Some general questions not discussed in FAQs

[GirDance]

Everyone here has been so friendly and helpful with helping out about my habitat dilemma, so thanks right off!

But, me being me... well I want to make sure I know as much as humanly possible before I bring home my baby, (some how about 16 years of research no longer seems adequate to me now that it's so close to home time!) but I have a few general interest questions left... Most likely silly ones. Also aggravated by the fact I had my enclosure set up for 3 1/2 days, but then had to tear it down to lend to a friend as a weekend emergency for two rescued pine snakes that couldn't be housed together until another enclosure could be properly snake proofed! (Get it back tomorrow, so it can be disinfected and set up for a day and a half to get temps right, and I have previous stuff all recorded).

1. When handling a new arrival, is it best to wait till they come out of their hide on their own while you're around... Or to just take them out of the hide? Wait about 48 hours before attempting to handle at all a good time frame?

2. 5% bleach solution to disinfect enclosure then rinse well, but can things like Lysol Disinfectant Wipes be used as well then thorough rinsing? Asking out of general interest as even the 5% bleach mixture leaves my nose burning, but I don't want to use anything that isn't going to be healthy for my girl.

3. Is windex okay on the glass surface? Rinsing would defeat the purpose, I have a custom set up with glass on only one side, but again... ??

4. Substrate that is *best* for lowering humidity, or should I just start with paper towel to ensure no mites etc? (Present ambient humidity in my house is 60.1 - when I tested the set up with exact settings and no substrate at all for two days it was hovering around 60.4)

5. I have to use bottled water because the water here is *extremely* hard (If you leave a glass of water out for a day and a half, there is a nice thick layer of calcium and lime deposit on any part of the glass that's evaporated - even I try not to drink it) is there anything specific to look for or avoid with bottled water? Does water have to be at room temp before putting in (as with fish), or if we decide to go with a water cooler can I get away with making sure it's just not freezing?

6. Does anyone know where an Acurite can be found in Canada? I've been looking everywhere to no avail and settled to test the temp using 1 regular combo digi therm/hum and a combination of three different precision analogue (two zoo med and a generic one) and two analogue zoo med humidity monitors... I put them all in the same spot and recording the readings on all three every 2 hours for 2 days (and yes, over night as well, horray for being a night hawk!)... Figured if I used the three and they all stayed within 2 degrees of one another it would be fairly accurate till I could find a good one..

7. My house typically stays between 70 and 80, but occasionally does go up to 90. What is the best cooling method for a custom enclosure with a 3'x3" screen at the back? Put a small fan on the one side or is there something more reliable? (I already bought a thermostat for the UTH, however found that it worked best if I attached it to a timer that only turned on at night for about 4 1/2 hours when the house drops to 65 and only on intermittently during the day).

Thanks so much to everyone for all their insight and experience... I've wanted a ball since I was 8 but had a mother terrified of them and mice, and then did not want to get one while I was still living in student housing. Now, at 25 after 17 years of waiting and planning I'm finally getting it and just feel so unprepared!

Sorry my posts are so long!!!! I talk on the phone for a living, it makes me ramble when typing!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

1. When handling a new arrival, is it best to wait till they come out of their hide on their own while you're around... Or to just take them out of the hide? Wait about 48 hours before attempting to handle at all a good time frame?

Actually you want to leave your BP alone for a week with no handling upon it's arrival. Once a week has passed, try to feed your BP, if feeding is successful give your BP another 48 hours without handling, to avoid regurgitation.

2. 5% bleach solution to disinfect enclosure then rinse well, but can things like Lysol Disinfectant Wipes be used as well then thorough rinsing? Asking out of general interest as even the 5% bleach mixture leaves my nose burning, but I don't want to use anything that isn't going to be healthy for my girl.

I would either recommend Bleach 5% (You can use a scented bleach works wonder, I cannot stand regular bleach either ), I would also recommend Chlorhexidine http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.h...2-00b0d0204ae5

3. Is windex okay on the glass surface? Rinsing would defeat the purpose, I have a custom set up with glass on only one side, but again... ??

I would not recommend harsh chemicals, rinse well and dry it off right away it should not leave any trace.

4. Substrate that is *best* for lowering humidity, or should I just start with paper towel to ensure no mites etc? (Present ambient humidity in my house is 60.1 - when I tested the set up with exact settings and no substrate at all for two days it was hovering around 60.4)

At first I would recommend paper towel, after that Aspen will work fine.
One thing about the reading you are getting with your humidity do you use a digital hygrometer? If not your reading in the enclosure can be off.

