New BP soon, did I clean enough to keep this one alive?

[Dave Green]

Why would you ask for advice and then argue with everyone? Bark isn't dangerous; however, since your last snake died maybe you should scrap it just in case. Since you can't be sure what the snake died of why take any chances? I think you've gotten some good advice, sterilize the tank as best you can and use new items in the cage regardless of how simple or fancy you want to get with the enclosure.

[sicilian1928]

Why would you ask for advice and then argue with everyone? Bark isn't dangerous; however, since your last snake died maybe you should scrap it just in case. Since you can't be sure what the snake died of why take any chances? I think you've gotten some good advice, sterilize the tank as best you can and use new items in the cage regardless of how simple or fancy you want to get with the enclosure.

Its conversing, not arguing. I am putting things out there to be thought about that have been told to me. Just about every person I have talked to, which include long time snake owners, pet store owners and a reptile house owner have said I have done an excellent job with the husbandry and cleaning. I do want many ideas on the matter but when I have been told by an overwhelming majority of people that I my cage was just about perfect its funny to hear people telling me that bark is a bad idea to have and a half log is unnecessary. sure its easy to use paper towels, but I wont take the easy avenue with this snake. I want it to be happy not just survive in a bin with no room or anything to do.

[dr del]

Hi,

I'm going to possibly sound a little mean when I say this but I promise you that is not the place I'm coming from I just can't think of a better way of expressing myself.

Most people haven't had a snake die of unknown causes in their setup.

Now you seem pretty certain your friends snakes are healthy and that yours was healthy when you got it. For the record I am not so certain given the early regurge.

But.

The upshot of this is you need to take a few precautions when you get a new snake that other people don't really need to.

Keep the enclosure as simple and clinical as you can until your new guy has settled in and seems to be doing all right.

This means paper towels or newspaper as a substrate - something that is easy to clean and gets completely changed when the animal poops or pees. They also let you inspect said poop and easily bag it if you want to have it checked at a vets.

Papertowels also make it easier to spot mites etc.

Half log hides are never ideal but, since they were used by a snake with an unknown sickness I would hold off on using it again - a simple easier to clean hide would be a couple of those plastic drip tray saucers that go under plant pots. They are cheap as chips, easy to cut a door in, and very easily to sterilize if needed. BP's also tend to love them.

Now these aren't permanent restrictions - they are just sensible precautions until you know things are working out ok with the new guy.

Once that has been established you can think about moving more towards the type of setup you want long term.

One silly question I can't remember the answer to - what kind of bark is it and where did you get it?

It's almost certainly fine but I thought I'd ask.


dr del

[K2exotics]

Hi,

I'm going to possibly sound a little mean when I say this but I promise you that is not the place I'm coming from I just can't think of a better way of expressing myself.

Most people haven't had a snake die of unknown causes in their setup.

Now you seem pretty certain your friends snakes are healthy and that yours was healthy when you got it. For the record I am not so certain given the early regurge.

But.

The upshot of this is you need to take a few precautions when you get a new snake that other people don't really need to.

Keep the enclosure as simple and clinical as you can until your new guy has settled in and seems to be doing all right.

This means paper towels or newspaper as a substrate - something that is easy to clean and gets completely changed when the animal poops or pees. They also let you inspect said poop and easily bag it if you want to have it checked at a vets.

Papertowels also make it easier to spot mites etc.

Half log hides are never ideal but, since they were used by a snake with an unknown sickness I would hold off on using it again - a simple easier to clean hide would be a couple of those plastic drip tray saucers that go under plant pots. They are cheap as chips, easy to cut a door in, and very easily to sterilize if needed. BP's also tend to love them.

Now these aren't permanent restrictions - they are just sensible precautions until you know things are working out ok with the new guy.

Once that has been established you can think about moving more towards the type of setup you want long term.

One silly question I can't remember the answer to - what kind of bark is it and where did you get it?

It's almost certainly fine but I thought I'd ask.


dr del

I really agree with all of what Del has said here.. and that is a good question about the bark and the source of the bark Del.. I never would have thought of that.

[coldblooded]

Did you ever get a necropsy done on the deceased snake?

Dr. Del does raise a good point, the kind of bark is important and also where you got it from.

From what I recall, non-kiln baked softwoods are toxic to reptiles. Some wood products could also be chemically treated..

Quarantine habitats should be simple for reasons Dr. Del already stated. Please try not to get defensive, most people are just trying to help and may not be as eloquent as others.

Best of luck with your new snake! I'm sorry you had a rough start to the hobby with your last one.

[sicilian1928]

Did you ever get a necropsy done on the deceased snake?

Dr. Del does raise a good point, the kind of bark is important and also where you got it from.

From what I recall, non-kiln baked softwoods are toxic to reptiles. Some wood products could also be chemically treated..

Quarantine habitats should be simple for reasons Dr. Del already stated. Please try not to get defensive, most people are just trying to help and may not be as eloquent as others.

Best of luck with your new snake! I'm sorry you had a rough start to the hobby with your last one.

[/I]
I apologize if I have seemed to get defensive. I am just really trying to get the good information, but have gone about it in the wrong way. I us Repti Bark which is Fir bark.

[sicilian1928]

Hi,

I'm going to possibly sound a little mean when I say this but I promise you that is not the place I'm coming from I just can't think of a better way of expressing myself.

