morning thoughts

[distaff]

Took Starbuck out, even though he is in blue.
Unless he is digesting, he comes out every morning - we hang out over coffee.
Never seen a calmer, gentler animal in my life.

I know their eyes are supposed to clear before shed, but he seemed itchey. He kept trying to rub his rostrum against my hands (they are dry, and rough as sand paper, but to no avail). This will be his first shed with me; he lives in high-desert now, and he came from Florida, so I'm a little concerned. (I had daily nose bleeds when I first arrived here from HI) The viv gets misted daily, the screen top is covered, and he has a humid hide.

He is due for his mouse tomorrow, but that will have to wait. I keep him on a ten day feeding schedule, per instructions in Soderberg's book re. mature males.

____

Came into an unexpected gift, and have a bit of "fun money." Another viv and corn? VMS has a lovely FL Keys locality - but it is also het for other genetics, and maybe if I want to get into localities, I should go for pure strains from dedicated locality breeders? Furthermore, I already have perfection in this cornsnake, and maybe shouldn't push it. Was thinking an alt would be a small locality boa.

[Ballpythonbakery]

I live in New Mexico as well and always struggle with keeping everyone shedding in solid pieces. Humidity is king. A big soaking bowl or a lot of soaked sphagnum moss is necessary in this area.

Most corns get really easy going with routine handling. Get another and have fun with it.

[distaff]

I live in New Mexico as well and always struggle with keeping everyone shedding in solid pieces. Humidity is king. A big soaking bowl or a lot of soaked sphagnum moss is necessary in this area.

Most corns get really easy going with routine handling. Get another and have fun with it.

Thanks.

I spent the money on an upgraded t-stat (so, now, everyone can get off the sloppy Hydrofarms), and bio-active substrate for the current corn. He is also receiving a larger faux rock magnetic ledge perch (big enough for him this time), and another faux rock plant holder. The extra climbing should help keep him in shape. I ordered an extra UTH and another extra T-stat probe; am going to experiment with siliconing, the probe, a cut to size sheet of styrofoam, and a thin slate tile into a sealed and bottom insulated heater *sandwich* that can sit on top of the deep substrate.

Eight bags each of lightweight drainage gravel and ABG-type substrate should be enough to cover the 18"X36" floor to the proper depths. More plants are coming too. We'll see what works there. So far Hedera helix (English ivy) thrives best - does great in there, actually, but I'd like some variety. Hoping he can pull the next shed off on his own; I helped him some on this one.

I'm still "window shopping" corns. Will perhaps have a full set-up for another, by the end of the summer.
No hurry.