5. I have to use bottled water because the water here is *extremely* hard (If you leave a glass of water out for a day and a half, there is a nice thick layer of calcium and lime deposit on any part of the glass that's evaporated - even I try not to drink it) is there anything specific to look for or avoid with bottled water? Does water have to be at room temp before putting in (as with fish), or if we decide to go with a water cooler can I get away with making sure it's just not freezing?

Bottle water at room temp will be fine

6. Does anyone know where an Acurite can be found in Canada?

No idea check your local groceries store or home improvement store. I am sure some of our Canadian members will shade some light on that. If you don't find it this place ship to Canada http://www.weatherconnection.com/pro...p?itmky=529964

7. My house typically stays between 70 and 80, but occasionally does go up to 90. What is the best cooling method for a custom enclosure with a 3'x3" screen at the back? Put a small fan on the one side or is there something more reliable? (I already bought a thermostat for the UTH, however found that it worked best if I attached it to a timer that only turned on at night for about 4 1/2 hours when the house drops to 65 and only on intermittently during the day).

You are not likely gonna have to cool down your enclosure you need to provide 80-84 on the cool side and 90-94 on the warm side and glass enclosure tend to be more difficult to heat so I would not worry about that yet. However you want to replace the time by a thermostat to maintain proper constant temps and avoid overheating.

Thanks so much to everyone for all their insight and experience... I've wanted a ball since I was 8 but had a mother terrified of them and mice,

I had the same issue and since then made up for it with 16 of them and since you wanted to have one for so long no doubt you will have a great appreciation for your new companion

Good luck and I almost forgot

[GirDance]

Thank you so much!!!

I would not recommend harsh chemicals, rinse well and dry it off right away it should not leave any trace.

Has anyone ever used vinegar as a glass cleaner, again are there potential health risks to this?? I only have glass on one side, so I guess if it's streaky etc I'll just deal with it!!!

At first I would recommend paper towel, after that Aspen will work fine.
One thing about the reading you are getting with your humidity do you use a digital hygrometer? If not your reading in the enclosure can be off.

I used a digi combo and an analogue simultaneously to check the variation between the two actually. Kept track of it every two hours for a 48 hour period. SO far between the digi and analogues there's only been a 1.5 percent difference when all placed in the same spot... Until I can find a good digi combo here (Been everywhere looking for an Acurite, might be worth a drive to Buffalo or something though if I can't find one... For now my combo of using 4 different thermometers with 2 hydrometers seems to work).

However you want to replace the time by a thermostat to maintain proper constant temps and avoid overheating.

I found that if I left the thermostat on 24/7 it was getting it too hot regardless of setting - especially when the house gets up to 90 for the one - two hours a day that it has been the last week... So it's actually the thermostat itself that's hooked into the timer. Maybe I should just buy a new thermostat!!!

[jeffjr464]

you dont need to have your thermostat plugged into a timer, it will self regulate the temp you set it too, also i live in ontario, you don't have to have an "accurite" thermometer, there are ones that do the exact same thing at canadian tire,walmart,home depot, etc they are usually called weather stations you can get em anywhere from 8-15 bucks, are you sure you don't have a rheostat? not a thermostat? if the room gets warmer with a rheostat it keeps heating stuff up worse, that's why i tossed mine hope this helps

[GirDance]

Yeah, it's a thermostat... I just think that it might be poorly calibrated or damaged. I salvaged it from my boyfriend's beardie equipment but it seriously does not like to work properly - guess if I can't get it fixed it's time for a new one! Although with the timer set up as well it stayed perfect temps... Guess I'll keep monitoring it!

[Royalherper]

Just a suggestion. I've always heard not to use bleach. Definetly don't use a commercial window cleaner. I've been using "Quat plus" from Big Apple Herp for over 13 yrs now. I clean the cages and glass with it. It kills everything and its safe for all pets. I commend you on doing as much reseach as humanly possible before getting your pet. Your pet will thank you...you just won't hear him/her say it.

