to Aspen after they've quarantined.

These girls are quarantining in my bedroom on an improvised "rack". It's a computer desk that I have in the bedroom and I've checked with Matt about stacking two tubs on top of each other - he assures me that will be fine!

So, what do you think? Any suggested changes? The purple box is something I picked up at Dollar General tonight and I'm trying to decide if I'm going to make it into a third hide. That's the general layout if I use it.

Of couse, ignore the temp readings, as there is no heat source yet (but no babies in there either - so no worries!)

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/0/Setup1.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/0/Setup2.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/0/Setup3.jpg

Oh, and in the stacked picture, everything slid around since there's no substrate yet, which you can especially see in the middle tub that I picked up tonight and it's too darn cold to go outside to solder the holes tonight! LOL

It looks a little big for babies, but with the three hides you'll probably be fine. Looks like those girls should be set for some time!! ;) I'm so glad to hear you'll be getting all three. They're all just gorgeous! :D

I also moved this to the caging forum, since it's more about the cage setup. (I hope you don't mind, sometimes I'm not even sure where to put stuff ;) )

hmm seem to look like it will work out great! i just wonder what u will use for a 12hr light cycle? and will the flex watt heat the air in the cage! and how will u get humity it there?

see i wanted to do this same thing but i did not find it to fit the need for a snake! mabie some one can clue me in :}

I wondered where it went! LOL


And here I was thinking it was looking a little crowded! LOL. Well, of course, I'll probably also fill their enclosures with crumpled newspaper when they first get here too, so that should help as well! :love: :banana:

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Originally Posted by snakebitten69

hmm seem to look like it will work out great! i just wonder what u will use for a 12hr light cycle? and will the flex watt heat the air in the cage! and how will u get humity it there?

see i wanted to do this same thing but i did not find it to fit the need for a snake! mabie some one can clue me in :}

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There will be natural light in the room during the day, no external light is needed (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

Flexwatt will heat it just fine and humidity is much easier to maintain in a tub system. Here's a good link on making one:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=40

i under stand it will hold the humity well but how will u creat it? ex misting, put flex watt under water bowl? i use a heat lamp with a water bowl under it and it works out well. on my baby balls 10gal i use wet hand towl over ther screen! and it keep it about 60% but here in houston my house stays @ 45% lol

how about temp drop>? this can be done very eazy with @ day time light and a timer!

Natural light works fine.

Humidity is just the level of moisture in the air. When the heating element warms the air, some of the water in the bowl will evaporate. This will give you a pretty good level of humidity. The trick is not to have stagnant air. Moisture + heat = bacteria. So you have to have some air flow to prevent that, thus the holes in the tub. Looking good ROBIN!! Crowded is good for babies!! :D

No need for a temp drop, unless you're breeding. Keep temps steady and constant!!

You don't want temp drops, temps should remain constant.

Combination of water in the water bowl and ambient heat will produce the humidity. If you have trouble keeping humidity at 50%, you close off some of the ventilation holes. If it's too high, you add more ventilation holes.

That's why it's important to get your enclosure set up and your temps and humidity regulated before introducing your snake to it.

Also, I've heard that wet towels can breed bacteria. A better option would be sealing your screen top with contac paper or something like Glad Press & Seal.

But hopefully someone who keeps their animals in tubs (this is my first time) can better answer your questions.

People tend to set up cages with ideal temperature gradients geared to day time temps. It's important drop the temps at night 5 or 6 degrees so that your snakes will cool off and be forced to thermoregulate every morning. Getting them moving around to do this will increase muscle tone, help with digestion-metabolism, shedding,... overall well being. Otherwise, they find a comfortable little spot and become stagnant little hide potatos.

I think that you will find that many well respected breeders and long time keepers of balls will disagree with you on that.

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Originally Posted by snakebitten69

People tend to set up cages with ideal temperature gradients geared to day time temps. It's important drop the temps at night 5 or 6 degrees so that your snakes will cool off and be forced to thermoregulate every morning. Getting them moving around to do this will increase muscle tone, help with digestion-metabolism, shedding,... overall well being. Otherwise, they find a comfortable little spot and become stagnant little hide potatos.

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Your right on the night drops but ONLY when cycling.. You should keep your temps at a consistent level all the time including night time.. Lowering the temps may throw the snake off food.. Also the hotter(within reason) the snake is the faster the metabilosim(sp) therefore making the snake grow.. Also increasing the metabolism.. Also misting the cage is fine and cypress mulch will help and hold in the humidity.. Your using lights which rob moisture in the air to create humidity??? Thats like trying to strick a match with water, dont work:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snakebitten69

People tend to set up cages with ideal temperature gradients geared to day time temps. It's important drop the temps at night 5 or 6 degrees so that your snakes will cool off and be forced to thermoregulate every morning. Getting them moving around to do this will increase muscle tone, help with digestion-metabolism, shedding,... overall well being. Otherwise, they find a comfortable little spot and become stagnant little hide potatos.

