Finally, pics of hides and cage, no BP yet

Hi!

A couple of weeks ago I posted that my daughter would be getting a ball python and got a lot of helpful advice here. We are still waiting (she has to get a straight A report card and they are late coming out this quarter)!

I mentioned that I would be making the hides and water bowl since I am a potter, and some of you were interested in seeing them, so here they are! We are still working on getting cool side temps up in the cage, but we are going for a simple setup (in the KISS theme- the hides ended up looking like Hershey's kisses and we are firm believers in the Keep It Simple, Stupid! philosophy).
Here is the cage:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ets/BPtank.jpg

And here is a hide:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/kisshide.jpg

The inside of the hides and bowl are cobalt blue, the outsides are natural fired clay.

I had a hard time finding an Accu-rite so I had to buy TWO thermometers- one with a probe for the warm side, and a hygrometer/thermometer for the cool side. Really stupid design- has a suction cup near the bottom so if you stick it to something it leans way out, so I put it on upside down in the corner. LOL

looks good! you should make and sell those hides!

Sweet hides! I could knit or crochet a hide, but probably wouldn't quite work as well as yours! Great job!


Wendy

Thanks! Wendy, yours sure would be nice and cozy, though! I can throw mine in the dishwasher if they get dirty- you could throw yours in the washing machine!

I do sell all my other pottery- how many snake hides do you suppose I could sell at a craft fair? I can see all the little grandmas scooting off when I explain what they are for!!! :lmao:

June,


I actually ran into the girl from my reptile store at the yarn store (she changed jobs). She was so shocked! Personally, I think I come off as more of a knitter than a herper...oh well, as long as I can shock some people!

Go scare those nice, little old ladies! They may need some excitment in their lives! :fest:

Wendy

Looks like a Hershey's kiss:)

edit: dang didn't notice that you already mentioned that

LOL!

Other than the hides, does everything look okay? Warm side 91-93, humidity I'm working at keeping around 55-60% and cool side, once DH hooks up a homemade rheostat to a second UTH, I want to get to around 80-82 degrees. Is it too "open?" I was thinking of getting some black foamcore to cover back and sides.

I'm sure people here like myself would buy them. how much would you sell a hide for that size? those are very nice!! good job on them..

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Originally Posted by junko

I do sell all my other pottery- how many snake hides do you suppose I could sell at a craft fair? I can see all the little grandmas scooting off when I explain what they are for!!! :lmao:

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Originally Posted by junko

LOL!

Other than the hides, does everything look okay? Warm side 91-93, humidity I'm working at keeping around 55-60% and cool side, once DH hooks up a homemade rheostat to a second UTH, I want to get to around 80-82 degrees. Is it too "open?" I was thinking of getting some black foamcore to cover back and sides.

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How big is the aquarium? It looks a little open but if you have a subadult it may not matter. If it's a hatchling you may want to add some climbing branches (some bps don't use them...mine is like on a mission to become a GTP when she comes out to prowl for her next meal). Maybe some greenery to feel less exposed when your bp-to-be wants to travel from one "kiss" to the other.

Those are utterly gorgeous!! I love pottery. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous creations.

Heather

Those are some seriously sweet hides! Good job on them! They do look big for a baby, if that's what you're planning to get, and the space could be filled with greenery so that it's not so open (ball pythons don't like open spaces).


But looks good!

june, good idea to cover three sides with black foam core. it will help a lot with insulation and we all know that glass aquariums aren't the best thing for that.

covering up three sides will also add a greater sense of security for the bp. try it out and see what happens with the temps.

also watch the humidity in there. if you haven't already, cover up half of your screen top with saran wrap(up to the heat lamp). this will help the humidity from escaping.

edit: i see you aren't using a heat lamp so you can wrap up the the entire lid. maybe leave a little hole for air circulation. but other than that, looks good!

lol....funny hides

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Originally Posted by heatherhead42

Those are utterly gorgeous!! I love pottery. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous creations.

Heather

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Agreed! Your skill in pottery is awesome! I see a new maneufacture in hides in the making! ;) :)

I just wanted to add that if the hides are a little big for your bp, take one of them to the dollar store and buy plastic cereal bowls to fit inside the pottery hides. We did this with our large rock hide, and it works great. Sammy loves it--feels nice and tight to him, and as he grows, we can remove the bowl and use the same hide.

Wow, thanks everyone!

