The Old Wolf and his home.
I've been reading posts here for awhile and just today decided to sign up. Figured I would post some photos of my tank and little guy to see what everyone thinks!
In the first few, he was resting his head on the rock for awhile. After I started snapping some photos his interest peaked and he started creeping out to investigate.
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I like to consider this the butt warming shot. It was early morning and he was resting on the rock to get some heat.
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Here's his tank that I decked out after winning a nice little poker tournament. It's a pain when it comes to cleaning but it's worth it for the nice view, and I know for a fact the Old Wolf is lovin' it. He utilizies all parts of the tank now.
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Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
Wow... I need to keep at least one enclosure like that. Nice!
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
That's a beautiful enclosure! :clap: What are you using as a heat source? And how do you measure your temperature gradient and humidity?
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
How long does it take to clean?
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WeoStan
How long does it take to clean?
Looks great, but this exactly what I'm wondering. I already spend a good day once a week cleaning tubs, this looks like it could take a day itself to clean and disinfect!
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
Wow thats just nuts! nice setup I bet you have a lotta fun on cleaning day!
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
Looks like a ball python paradise:D Beautiful set-up, and beautiful snake too.
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
Normally I have a 150watt infrared lamp to heat the tank but that recently burnt out, so I'm using my original bulb for heat at the moment. You can't see it in the photos, but I custom built the lid on the tank. It has two screened tops that open up individually, the one opposite the light is covered with foil to help keep the humidity and heat in the tank. I have a hygrometer that I took out for the photos, the warm side of the tank is usually around 80-85 degrees and the cooler side around 70-75. I've been keeping the water close to the light, which has given me a good consistency with the humidity levels (hovers around 40-60), I also mist every other day at the least.
Cleaning can be a :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:, but I don't mind. I usually just spot clean, and then do a good once over (removing and cleaning the insides) once every month or two. (Hopefully thats enough!) I've had him (or her) for about a year and he's had perfect sheds and has been eating well the entire time. (eating F/T) Just recently upgraded from large mice to medium rats.
Thanks for the great comments!
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
So, a light is your only source of heat? What about belly heat? You also need to get those temps up - 92-94 on the warm side, 82-84 on the cool side. How are you measuring temps? You mentioned a hygrometer (to measure humidity) but didn't say what you were using to measure temps? Hopefully a digital thermometer, since the dial and stick on ones are so inaccurate.
Very nice set up - just needs a little husbandry tweaking, since that's all the snake cares about - the "pretty" is for the owner.
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
Beautiful set -up. Welcome to the site.
I agree your temps are a little low but if you have had him a year and he eats great and sheds prefect then you must being doing something right :)
I to wonder what you are using to measure temps? If you are using the dials as stated they are not a good thing. Your temps may actually be higher than you think which would be why he eats and sheds well.
I would also consider using some form of belly heat on the hot side.
Also go back to the red bulb for light as a regular bulb ie bright light may stress him out to much.
I have a set up in a 2'x4' cage that it similar to yours and it is a pain on cleaning day that's for sure. I feel your pain!
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
I should have mentioned, it's a dual purpose thermometer/hygrometer. It's digital, but unfortunately it doesn't have a probe. For a good few weeks I moved it around the tank and monitered the highs and lows (it stores them in memory). It seemed to fall in the general guidelines of the many things I read through. He has a basking spot near the lamp thats in excess of 90 degrees, plus a tonne of rocks in the area to cuddle up against when he wants more heat.
I have two timers setup since I'm using a UV lamp to illuminate the tank (it's a large central display in my living room). The second timer is on the heat lamp. The light is on from 7am to 9pm and the heat lamp from 10am to 5am (Infrared Bulb).
Someone mentioned that I should be using a pad to heat the tank as well. Any suggestions? Since he seems to be perfectly content is it necessary? Any advice is welcome!
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
I love it! Nice to see another vivarium addict on the boards! =D
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
Try the hagen heat wave under tank pad, wire it to a dimmer so you can adjust it. great inexpensive under tank heater. belly heat is very important for a healthy ball python. :)
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
The dimmer can be used to control heat pads, rocks, heat lites and quite a few other things. and is nothing more than a dimmer, plastic electric box and a 6 or 8 ft. extension cord. :) http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...g?t=1164388826
Re: The Old Wolf and his home.
that's a pretty enclosure! welcome to the forums
i really do reccomend belly heat as the way to go
i have a dimmer (no longer use it) that looks exactly like that, i made it myself, i was quite proud :)