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My snakes are not stagnant by any means, and are VERY active. Cooler temps are terrible for digestion, and have little to do with shedding (since this is more of a humidity issue). Sorry I'll just have to to disagree with you. I'm a firm believer in stable temps! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snakebitten69

People tend to set up cages with ideal temperature gradients geared to day time temps. It's important drop the temps at night 5 or 6 degrees so that your snakes will cool off and be forced to thermoregulate every morning. Getting them moving around to do this will increase muscle tone, help with digestion-metabolism, shedding,... overall well being. Otherwise, they find a comfortable little spot and become stagnant little hide potatos.

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Temps, temps, temps...MUST have STABLE temps!!!!

Aaaaaany minute now!!!! ...........I'm just waiting for Adam to pop up here and chime in........ Dooo, doo, do, do *humming the Final JEOPARDY music* :lmao:

Looks to me that the little sentence I just read was simply regurgitated from an unnamed member of a competing site(not that we have much to compete with). If you don't have anything valuable OF YOUR OWN to say, then don't say it(not to mention the source of that regurgitated info isn't very reliable)...


But that's just me... :rolleyes:

:confused: I must have missed something. *sigh* I MUST get more sleep!

your very correct i did get that off other site!

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Looks to me that the little sentence I just read was simply regurgitated from an unnamed member of a competing site(not that we have much to compete with).

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Would that be the site that's primary focus isn't even balls that you've told me about?

*giggle* Maaayyybeee... :)

But anywho! I completely understand about wanting someone to talk "snakeys" about. *sigh* I like how your girls' setups are, they should be happy with all of those hides, but I bet a little loosely balled newspaper will help a bit in the first couple of weeks.

I need more snakes darnit! Dillinger, the Rosy, is giving me heck and high water with his "trying to eat Becky's fingers" routine... Turd...

I'm so excited about seeing new pictures of all of the new girls your getting! I hope they are all sweeties.

[QUOTE=SatanicIntention' I need more snakes darnit![/QUOTE]

Funny you should say that....was just at Verizon Wireless this afternoon getting my phone switched out and was talking to the tech support guys, and snakes came up - imagine that! His brother and his wife may be trying to re-home their RTB.

He's going to call me if they do, I offered to help them try to get a good home for it. He said they knew it was going to get big, they just didn't realize how big. They're in NC though.

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

I'm so excited about seeing new pictures of all of the new girls your getting! I hope they are all sweeties.

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Me too! And you can be sure I'll be taking lots of them with my sorry camera too!;)

Just to sum it up for any new people that might be reading this:

Temps should be constant, no drop is required. Chances are, all the drop they *might* need is caused by the natural drop in room temps overnight if you don't have a heated room.

Humidity will come from the water bowl, respiration of the actual snake, and ambient air. The trick is trapping that humidity with enough air flow to keep the humidity around 50-60%. However you happen to do that is up to you and there are many different methods discussed in many different threads 'round here.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Funny you should say that....was just at Verizon Wireless this afternoon getting my phone switched out and was talking to the tech support guys, and snakes came up - imagine that! His brother and his wife may be trying to re-home their RTB.

He's going to call me if they do, I offered to help them try to get a good home for it. He said they knew it was going to get big, they just didn't realize how big. They're in NC though.

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Meeeee, mememememememememe I'LL TAKE IT!!!!! LOL:bounce:

Do you want me to let you know if he calls me?

Robin...YES, PLEASE!!!!! I'd be happy to work something out, as to care expenses until it's warm enough to ship.....:please: Just let me know how much and when. Hopefully SPRING is JUST around the corner!!!!


RuLyn

RuLyn,


He has not called me as of today, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he won't. Next time I'm over that way (by the Verizon store) I'll stop in and let him know that if they are still trying to re-home the snake, that I know someone who's interested.

Could be he's lost my phone number - so I'll check!

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Originally Posted by sweety314

Robin...YES, PLEASE!!!!! I'd be happy to work something out, as to care expenses until it's warm enough to ship.....:please: Just let me know how much and when. Hopefully SPRING is JUST around the corner!!!!


RuLyn

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That setup looks nice Robin. I should snap a pic of Malachi's tub today LOL, he has the exact same blue bowl hides! He's growing so fast he's graduated up to those from his "baby" terracotta hides and I can tell you they work just fine. Nice and dark, easy as anything to clean. I put a little pile of aspen on the "roof" for a nice comfy lounging spot which he quite enjoys it seems.

I bet you're counting the days till your new girls come home!


~~Jo~~

Very nice setup!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

RuLyn,


He has not called me as of today, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he won't. Next time I'm over that way (by the Verizon store) I'll stop in and let him know that if they are still trying to re-home the snake, that I know someone who's interested.

Could be he's lost my phone number - so I'll check!

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THANKS!!!!! I'd appreciate it. No reason for them to hunt and hunt, and maybe surrender the poor thing to some rescue when *IF they're willing to wait on good weather* I'd be mooooooooore than happy to give him/her a home! I have a tank all ready for an adoption that had to be put on hold because of the weather, and I've got another spare that it wouldn't take much to finish prepping.... I'm ALL! set!!!!!!!!

I looooooove 'em! :w00t:

RuLyn