So far so good (?)

[heatherhead42]

Well, besides struggling with temps and humidity, which we're gradually getting under control, I think things are going pretty well for Samuel L. Python.

We picked him up Sunday night. He explored his enclosure then curled up in one of the hides. He slept in there all yesterday then came out last night and explored. When we added the CHE, he held his head up toward it for a while.

Later, to better control temp and humidity levels, we wrapped much of the vented lid in aluminum foil. Because I didn't want to use tape inside the lid, there was a gap between the foil and the actual lid on the inside. We woke around 1 am to the sound of loud crinkling. He had climbed up there and was hanging out in the gap. We ended up removing the foil from the inside because we were worried that we would crush him accidentally when closing the lid. But we now have plans to add a "hammock" on the inside that will provide a narrow space at the top for him to hang out in if he chooses. Any thoughts on materials to use for the hammock? We'll attach it to the container rather than to the lid so it will be easier to ensure he won't get pinched when closing the lid, and so we can find him if we need to get him out for some reason.

We did have to handle him a bit while removing the foil. When we returned him to his enclosure (as soon as possible), he started toward his hide, but only went part way in and came back out to look at us. He seems very interested in us and not especially worried, so that seems good to me. Not sure how active he was the rest of the night because we slept until about five, by which time he was curled up in his hide again.

So, that's all good, right? Anything else we should be concerned about or thinking about?

Thanks!

Heather

[tigerlily]

You can use the foil to cover the screen, but do so with it on the OUTSIDE of the cage. Never put anything that isn't completely safe inside their enclosure, as they will inevitably find a way to investigate it.

My biggest advice would be to work on making the temps inside his enclosure perfect. It sounds like your bp is trying to get closer to the heat source, so I would double check those temperatures (at the floor level) with a digital thermometer. The temperature is one of the single most important factors in the caging of any reptile.

If you decide a hammock is just something you want to offer anyway, make sure it's of a disposable material or something that you can thoroughly disinfect. You will have to clean this every week during your cleaning.

[heatherhead42]

Thanks Tiger Lilly! We've got a proportional thermometer and heat tape on order, so when those arrive we'll be able to get the temps absolutely perfect. In the mean time, we're doing the best we can with what we have, and it seems adequate for now--we've stabilized the temps into the low 90s on the warm side and high 70s on the cool side (I know it should be 80s, but, like I said, we're doing the best we can with what we have until our new supplies arrive--we're working with pet store supplies at present). Most of the time, Sammy hangs out in a hide close to the cool side, so I hope that means that he's reasonably comfortable. Dh (Sammy is actually his) is getting another similar hide for the warm side today (there is already a hide on the warm side, but he may not like it as much, so we're getting one similar to what he's sleeping in now).

We know we should only put things that are absolutely safe in his enclosure--that's why we *didn't* have any duct tape in there. However, the aluminum foil idea actually came from a care sheet on this site which, I've since been told, is outdated. But not knowing that at the time, we really were trying to do the best thing possible, and we did remove it as soon as we saw that it was a potential hazard.

I don't mind having to sterilize the hammock material each week--we only have the one snake, so a little extra time working on his cage is not that big a deal to us. Are there fabrics that are safer than others (I can sanitize in hot water and the high heat setting in the dryer--will that be sufficient?). I know with mice, you have to be careful what types of fabric you use because they'll ingest it and some sorts can cause impactions. Of course, snakes don't nibble on every conceivable thing they can reach, but I still would like to know if there are safer and less safe fabrics for them. Or perhaps we should investigate some other material--maybe make a solid-surface shelf instead of a hammock? Out of plastic? Wood?

Thanks again for your feedback!

Heather

[tigerlily]

(there is already a hide on the warm side, but he may not like it as much, so we're getting one similar to what he's sleeping in now).

Good idea.

We know we should only put things that are absolutely safe in his enclosure--that's why we *didn't* have any duct tape in there. However, the aluminum foil idea actually came from a care sheet on this site which, I've since been told, is outdated. But not knowing that at the time, we really were trying to do the best thing possible, and we did remove it as soon as we saw that it was a potential hazard.

Actually we've updated the caresheet, so it should be accurate. If you happen to remember where you saw that let me know, as it was never intended to be inside the screen but on the outside instead.

I don't mind having to sterilize the hammock material each week--we only have the one snake, so a little extra time working on his cage is not that big a deal to us. Are there fabrics that are safer than others (I can sanitize in hot water and the high heat setting in the dryer--will that be sufficient?). I know with mice, you have to be careful what types of fabric you use because they'll ingest it and some sorts can cause impactions. Of course, snakes don't nibble on every conceivable thing they can reach, but I still would like to know if there are safer and less safe fabrics for them. Or perhaps we should investigate some other material--maybe make a solid-surface shelf instead of a hammock? Out of plastic? Wood?

Thanks again for your feedback!

A good product to consider puchasing is Chlorhexidine. Soaking in that for an hour should thoroughly disinfect the cloth, but I would also be concerned about it being ingested or snagging a tooth. Nice tight hides should be more than adequate.

Best of luck setting up your enclosure and getting your new heating products setup. Make sure to post some pics once you have everything squared away. (earlier is fine too, if you would like suggestions)
Heather[/QUOTE]

[heatherhead42]

Thanks again! Maybe we'll skip the hammock... but I've heard some folks will find their snakes hanging out on a high shelf in the tub, so I may still try to create some sort of a high, easy-to-clean shelf.

Right you are about the care sheet, although I think there is some information in there about heating pads made for humans being acceptable for use with reptiles, which I've since been informed by several on this board is not true.

But the tin foil idea didn't come from the care sheet after all--it was from this thread:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=32800

Very informative and helpful, but I either followed the directions wrong or it's missing critical information or it's wrong. Probably the first!

Thanks again for all your help. We've got things pretty good in there now--90 on the warm side, 82 in the hide on the cool side, and the humidity fluctuating but staying above 40 (I mist periodically to prevent it falling lower than that). Once our new supplies arrive, we'll be in really good shape!

Thank you,

Heather