Most people haven't had a snake die of unknown causes in their setup.

Now you seem pretty certain your friends snakes are healthy and that yours was healthy when you got it. For the record I am not so certain given the early regurge.

But.

The upshot of this is you need to take a few precautions when you get a new snake that other people don't really need to.

Keep the enclosure as simple and clinical as you can until your new guy has settled in and seems to be doing all right.

This means paper towels or newspaper as a substrate - something that is easy to clean and gets completely changed when the animal poops or pees. They also let you inspect said poop and easily bag it if you want to have it checked at a vets.

Papertowels also make it easier to spot mites etc.

Half log hides are never ideal but, since they were used by a snake with an unknown sickness I would hold off on using it again - a simple easier to clean hide would be a couple of those plastic drip tray saucers that go under plant pots. They are cheap as chips, easy to cut a door in, and very easily to sterilize if needed. BP's also tend to love them.

Now these aren't permanent restrictions - they are just sensible precautions until you know things are working out ok with the new guy.

Once that has been established you can think about moving more towards the type of setup you want long term.

One silly question I can't remember the answer to - what kind of bark is it and where did you get it?

It's almost certainly fine but I thought I'd ask.


dr del

Oh no you havent come off wrong. Well said actually, but I use Repti-Bark which is Fir bark. I got it from Petco. So do you think I should just throw all of the bark away that I treated with diluted bleach water, and then baked for over 2 1/2 hours in the oven at 350 degrees? My family friend that gave it to me said that it may have been his fault in that he didnt realize that his girl bp had eggs. He noticed she was in he hide an awful lot and opened it up and saw the eggs. He said that eggs are supposed to be kept at a higher temp than he had the snakes in (88 degrees) for best results in the clutch. Could this have been a factor? Also if the mouse I gave him was treated chemically for mites/lice or if it was just carrying a disease- how long would it take to kill the snake? because it died within i would say 12 hours of feeding it.

[blackcrystal22]

Oh no you havent come off wrong. Well said actually, but I use Repti-Bark which is Fir bark. I got it from Petco. So do you think I should just throw all of the bark away that I treated with diluted bleach water, and then baked for over 2 1/2 hours in the oven at 350 degrees? My family friend that gave it to me said that it may have been his fault in that he didnt realize that his girl bp had eggs. He noticed she was in he hide an awful lot and opened it up and saw the eggs. He said that eggs are supposed to be kept at a higher temp than he had the snakes in (88 degrees) for best results in the clutch. Could this have been a factor? Also if the mouse I gave him was treated chemically for mites/lice or if it was just carrying a disease- how long would it take to kill the snake? because it died within i would say 12 hours of feeding it.

Wait, is this bark you're talking about the bedding??
You don't save bedding.. you toss it and replace after a month or so and certainly don't use it for new animals. For a new animal you should be using paper towels or newspaper instead.

Your friend does not seem to know very much about these animals. For one, the snake was in the enclosure with another snake and breeding without him knowing about it. To hatch the clutch you need an incubator with a specific temperature and high humidity - usually one that's hooked up to a thermostat.

Also, I work at a zoo and we hardly any porous material (besides aspen bedding that is constantly being switched out) and everything in the enclosure that is decorative is plastic/cleanable except for a few kiln dried climbing branches for certain species.

Since you have a glass tank, get two hides like this or similar:
http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes/
Small water bowl and no decorations. Pitch the log hide, they are terrible for ball pythons anyway.

Mice are generally not chemically treated and usually don't get mites/lice.. I do not think that the animal died from what it ate. Unless you purchased it from a petsmart or a petstore that specifically labels their small animals as being vaccinated and should not be used as feeders.

[Miko]

Oh no you havent come off wrong. Well said actually, but I use Repti-Bark which is Fir bark. I got it from Petco. So do you think I should just throw all of the bark away that I treated with diluted bleach water, and then baked for over 2 1/2 hours in the oven at 350 degrees? My family friend that gave it to me said that it may have been his fault in that he didnt realize that his girl bp had eggs. He noticed she was in he hide an awful lot and opened it up and saw the eggs. He said that eggs are supposed to be kept at a higher temp than he had the snakes in (88 degrees) for best results in the clutch. Could this have been a factor? Also if the mouse I gave him was treated chemically for mites/lice or if it was just carrying a disease- how long would it take to kill the snake? because it died within i would say 12 hours of feeding it.

Did you say you baked the bark with bleach in it? DO NOT put diluted bleach in the substrate. I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this, they probably have but cooking the substrate is enough, (At 200 degrees for two hours) diluted bleach is probably the thing that harmed the snake because you poured it in it's bedding, correct? When you use diluted bleach you NEED to rinse it off well. Please, please be careful with your next snake, don't be afraid to ask anyone on this forum for help if you're wondering anything. Perhaps you feel as though you've been treated wrongly since you seem defensive but they're really just trying to help. Also, I would suggest that you wait a a few months AT LEAST to get another snake after this incident. Don't rush, a snake is a lifetime partner who should last you around 30 years. It's like getting married, you should seriously see it as a big deal.

[DemmBalls]

Please don't clean the substrate. Just replace it. It's cheap enough that there is no reason to clean it, bleach it, bake it, etc. Good luck with your new snake and go STEELERS!