First Time Snake Owner

[therunaway]

As for the stuck shed make sure you got every bit off the tip of the tail or he'll lose it & make sure eyecaps are gone as well, excessive amount of leftover eyecaps can & will cause problems. As for the probe, make sure it's on the outside of the tank, in the middle of the mat, with no tape on the metal piece, but the tape on the plastic cord or no tap at all!

[Talae]

Thanks for the advice. I will try and get some pics of him at school. I am still really torn as to keeping him in the lab or the class. I am in my class all the time and only in the lab about weekly. I would be doing a better job monitoring things in the classroom (as opposed to once a day or so in the lab). I might start in the class and then move him if he seems stressed.

To clarify, I have the probe for the thermostat outside his tank and taped next to the UTH. Do you mean I should place it in the center on the outside of the UTH? I am moving him Monday to the school, so I will wait until then to modify his tank. Also, I fed him Monday, so tomorrow is five days since he ate and also two days before planning to move him. Seems like it matched up perfectly for what day to feed him.

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His head and tail were already fine. Although, he honestly seems a little on the dull side compared to last time he shed. I wonder if he is actually in the early stages on his next shed.

[Kaorte]

The thermostat probe should be in the center of the UTH, not next to it.

[Talae]

I worked on the lid today and thought I would share. My classroom is pirate-themed, so this is fitting for that.

[Talae]

I took him to the school today in hopes of him getting acclimated in the next week. I also covered the sides of the tank with laminated construction paper. Here are a couple of pictures of him near my family board:





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Also, I VERY SLOWLY AND GENTLY put the thermostat probe in the correct place. The readings are now much, much more stable (at least for the four hours or so that I was there after setting things up). Due to the classroom temps, his cold side is a little colder than he was here at home (77-78 instead of 82-83). I may insulate the underside of the tank too in order to help with that.

[Kaorte]

77-78 isn't a bad ambient temperature. Insulating a bit might help, but I don't think its a huge deal. He will be perfectly fine at that temp.

Looks good!!

[Talae]

77-78 isn't a bad ambient temperature. Insulating a bit might help, but I don't think its a huge deal. He will be perfectly fine at that temp.

Looks good!!

What temp should I be thinking about insulating at then? I am asking because the temp in my class is likely to get cooler once the school year actually starts (I don't have much control of temps in my room...maybe a few degrees).

And thanks!

[Kaorte]

What temp should I be thinking about insulating at then? I am asking because the temp in my class is likely to get cooler once the school year actually starts (I don't have much control of temps in my room...maybe a few degrees).

And thanks!

As long as you can keep the ambient temperature above 75* you should be fine. I would shoot for 80* if you can. Are you only using a UTH?

[Talae]

Yes. The only heating source is the UTH. I put three layers of aluminum foil and then one layer of duct tape on the screen topper. My intention was mainly to help with humidity (which it did wonderfully).

[Kaorte]

Make sure there is some ventilation though! You don't want any nastiness growing in there due to lack of air flow.