Newbie Here

So, I'm new to this site and I must say that I plan to be a regular around here because these forums have some amazing people and info!

I'm going to pick up the new addition to my family tomorrow. He is 100% het albino and he's only about a foot long. I have a few questions though. I've been reading books, websites, and articles galore but I still have a few lingering questions. My mother is a vet technician so I plan to use her knowledge too if I come to a block in the road. I'm also good friend with the head vet at the New England Aquarium so I can always hit him up. Just figured I'd let you guys know that I'm not being ignorant about joining the snake owners' world! :P

So, for my questions...I apologize if they've already been asked before because I know that can be quite annoying on forums but feel free to yell at me if some questions are repetitive!

1. What size tank should I use for an enclosure? I was thinking I should get 40 gal but is that too big or too small?

2. In terms of heating, how should I set up my tank? I know I need a heating pad and a light lamp but I've read that one side of the tank should be cooler than the other. I'm a bit confused there. A thorough description or even pics would be GREATLY appreciated.

3. I should let him acclimate for a week before handling him, correct? I am rescuing him from someone who can no longer keep him and she says he has a great temperment. Her six year old neice handles him everytime she is at their house.

4. I'm going to be build a custom enclosure for him in the spring so what should be good for dimensions? I was thinking 4 feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide, and 2 feet tall?

4. What are some good snake names?! :P I like "tough" sounding names. For example, I've had pure bred rottweilers my whole life and I've named them things such as Malichi, Beretta, and Jefe (which means boss in spanish). I'm thinking of something like Goliath or in that type of fashion.

Please help me out guys! I'll be sure to post pics in the pics section as soon as I get him home!

You will find alot of your answers in the care sheets

first off welcome, and a good way to answer your questions before posting is the check out the search function and the caresheets.

>40 gal is way too big, you wont need one that big for a couple years, at your size you will be just fine with a 20gal.

>a heat lamp and an UTH are a priority unless you plan on using heat tape or a snake room. this is covered in the caresheets. you need to have a warm and cool side because snakes are cold blooded and by having a warm and cool side in their enclosure they can thermoregulate their bodies, this way they dont cook or freeze. hot side should be around 90 and cool side 80. also you will want to get two hides, one for each side.

>letting them get used to a new environment is good so they can adjust and have some time to calm down. most of the time it will stay in its hides, even after the week, so dont plan on it cruising around alot. If it does cruise it could mean its hungry or nice and comfy.

>as i mentioned before a 20gal will be just fine, and a bigger enclosure wont be necesary for awhile. if you have to big of an enclosure your bp could get stressed, and not feel secure enough because its such a large area and its such a small animal. making your bp feel secure is key.

>as for names, that is completely up to you. why not taz:taz:?

Welcome to the forum also.

A 40 gal in my opinion is too big for a one foot snake. A 10 to 20 gal would work to start.

For heating I wouldn't recommend using a lamp at all unless just to cycle day and night if you can't provide ambient light. A lamp is killer on humidity. I would recommend a heat pad or 2 (one on each side of the tank) in order to keep your temperatures high enough (82 to 84 on the cold side, 92 to 94 on the warm side). Make sure you use a thermostat on both heat pads to prevent them from getting to hot.

Try to read through some posts and caresheets and feel free to ask more questions. Also, try using the forum search function. It has helped me out alot.;)

good to see another south park fan.i haver never missed a one

I've been reading all of the care sheets and they've definitely helped me out a lot! Thanks for all the help guys!

I have an opinion question though: As far as branches go, are they necessary? I was going to just pick a medium sized rock out of my back yard, wash it down really well and then stick it in his enclosure so he can rub on it for shedding.

I might just get a stick from my back yard too. But, no pine of course because of the sap/oils. I'll find a nice big oak tree maybe :P

branches arent really necessary, just more of a cosmetic thing. if you wanted to use something from your backyard make sure you disinfect it by either puting it in your freezer over night or cook it in the oven at a low temp for about 30min.

Branches are mainly for the viewing sometimes, however my younger BP likes to use it for shed time... Since the younger ones shed more often, I have it in there for them rather than me....

something a lot of people forget to mention.

most snakes are gloraphobics (sp?)
meaning they dont generall ylike open spaces, so branches, fake leaves etc are always good to have in a tank.