Well, for the pointy tops, $12...but shipping for pottery adds another $9 on the average- depending on how far they have to go and how heavy the package is. If they were flat topped, like an upside down ceramic water crock, I could sell them for $9 each, because I can fit more into my kiln and save on electrical costs. The ones I just made are 7" across on the inside and about 2.5 inches high. I wish I could sell them for less but all my costs have skyrocketed! Sorry! I could see myself making hides for everyone, but I imagine the cost would deter most people.

The water crocks are 4x2.5 inches and I sell a LOT of those to guinea pig breeders for $4 each if no decoration is involved.

It's a 20 long, and the top is taped up according to the "glass tank setup" sticky at the top of the forum. The fluorescent light on top of an opening seems to create just the right amount of ventilation, so far. The hides would definitely be too big for a baby, if that's what we end up with, so your idea is a good one, heatherhead! However, the breeder we are going with has some females from '05 so we're hoping to come home with one of those. At any rate, I'll bring them with me to see what she thinks about the size, and if I need to adjust it.

We'll go shopping for some plastic plants this weekend- it will add some welcome "ambience" to the cage, LOL!!!

Thank you everyone! :D

june,

i absolutely love what you ended up creating. absolutely beautiful! i'd love to see some updated pics once you get the back and sides covered up. even some black paper works but insulating it is, IMO a better idea. ;)

Oh my goodness--$12 is NOTHING for a gorgeous piece of pottery like that--hand-thrown! And $9 shipping is very reasonable. Sadly, I am not in charge of decor for Sammy's tank, or I'd be all over that! Really, that's extremely reasonable.

And they are beautiful. :)

my daughter is taking a clay class right now... i see a snake hide (or twelve) in our future!

Thanks, RG and HH!

I think it's a little spartan but will look better with the black behind it to hide wires and such. But I always go for EASY TO CLEAN!!! LOL

RG- oh, cool! How old is your daughter? The first time I tried clay, back in high school, I was smitten. I just love working with it! It's fun coming up with new things to make. Have her make you some water bowls, too!!!

Hi,


The hides look great and I just love that people are getting inspired to think about making their own.:)

I have no idea what a hersheys kiss is ( sounds kinky to me :colbert: ) but I thought they looked like little african huts at first and had thoughts of a mini village with a giant ball python ruling it as a god.

I assume these thoughts will lessen as the medication kicks in.:P


When I started keeping these types of pets there was very little commercial equipment available in europe so we improvised a fair bit - but we didn't manage to make anything that looked that good.


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

I have no idea what a hersheys kiss is

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Now you do. ;)

mmmmm chocolate **droools**


ta for that - you really don't wanna know what google showed me.


dr del

Very nice hides June. Oh and I'm super envious that you have your own wheel and kiln! That rocks. :love:

Thanks again everyone!

Actually what I had in mind was something like the dome of the Taj Majal, but when I was finished the first thing everyone said was "Hershey's Kisses!"

Great hides

LOL!! I can see that now that you mention it, but yeah... they're soooo Hershey kisses to me. (Hey did ya know they update Chocolate world? I haven't been back since they reopened it, but all this chocolate talk is getting to me.)

Those hides are awesome! Have you gotten your snake yet?

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

Those hides are awesome! Have you gotten your snake yet?

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Thanks! No snake yet! This is (hopefully) to be a reward for my daughter if she makes straight A's again. She has been in the high honors all through 5th and so far through 6th grade, and has always wanted a snake. We've handled different types of snakes, researched their care, and decided on a ball python (I would supervise care and handling). She can get the snake if she gets straight A's on her report card which comes out on Tuesday. That was the "big reward" she wanted.

If she doesn't make it, there will be one very disappointed 11 year old and one even more disappointed mom in this house! But we told her she could try again the following report card. It's been VERY difficult not to go ahead and get one, let me tell you!!!!

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Originally Posted by junko

Thanks again everyone!

Actually what I had in mind was something like the dome of the Taj Majal, but when I was finished the first thing everyone said was "Hershey's Kisses!"

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well that's what i saw... the taj majal... but then everyone else was seeing kisses... but i liked the "look of royalty for the royal python" :)

Sez it all.


Everyone else saw either the greatest monument to love ever produced or chocolate - the only thing that possibly compares to love ( I've bin told :P ).

I see a hut.:(

I gotts to start working out my romance muscles before they atrophy like my wallet did.



dr del

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no wife, no surprise.

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:rofl:

don't worry or dwell on it Derek! Not ALL women fear or are repulsed by snakes and the tarantulas!! :D Some of us LUB 'em! :P

LOL!!! Awwww, Derek.

You're not the only one who saw something different. My son picked them up, held them to his chest points out, and said "Hey mom! What are these?" :eek:

Okay- this weekend I updated the tank instead of watching Superbowl...LOL. I think it'll be much cozier now.

