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HELP!!!

Hunter2011

Hunter2011

The fun begins!
So I went to wal-mart yesturday and got the stuff to make my own rheostat, and got a UTH at Petsmart, well I don't know what the glass temp is sopposed to be like right on top of the UTH because someone told me that they can ge burnt if the burrow, so what should it be? Anyways, also my baby girl is coming tomarrow! And as far as decorations go... what should I put into her VIV?? AT first Kathy already told me that I should just have the paper towel role hide, and her water bowl, and if I really wanted a decoration to get somethign simple liek a rock, so what do you all think for afterwards? Is it safe to have those fake, plastic trees and stuff? how about those jungle vine things that you can put in the VIV?? Give me ideas and post pics please so I can plan on what I want to do in the future, but I kinda want something in there right away, like maybe a log or something?:shrugs::shrugs::shrugs:
 
Woah slow down!!! Get some hides for your snake he/she will need them for hiding and you could get some fake branches but always buy them from a reptile shop don't just go out and pick up some logs !! Plus i doubt that your snake will get burnt by the UTH and the temp should be 83-88 on the warm side with your UTH and 75-80 on the cold side.


Remember substrate too and only get that from your local reptile shop as some substrate can be lethal to snakes.But just make sure you have two hides one on the cold side and the other on the warm and a water bowl (Thats how i started off then later i added some decoration for her to climb on).Though it is up to you you can add some decoration but it doesn't really matter at the moment as you have to get used to your snake and your snake must get to trust you.
 
Hunter,
For a hatchling or even a yearling a paper towel tube is a perfect hide. Snakes like to feel closed in when in there hide. This is great because when the snake outgrows it you can throw it away and buy a more suitable one and not have wasted money.
You will need a substrate like aspen or even newspaper works. Your UTH should cover 1/4 -1/3rd of the tank bottom, if its a little less or more its not really a big deal. You will need a probe thermometer or 2. the Glass temp over the UTH should be like chuck said in the mid 80's. You will need a water dish that holds enough water for the snake to be able to at least move through if it feels the urge. (corns aren't really swimmers but will on occasion bathe in shallow pools of water). Other than that decorations or more reallistic furnishings are up to you. make sure whatever you put in your tank you sanitize though.

If you do want to use wood from outside look up the threads on how to make it safe for your tank. Baking in the oven is prolly the best way to treat real wood.

Best Wishes,
Chris
 
YAY! You must be excited! :)
Hope we get to see pics after she has settled for a few days :)

I just wanted to add:

When my Okeetee was a teeny 6 gram hatchling, I found it much easier to use paper towel as substrate. You can see everything on it, poop, urates, and possible regurges you might miss mixed in with substrate.

I kept him on paper towel for about 6 weeks, then started adding aspen in and around his hides. Eventually, when I felt he was a good feeder, without problems, I went to all aspen :)

My guy loves papertowel rolls..lol
 
Just make sure you KNOW the temps on the glass right above the UTH. Don't guess, use a thermometer with a probe. I had a rheostat connected to my zoomed heat pads for a while, and it would NEVER get below about 97 degrees F. That's way too hot. So check your tank. It doesn't need to be pretty, the corn probably is more concerned with having adequate temps and hides. Using paper towels on the bottom of the tank is a great idea at first, and it keeps things less messy. I use paper towels for all of my snakes. You can roll up the ends of the paper towels too and make some hides that way, my little Okeetee will only hide in the paper towels when they are folded.
 
So one would need stick on thermometers? because you are telling about the glass temp.

You should of told me that before I ruined mine by scraping them off.
 
No you don't need a stick on one. They are not much good.

You should read the temperature right above the UTH. If you are using aspen bedding, bury the thermometer in the aspen and check it after 15 minutes. The probe for the thermostat should also be buried in the aspen over the UTH.
 
Sheezy said:
So one would need stick on thermometers? because you are telling about the glass temp.

You should of told me that before I ruined mine by scraping them off.
Click to expand...

The stick on thermometers aren't very accurate. They are telling Hunter to get a probe thermometer which sits on the glass over the UTH.
 
I do have a probe thermometer, I got a zilla one from petsmart, and yes I am using aspen bedding! lol and it is in a 20 gallon long aquarium, im jsut using lots of hided! lol thanks guys! :)
 
Put the thermometer probe under the substrate, right on the glass floor over the center of the UTH. The temp there should be about 85 f.

I've constructed the same rheostat as described in that thread, and you should have no trouble dialing the temp down as low as needed. It helps to put tick marks on the dial and housing so you can remember where it should be set.

Any adjustments you make , make them small and allow time for everything to normalize to get the proper temp reading.
 
Theres a picture of my viv. I have just got to get a bulb guard. But hope this helps.
I have two fake plants in there, bark, water bowl, 2 rocks to assist with shedding, a cave filled out with moss and a fake croc head. He likes to curl up in the mouth. That would be smart in the wild, lol.
 

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thats a stick on that came free with it. the proper one is around on the left hand side (right looking at the pic) in the corner. dont think u can see in picture well tho.
 
that one came stuck on free. i just use it as a rough guide. its ok, seems to work pretty acurately. but i have proper ones too.
 
I wouldn't use that lamp until you get it properly protected. It could easily kill or severely injure your snake.
 
all very good advice. :D i'd follow it.
i just have a question....
what's UTH? i've seen it used on the site alot i just don't know what it is.
 
i have used the lamp and had no problems for a year. he doesn't go near it. so its fine for now. thanks for advice though.
 
wow, great advise everyone! :) I definately want this thread as part of my "subscriptions"

Also, as far as decorations are concerned, simple is probably the best way to go at the beginning when your little one is still, well, little... Then as time goes on, you'll be able to find some pretty interesting items to add to your viv. That's what I did with my frogs... Just try not to get too carried away like I did... I have two crates full of viv furniture that I have gathered along the way... lol :rofl:
 
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