Wondering if my enclosure looks ok

Just looking for opinions on my enclosure. It's basically an Iris tub, and most everything else I got from Reptile Basics. The RB hide is in the warm end, and the log hide is in the cooler end. Then just the water in the center and I'm using some unprinted newspaper and aspen for substrate. The heat is from flexwatt tape on both ends. I'm using a thermostat and a dimmer to control the temps. The thermometer is the Accurite from WalMart.


http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7475/enc1.jpg


http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7190/enc2.jpg


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And little Corby...


http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/2385/corby1.jpg


http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/6670/corby2.jpg

Everyone is gonna tell you to use identical hides. Also, there is alot of open space in there. You should get some stuff to clutter it up. Idk how big your BP is so maybe its not alot of open space, but it looks like it.

Couple things. Have to agree with the two identical hides comment. I find that my girl will choose safety over comfort every time. If don't have the cage symmetrical except for the temp she will favor one site vs the other.

Its hard to tell because you don't show your snake in the hide but it looks a bit big. I have the same hide and I can tell you when I tried to move up to the next size my snake showed me it was not time yet.

Can you flip the hide upside down and put the snake in it so we can see the size. I see a lot of people have hides that are big and water bowls that are small. I like my snake to fit in both with the hide on the small side and the water bowl on the big side. Of course my snake is in display enclosure and the large water bowl helps with the humidity for me.

One other thing. You have the water bowl filled up pretty full. If your snake wanted to soak in the water it would overflow. If you get a bigger bowl and fill it up less than half way then your snake can soak without soaking the rest of the cage.

I do remember reading alot of people saying to use two identical hides. I had just already ordered the one and someone gave me the log. So I kind of used what I had on hand. And he seems to spend alot of time curled up on top of the log, or pressed up against one side of it. So I was tempted to leave it, thinking he 'liked' it.

As far as the water, I had just cleaned everything out and filled up the water and probably put in a little more than I usually do. The water bowl is too small for him to curl up and get into completely. But when I tried a bigger bowl, my humidity was *way* too high. I don't know what the solution is to that.

I guess I'm also asking because I'm too keen on the tub in general. It just seems kind of cheap. I just wish I had something a little nicer.

But I appreciate all the comments, keep 'em coming...

Hi,

I would also recommend replacing the tape holding the acurite wire with a hot glue gun spot.


dr del

To give you an idea about how snug they like their hides. I use the Reptile Basics large hide for my adult male who is 2200g and 54" long. It amazes me that he can sqeeze himself into it and sometimes he more or less "wears" it like a shell, kind of bulging out from under it. I thought the may be too small so I spent alot of money on some larger, jumbo rock caves, and he only went in them once to check them out and then he started camping out between the hides and tank.I figured he needed time to adjust, but after a week of this I just gave in and put the other hides back in and he's been using them ever since...

No, it's definitely not that tight. I'd say he could easily fit in half of hide.

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Originally Posted by TexasGuy

No, it's definitely not that tight. I'd say he could easily fit in half of hide.

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Is that one a medium or large size?

Is your snake eating? If it is eating, and shedding in one piece, there is no need to change anything.

I don't remember off the top of my head if it's a large or medium.

But he sheds in one piece and eats like a champ.

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

It amazes me that he can sqeeze himself into it and sometimes he more or less "wears" it like a shell, kind of bulging out from under it. I thought the may be too small so I spent alot of money on some larger, jumbo rock caves, and he only went in them once to check them out and then he started camping out between the hides and tank.I figured he needed time to adjust, but after a week of this I just gave in and put the other hides back in and he's been using them ever since...

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I had almost the same thing happen to me except I was moveing from the reptile basics medium to large.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Is your snake eating? If it is eating, and shedding in one piece, there is no need to change anything.

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I have to agree with Mike, but I will say a few more things sense you asked. If I were you I would throw out the word "like". Your snake wants 3 things normally and a 4th durring mating season.

Food
Safety
Correct Temperature

If its moving then its trying to find one of those 3 and if its not then its content.

You said your snake is eating and that tells us you are probably good. But you should keep in mind that you may only be good because your snake is in a tub. That same setup in a tank and your snake might get stressed and could stop eating.

I would say if you could fit another snake half its size in the hide then you need a smaller hide if you move to a bigger tub, display cage or tank.

If you want to try a bigger water bowl then you can keep your humidity down by putting more holes in the tub. A soldering iron in a well ventilated space will make nice even holes with rounded edges.