[GirDance]

Well, I used the bleach, but I also rinsed after, then soaked in warm water for two hours, then rinsed again... Hopefully that will be fine. Either 1. now that the driftwood is completely clean it looks much lighter, or 2. the bleach lightenend it, but it still looks okay

New purchases for tomorrow:

2 x Thermometer

New Thermostat

We'll see how that all works out... No more ratioing out multiple thermometers and checking how much it varies every two hours... Although at least if something goes wrong in the future I know how quickly the tank looses heat in the current temperature settings!!!

[GirDance]

Also, still wondering if once she's ready for handling I should wait till I see her out of the hide box, or just take her out of the hide box to get her used to being handled??

[frankykeno]

1. When handling a new arrival, is it best to wait till they come out of their hide on their own while you're around... Or to just take them out of the hide? Wait about 48 hours before attempting to handle at all a good time frame?

Other than a quick look over when you get them (and a few pics of course LOL) it's best to leave a new snake to settle in for about a week, then offer it's first feeding. Personally I don't even worry about handling until they've eaten at least 4 times (so about a month), then start with short, quiet handlings sessions. You can remove them from their hide. Just give them a moment to realize you are there or to wake up. Sometimes they will startle, but that's expected of new or young snakes (some always do it to some degree or other).

2. 5% bleach solution to disinfect enclosure then rinse well, but can things like Lysol Disinfectant Wipes be used as well then thorough rinsing? Asking out of general interest as even the 5% bleach mixture leaves my nose burning, but I don't want to use anything that isn't going to be healthy for my girl.

Actually it's a 10% bleach solution to properly disinfect but it must of course be followed with repeated clear water rinses. Then just wipe out with a dry paper towel and your good.

3. Is windex okay on the glass surface? Rinsing would defeat the purpose, I have a custom set up with glass on only one side, but again... ??

Personally I'd just use vinegar and water for glass cleaning and make sure it's well wiped/rinse so there is no residue. I don't care for cleaning products around the snakes.

4. Substrate that is *best* for lowering humidity, or should I just start with paper towel to ensure no mites etc? (Present ambient humidity in my house is 60.1 - when I tested the set up with exact settings and no substrate at all for two days it was hovering around 60.4)

I'd go with plain white paper towels. I think it's Viva brand that makes an extremely soft, almost clothlike white towelling. It's very nice. Then you could try a nice fine shred aspen later on (check at WalMart...way better than pricey pet store beddings). Never use anything with pine or cedar in it.

5. I have to use bottled water because the water here is *extremely* hard (If you leave a glass of water out for a day and a half, there is a nice thick layer of calcium and lime deposit on any part of the glass that's evaporated - even I try not to drink it) is there anything specific to look for or avoid with bottled water? Does water have to be at room temp before putting in (as with fish), or if we decide to go with a water cooler can I get away with making sure it's just not freezing?

Just plain old jug of water thing. Nothing fancy, and not distilled water. As long as the water's not freezing it's fine. It'll warm up quick enough anyways once inside the snake's enclosure. Remember a water dish needs to be heavy so it won't be tipped but not big enough for your ball python to soak in.

6. Does anyone know where an Acurite can be found in Canada? I've been looking everywhere to no avail and settled to test the temp using 1 regular combo digi therm/hum and a combination of three different precision analogue (two zoo med and a generic one) and two analogue zoo med humidity monitors... I put them all in the same spot and recording the readings on all three every 2 hours for 2 days (and yes, over night as well, horray for being a night hawk!)... Figured if I used the three and they all stayed within 2 degrees of one another it would be fairly accurate till I could find a good one..

Here's a pic of a similar product sold in Canada. Either google the company who makes them for a list of suppliers or even check ebay or that sort of thing go find one. Likely Canadian Tire or Zellers might have them.

7. My house typically stays between 70 and 80, but occasionally does go up to 90. What is the best cooling method for a custom enclosure with a 3'x3" screen at the back? Put a small fan on the one side or is there something more reliable? (I already bought a thermostat for the UTH, however found that it worked best if I attached it to a timer that only turned on at night for about 4 1/2 hours when the house drops to 65 and only on intermittently during the day).

Your tstat on the enclosure will adjust and help keep your temps correct. If you use a fan make sure it is moving air but not blowing directly at the snake. Drafts and snakes don't mix well.

[shag]

The last place i've seen Accurite's in Canada was at XScargo, http://www.shopxscargo.com/ . I've been using the Accu-temp (also sold under the name Springfield Precise temp) digital thermometers with good success and are sold at every Canadian tire, Walmart and Homedepot.