View from front:

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/BPtank-1.jpg[/IMG]

View of top:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../bptanktop.jpg

That flap is to regulate humidity. If the humidity reaches 50%, we close it. It was 65% just then. If we have trouble getting the humidity down I suppose we could just move that light fixture as the screen top is open there, too.

Well, report cards came today.

Not straight A's. She got a B. It's a great report card, but she didn't maintain, so no snake. This was all Hubby's idea- he's not "into" animals like we are, so this was the deal they had struck, and we have to abide by them (responsible parenting and all that). Guess we'll have to wait until NEXT report card (mid-April). I don't have the heart to dismantle the cage just yet, though.

I'm soooooo disappointed I could just cry. I wish I could go out and get myself one but that would defeat the whole motivation thing.

Awww... :hug: I'm sorry :( I bet your little one's dissapointed, too... Hehe--maybe you should get one and tell everyone he's YOURS ;)

Awwww what's 1 lil ole B?! It could of been so much worse!
I love those hides btw!

Thanks Guys. I just have to console myself with the fact that next report card is only 2 months away, it'll be warmer and safer weather to transport a BP, and if she doesn't get straight A's then I'll just have to disown her or something. LOL

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Originally Posted by junko

Well, report cards came today.

Not straight A's. She got a B. It's a great report card, but she didn't maintain, so no snake. This was all Hubby's idea- he's not "into" animals like we are, so this was the deal they had struck, and we have to abide by them (responsible parenting and all that). Guess we'll have to wait until NEXT report card (mid-April). I don't have the heart to dismantle the cage just yet, though.

I'm soooooo disappointed I could just cry. I wish I could go out and get myself one but that would defeat the whole motivation thing.

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ahhh poor kid :(

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Originally Posted by junko

Well, report cards came today.

Not straight A's. She got a B. It's a great report card, but she didn't maintain, so no snake. This was all Hubby's idea- he's not "into" animals like we are, so this was the deal they had struck, and we have to abide by them (responsible parenting and all that). Guess we'll have to wait until NEXT report card (mid-April). I don't have the heart to dismantle the cage just yet, though.

I'm soooooo disappointed I could just cry. I wish I could go out and get myself one but that would defeat the whole motivation thing.

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Oh June that's so sad for you both! Good luck to your darling girl for next quarter!

Wendy

Thanks everyone! She cried most of the afternoon on my shoulder while I held mine back. LOL!!!! But she's raring to go this morning! She didn't want me to take down the cage so maybe leaving it up will keep her motivated.

Awwww... how disappointing! I hate it when we strike deals that end up hurting me as much as them. :P :(

Maybe there's some intermediary goal she could shoot for, and not have to wait quite THAT long? I don't know... Good for you for sticking to it, even though it wasn't your idea. That's something I have a hard time with, but it's so important.

Wow--that's a tough deal, too! She has to get STRAIGHT A's to make the cut, eh? I guess I woulda been snakeless all through high school too! LOL

Anyway, I'm really sorry for your disappointment. And after everything you've put into it! I hope we'll see you here again in a couple months. :)

Heather

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Originally Posted by heatherhead42

Awwww... how disappointing! I hate it when we strike deals that end up hurting me as much as them. :P :(

Maybe there's some intermediary goal she could shoot for, and not have to wait quite THAT long? I don't know... Good for you for sticking to it, even though it wasn't your idea. That's something I have a hard time with, but it's so important.

Wow--that's a tough deal, too! She has to get STRAIGHT A's to make the cut, eh? I guess I woulda been snakeless all through high school too! LOL

Anyway, I'm really sorry for your disappointment. And after everything you've put into it! I hope we'll see you here again in a couple months. :)

Heather

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Yeah, it's a really tough deal, but her father was THAT adamant against a snake. It was "no, absolutely not" for the longest time. But then I talked to him about what good grades she was making and how she deserved a really special reward, and let that sink in... and then they struck that deal.

I was having a REALLY hard time sticking to it, trying to come up with an alternate deal, but then I thought what kind of message would it send if we backed down? and that helps.

Oh, you can't get rid of me that easily. I'll still be on here learning all I can!

-June

Glad to hear you're gonna stick around! And good for you for sticking to it. Seriously, that is one of the hardest--and probably one of the most important--things about parenting, imo. And my oldest is only six, so I'm sure I have plenty more of it to go!! LOL

While you're waiting on your snake, maybe you'll start getting orders for those fabulous hides you make. :)

Heather