I found when I used tanks that my bp was completely different once changed:

i started in an open tnak with two enclosures and a rock. he stayed hidden ALL the time.

I later painted/insulated 3 sides. added branches and fake leaves and he came out all the time.

I assumed form this experiance that the clutter actually makes them feel more at home in a glass tank.

now all of mine are in colored tubs in a rack so they seem really happy :)

just my 2 cents though :)

I need to get more fake plants lol. My one little measly one isn't really cutting it haha. Need to cover 3 of the sides too because I've heard it helps keep a BP feeling more secure. Never hurts to try.

Kept having to put off picking up my little guy because we've gotten buried under 2 feet of snow this weekend (with more to come Tuesday!) so I'm taking my one snow-less day and getting him haha.

Thanks to everyone for all of the help! I'll be sure to post pics when he's here:snake:

don't let him freeze when you pick him up!

If you haven't picked him up already, I would recommend taking a 2nd person along to stay in your car and keep it running/heated. Transporting reptiles in wintertime is always tricky.

A second person is coming, no worries! I didn't want to have a BP popsicle :P

What are you going to be measuring your temps/humidity with? The ones you buy at your local pet store are very inaccurate. I speak from both experience and extensive reading when I say this!

You should definitely buy a digital thermometer/hydrometer if you want to keep a proper heat gradient for your snake. They only run for 13$ at Walmart and it includes everything you need (a probe you can place on the hot side for measuring hot side temps, the device itself that measures the ambient cool side temps, and the device itself that measures humidity). If you can't find them at Walmart then amazon.com always has a bunch in stock.

May I ask which one you use? I have a $25 gift card to Wal-Mart from some kind of holiday, birthday, something. I was planning on using it for a thermometer for my little guy but I don't want to go all out and spend $70 on some super thermometer thats gonna transform or something! lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Clyde Frog

May I ask which one you use? I have a $25 gift card to Wal-Mart from some kind of holiday, birthday, something. I was planning on using it for a thermometer for my little guy but I don't want to go all out and spend $70 on some super thermometer thats gonna transform or something! lol

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-Grins.- Most of the people who matriculate here use the AcuRite thermometer/Hygrometer at Wal-Mart. It's going to run you about $12.97 plus tax.

It will read the temp at the end of the probe(under the substrate on the glass/plastic of the tub) and then you can read the ambient temp on the cool side and the humidity.

Ditto what Melicious said. I ordered a Timex device off of amazon for about the same price w/o shipping. But mine and the 13$ Acurite one work great. You definitely don't need a 70$ one!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hapa_Haole

Ditto what Melicious said. I ordered a Timex device off of amazon for about the same price w/o shipping. But mine and the 13$ Acurite one work great. You definitely don't need a 70$ one!

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O_O Absolutely not. For $70, that thermometer/hygrometer better be able to clean up snake poop, pet them, and tell me I'm gorgeous when I open their enclosures. WOW!

Hahaha. I've read some crazy set-ups. People putting $1,000+ into their husbandry on a regular basis. Hell, if I had the money I would but my snake is my friend, not my king!

I'm actually going to order that AcuRite one right now. Sounds like it's perfect for what I'm looking for.

Now, just to clarify, I should tape one probe on the glass right above my UTH (under the hot side hide) and the temp should be about 90 and the ambient temp should be 80-83, correct?

Hi,

No tape. :O

Since you really only measure it till you have set your thermostat you will want to be able to move the probe easily anyway - I would use the edge of the hide to hold it down, or maybe a small rock.

A glue gun would also work.

If you must use tape make sure to use low-tack painters tape - anything else and you risk seriously hurting your snake.

I kind of bang on about that but for those who think it will never happen to you read the links in this post - they thought the same.

And right on the glass you want it around 93-94f 'ish other wise it will probably be a little low on the surface of the substrate I think - but test it out and see.

you need to be able to move the probe and base unit easily till you get everything dialed in and self regulating. :)


dr del

Awesome. Thanks for all the help.

Quick question about the Reptitemp 500r thermostat. I can't tell by the pictures on the web, but is it set up so that you plug in your UTH (or other heat source) into the thermostat, place the probe from the thermostat above the UTH, and then set the temp that you want it to stay at on the thermostat and it will regulate it for you?

I hope that's not too confusing:confused: