New snake owner, specific questions.

[tttaylorrr]

Questions:

• She's currently being fed live pinkies, one every Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Is this an appropriate feeding schedule? Everywhere we've read says once a week, but the breeder said to do twice because she's growing.

• We want to train her onto frozen - should I do a couple live while she's in her new home as to not change too many things at once? I plan on feeding her this Sunday evening (8/6) and we brought her home yesterday (7/31).

• With her red heat lamp, it's currently only 80°F on her hot side and probably around 70°F her cool. Humidity is holding steady at 60%. I have a heating pad coming in to warm up her hot side, but is she going to be okay for the next couple of days? Is there anything I can do in the interim?

• If I put her water bowl on top of her hide but obscured the edges so she still felt safe, what is the likelihood she would use a substrate-covered hill to get to it?

• Does she need a water bowl on her hot side?

• Would she benefit from a basking spot under her heat lamp?

• I've read that she does not need UV light or any other kind of light and that it might even be NOT recommended. Could someone please verify this?

1. pinkies, whether mice or rats are WAY too small for the average two year old female! how much does she weigh? weight is a huge part in knowing a beeps overall health
   
2. yes i would not change too many things at once as you're bound to get a refusal regardless. leave the snake alone for 5 days up to a week so she can get acclimated to her new environment.
3. 70° is too cold for ambient temps. ambient temps should never drop below 75°, but i never let my temps drop below 77°.
4. odds are she'll end up knocking it off and making a mess. i would not do this.
5. she needs a water bowl big enough to fit in, doesn't really matter where.
6. beeps don't "bask," they will stay in their hides the vast majority of the day only moving to thermoregulate. this is why you need two IDENTICAL cave-like hides — one over the (soon to be coming) UTH and one on the opposite side of the enclosure) so the snake doesn't pick a favorite and sacrifice thermoregulating for security.

5. What type/size prey is being offered?
She was getting live pinkies.

6. How often do you offer food?
I need help on this one!

like i stated above: pinkies are too small for the average two-year-old female. get a weight on her and use the feeding chart as a guide.

10. Do you use a thermostat to control temperatures?
Thermostat is coming for both a new lamp and a new heating pad!
11. What do you use to measure/monitor temperatures?
The heating pad I ordered will have its own digital thermostat, and there is currently one Zoo-med combo humidity/temperature analog gauge on her hot side. Another of the same is coming for her cool side, but I am open to suggestions for a reliable digital thermometer. I have one for my hedgehog, so I might just get another couple of those or try to find one with a hygrometer in it too.

what type of thermostat are you getting?
AcuRute digital thermometer/hygrometer all the way. ditch those stick-on dials they're basically garbage in terms of accuracy.

12. What are the surface and ambient temperatures in the enclosure?
The thermometer stuck to the back of the glass tank reads 80°F on her hot side so I'm really looking forward to that UTH pad!! I am worried for her.

pick up an infra-red temperature gun to measure surface temperatures. when your UTH + 'STAT comes in this will become an invaluable tool.

14. How many and what type of hides does the snake have?
One big plastic hide on her hot side. I want to make her another hide for her cool side.

two identical cave-like (only one opening) hides are SOP for beeps. i commented on this above.

17. How often and for how long is the snake typically handled?
She was handled for probably an hour or hour and a half yesterday (between taking her out at the store, taking her home, and setting up her tank). She was super chill and didn't seem anxious to leave. When we put her in her tank, she stayed out in the open for several minutes before going into her hide. We don't plan on handling her again until next Tuesday (if we feed her on Sunday).

don't handle her for about 5 days, then try to offer food.


where did you get this snake from, may i ask? a breeder with a 2 year old that's eating PINKIES is someone i would be side-eyeing. were they POSITIVE she was 2? i have an almost 3 year old male that's on small rats and over 900g, and typically he should be much smaller than your girl.

ask as many questions as you need! we're here to help.