T-shirt hide?

i used an old t-shirt of mine at the beginning to help my 05 hatchling to get used to my scent, as i read. during her last shed i also made the t-shirt wet to raise the humidity in the viv, and Kiki loved it. actually she was hiding in the wet t-shirt all the time and had a very successful shed. so far ok.

the problem is, ever since she has only stayed in the t-shirt. i am worried because:

1. i don't think she gets fresh air by hiding her head under the t-shirt. i imagine it to be the same as covering your head with the quilt. is it not? could lack of enough fresh air lead to health problem?

2. after she has eaten and then hides into the wet t-shirt, it's actually too cold for her digestion. no regurge or anything happend, just from the temparature measurement. it's below 70 F which i think is too low for a 05 hatchling.

the thing is, i still want to leave the t-shirt in the viv. it's not the prettiest but it does work. my question is, are my concerns above reasonable or am i just paranoid (being a newbie)?

Finally, a wet t-shirt thread on cs.com.

But seriously, besides a water bowl, I don't like the idea of a wet anything in a viv. I'd use a moist hide for a gravid female, but that's about it. I prefer to regulate humidity through ventilation and water bowl placement, and I try to keep things on the dry side of the corns' preference range. Moisture is a microbe's best friend.

If you see the snake come at at any time I don't think the fresh air would be a problem. As for the temps, snakes are the best judge of the temps they prefer, after she eats she will instinctly head towards her most comfortable range.

I believe the reason she likes the T-shirt is because it is a tight fitting (no pun intended) hide that she feels secure in. When you think that corns like tight spaces for security, there are not many solid hides that will give them that for any length of time. The T-shirt will mould to her size/shape even as she grows, so I do not see a problem there. However I personally would not keep it wet every day, maybe just dampen it when she is blue until she sheds at most. As Dean said above, bacteria LOVE damp warm substrates.

Roy Munson said:

But seriously, besides a water bowl, I don't like the idea of a wet anything in a viv. I'd use a moist hide for a gravid female, but that's about it. I prefer to regulate humidity through ventilation and water bowl placement, and I try to keep things on the dry side of the corns' preference range. Moisture is a microbe's best friend.

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a.... wet.... t-shirt... topic?!?! sorry Rich, i didn't mean to spoil your rating of this site. but it was :twoguns: Roy's fault!

but you are right, i am also concerned about the bacteria danger. that's why i boil the t-shirt twice a week. (it probably doesn't smell like me at all any more).

graffixcs said:

If you see the snake come at at any time I don't think the fresh air would be a problem. As for the temps, snakes are the best judge of the temps they prefer, after she eats she will instinctly head towards her most comfortable range.

I believe the reason she likes the T-shirt is because it is a tight fitting (no pun intended) hide that she feels secure in. When you think that corns like tight spaces for security, there are not many solid hides that will give them that for any length of time. The T-shirt will mould to her size/shape even as she grows, so I do not see a problem there. However I personally would not keep it wet every day, maybe just dampen it when she is blue until she sheds at most. As Dean said above, bacteria LOVE damp warm substrates.

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i wish to trust my snake to know what's best for her. but i've read so much about snakes burning themselves without knowing it. i just doubt my Kiki might also be a bit dumb... sorry Kiki.

it is a tight fitting :crazy02: coz sometimes when she decideds to have only one layer of cloth on top of her, i can see her through the cloth, since she is so red.

makes a lot of sense with the security feeling. still i hope she will just come out more instead of cocooning in that t-shirt. she is really like me!

graffx already adressed it, but to repeat that the snake is going to choose where to go, and as far as being able to breath, what's your response when under a blanket and you can't breath? You choose to stick your head out to catch your breath! The snake will do that too.

Can't recall seing anything mentioned, so I'd ask if you have other options for your snake to hide under on the warm and cool side of the enclosure, or if the moist t-shirt is the only hide you have. You could have a snake that is choosing security/comfort over ideal temperatures. I believe there have been discussions about that before which is where the recommendation of more than one hide comes from.

D80

oops sorry forgot to mention that. i do have different hides for the snake. i have a rather big viv and to compensate for that, leaves and hides everywhere, on the warm as well as the cold side. trunks and the typical exo terra hide, and a little house made out of wood (not pine). all bought from the pet store. but kiki just doesn't use them! :shrugs: she just goes back to the t-shirt on the branches everytime!

Personal opinion would then lead me to believe that the snake knows where it wants/needs to be, and will use the other hides when it wants/needs to. The only thing left for discussion would be humidity issues, but unless they're really low 30%ish or less I haven't noticed any problems with any of my snakes. Too high of course is not good either!

D80

ChiaraMom said:

all bought from the pet store. but kiki just doesn't use them! :shrugs: she just goes back to the t-shirt on the branches everytime!

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LOL i have a ton of hides bought form the store they dont use... mine sit in papertowel tubes and toilet paper tubes...LOL :bang:

Drizzt80 said:

You choose to stick your head out to catch your breath! The snake will do that too.

D80

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*grin* that is what kiki is doing now. i just passed by her viv and saw her little head sticking out of the t-shirt. :cheers: she probably does that more often than i see!