Hey, great site! I've learned alot from reading all the posts here. Much appreciated.

I have a small BP about 20 inches long, less than an inch diameter at the widest. He loves to climb and truck around his domain

I have a couple of newbie questions, probably fall into the "nervous new parent" category.


1. A shedding reminant: he shed nicely 4 days ago. There is about 1cm (1/2 inch) of dried skin on the tip of his tail. Leave alone? peal it off? (have a beer?)

2. I've read the cautions about cedar and pine shavings. Are there any other wood species that are potential problems? I'd like to get him some interesting sticks (and will boil and bleach and bake 'em), but I'd hate to kill him by giving him something that I found in the woods. (I am certain its not cedar or pine, but anything else I should be aware of?)

3. I've heard snakes are "stupid" in that they will die on a hot rock rather than move. Should I be concerned about a snake getting up near the heat lamps and getting burned on the face or nose because they don't sense the hotness and keep away? My guy will climb on a branch and extend his head right up to the metal screen just beneath the heat lamp, which is placed on the screen. see diagram:
_
| |
| |
/ & \ <-heat lamp bulb
/ \
/ \
-------------------- <-- screen top
~~~~~o> <-- snake

Should I keep his jungle-gym away from that end of the container, or is it no big deal? (Of course, I'm sure this does not apply to *my* snake, who is actually quite bright and would never do something so foolish. But just in case *your* snake comes to visit, I want to be sure its safe for him/her .
BTW, when he's up on something, he can extend about 10 inches of his body completely horizontal. so I'd have to really keep the perch away to keep him from getting is face in the lamp. (and he can pretty much get up there from the base without assistance by leaning against the side or back wall)

Thanks for the advice,

Divalent