Just got out first snake!! and I have a few more questions.

[whispersinmyhead]

We just received out new female pastel and are letting her acclimate. I have had a ton of great help from this forum on cage setup and it has made this whole process a lot easier. But I am totally new to snakes and this is our first. 3 days in...

Well I obviously realize BP's are nocturnal. She has been up from midnight and on exploring the whole cage top to bottom. She has been in both hides cool and hot during the day. Temps and humidity are great. Humidity is steady at 58 and haven't misted once yet.

My stupid questions are:
1) Do they every come out during the day? (My leo does here and there only for a few minutes)
2) I have a fluorescent tube in there and it is on a timer for a day and night cycle. I have it set from 9 am to 9:15 pm. Is that ok or should I change it? Our house is very dark during the day so I left that light in there for both looks because it is a display cage and for a solid day and night cycle for routine.
3) How will I know she is acclimated well?
4) Last but not least and more importantly how do I prepare F/T? The breeder fed live but I want to get her onto F/T asap because well I don't want to risk and injury to the snake and my wife and daughter are way more comfortable with it.

Here is a pic of the setup.

IMG_0049 by Whispersinmyhead, on Flickr


IMG_0052 by Whispersinmyhead, on Flickr


IMG_0050 by Whispersinmyhead, on Flickr

and the pic from breeder as I don't want to bug her for a couple weeks for pics.


IMG_5333 by Whispersinmyhead, on Flickr

Her colors are a ton brighter in person.

Thanks
Jim

[Mike41793]

You want 2 identical hides on both sides. The fluorescent lights are not needed. To thaw f/t you let it sit warm water for 30 min in about 110degree water. Drain and refill the container 3 times to make sure it thaws all the way. DO NOT use hot water, boiling water, or try and microwave defrost it...

[whispersinmyhead]

Thanks. Both hides are identical (pretty close to). One on the cools side back corner and one on the hot side back corner. Temps are 92 hot side and 80 on the cool. Humidity is 58%.

Is the fluorescent bad for her? I have it set for 12 hours on timer. Our house is almost pitch black during the week because we aren't home because the curtains are closed. Just thought a sense of day and night would be a good idea.

[kitedemon]

A 12 hour cycle is the correct daylight timing for them if you are going to use a fluorescent light. They are individuals but I often catch some of mine head out of hides in the early morning and sometimes early evening. During the last and first hour or 30 min of the lighting cycle.

Snakes acclimation and temps and generally everything can be told from feeding. A well adjusted and enclosure with correct conditions will hold a feeding snake. (adult fasting omitted)

I allow FT to de frost in the fridge over night. When I am close to feeding I'll bring it out and set it on a bit of plastic or glass to pre-scent the room and to warm up for about 20-30 min. I'll then use a hair drier to raise the body temp to mid to high 90s and the head to 100-110ºF. I use hemostats to feed with they hold better than most other tools.

[The Serpent Merchant]

My stupid questions are:
1) Do they every come out during the day? (My leo does here and there only for a few minutes)
2) I have a fluorescent tube in there and it is on a timer for a day and night cycle. I have it set from 9 am to 9:15 pm. Is that ok or should I change it? Our house is very dark during the day so I left that light in there for both looks because it is a display cage and for a solid day and night cycle for routine.
3) How will I know she is acclimated well?
4) Last but not least and more importantly how do I prepare F/T? The breeder fed live but I want to get her onto F/T asap because well I don't want to risk and injury to the snake and my wife and daughter are way more comfortable with it.

1. Yes, they do come out at day sometimes

2.Your fluorescent light schedule is fine. most people do 12 hours on, 12 hours off.

3. You will know that she has acclimated well when she is eating regularly and just chills in her hides during the day and explores at night (sounds good so far)

4. There are many ways. I pull mine out the night before and stick them in a freezer. then about an hour before I am going to feed I put them in a bucket of warm water. Finally I heat them to 100 degrees (checked by my temp gun) with a hair drier.

Temperature is the most important thing you don't want to cook them, but they need to be around 100 degrees as that is the body temperature of rats.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Is the fluorescent bad for her? I

The florescent is fine, they do not need UV the way bearded dragons do so they don't need the light, but it also won't harm them either. i have a standard fluorescent light in all of my cages.

[Mike41793]

Oh no i didnt mean the fluorescent was bad. By all means keep it if you like it! It doesnt do anything for your snake but it wont hurt them either

[whispersinmyhead]

Oh no i didnt mean the fluorescent was bad. By all means keep it if you like it! It doesnt do anything for your snake but it wont hurt them either

Thanks I just wanted to be sure.

We got her Wednesday night so I figured I will try feeding her next Friday or Sat. I hope that is enough time. If not I will wait.

Thanks everyone.