• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

Just a quick question.

C

cas0001

New member
Yesterday I bought my first snake. I fed him and put him back in his cage and have not touched him since. He moved around for a bit, but since then has only lay coiled in one spot or another. Just wanted to make sure that was normal. Also ]the habitat[/URL] might be one reason. No worries though, this is only a temporary solution to last me until Christmas!
 
Although I can't get a better look at the tank because the link doesn't work, I can sort of make it out.

I'd HIGHLY recommend, for your snake's health, that you get a bigger tank. But this isn't my main concern. What is my main concern is the fact that it looks like there's no thermal gradient within the tank. Do you have a thermometer to measure the temps (preferably a digital probe) and a thermostat to regulate them?

Also, is that incandescant bulb left on all the time?

Please answer some of these questions for me and put my heart at ease.

All the best

David
 
Snakes lurve to be coiled about... don't worry. It's natural, he is simply getting used to his new habitat.
 
Snake Dave said:
Although I can't get a better look at the tank because the link doesn't work, I can sort of make it out.

I'd HIGHLY recommend, for your snake's health, that you get a bigger tank. But this isn't my main concern. What is my main concern is the fact that it looks like there's no thermal gradient within the tank. Do you have a thermometer to measure the temps (preferably a digital probe) and a thermostat to regulate them?

Also, is that incandescant bulb left on all the time?

Please answer some of these questions for me and put my heart at ease.

All the best

David
Click to expand...


Depending on the size of the snake, it may be just fine... too large a cage can sometimes stress neonates as well...
 
Kokopelli said:
Depending on the size of the snake, it may be just fine... too large a cage can sometimes stress neonates as well...
Click to expand...

Yes I agree, but they don't want to be so cramped that they can barely move either. Also, with a cage that small it would be very difficult to create a thermal gradient even if he had a correct way of heating the tank.
 
First of all, I appreciate the help.
-The snake is only 7-8 inches at the longest.
-There is not really much as far as temp. gradient.
-No I do not leave the light on all the time.
-Yes, I do need to buy a thermometer very soon.
 
Okay thanks for replying. Just make sure that you get a larger tank, a UTH, a thermostat and thermometer, and enough hides ASAP. This coupled with a good feeding schedule (which I hope you have) and good humidity should make your snake very happy :)

All the best

David
 
With the snake that small, you can grab a tennis ball, cut it in half, and then cut an entrance notch in each one and put them in opposite corners, one nearer your light, one farther away.

I stole this idea from someone more imaginative than I am.

Check your other thread... the one hijacked into a discussion on civility and the one started by erbzzz, for more advice from me concerning housing.
 
I'm not a fan of open sided hides, like the half round tree bark or a TP roll, although both are far better than nothing. I think the whole purpose of a hide is to give a strong sense of security. I think a hide with only one way in and out (like a cave) provides a better feeling of security than the others. Exception is tunnels that go down into the substrait. Those simulate natural tunnels and are cool.
 
I doubt the light is a good idea, snake are not active durring daylight hours, they're mostly nocturnal or active during dusk and dawn. Having a really bright light a foot away would probably not be ideal for them. It would annoy me, and I love daylight.

I suggest you get a UTH as soon as you can. Like, tonight.
 
Is UTH under tank heater?
I thought it was some special sort of lightening and everyone on the forum go on and on about how useful it is... (and that's what I am using)

Just confirm my suspicion please? :)
 
Yeah Kokopelli, UTH stands for under tank heater, another term for heat mat etc.

But yeah once again I agree with v various. Not only does the incredibly bright light probably stress the snake, you have no way of monitoring or controlling the temps, it could be like 100F in there for all you know.
 
Kokopelli said:
Is UTH under tank heater?
I thought it was some special sort of lightening and everyone on the forum go on and on about how useful it is... (and that's what I am using)

Just confirm my suspicion please? :)
Click to expand...

UTH does stand for Under Tank Heater. I believe it is the 'preferred' method of providing easily regulated heat and a temperature gradient. I'm going to resist starting another argument... I do recognize that there are other means of providing heat. Many alternatives are valid (provided they are monitored and regulated) and can be used with success. UTH's (and I include cable, flexwatt and 'petstore' stick on brands in this category - some may not) may not be available everywhere - I believe you said that you can't get any in Isreal - but I would argue that they are, at worst, a very good option to strongly consider as a heat source.
 
There are UTH's here in Israel. I thought the name UTH stood for some brand of light bulb which is why I said that we didn't have it here... never heard of such a thing...

But if you mean a heating mat/cable, we have those, yes.
 
Kokopelli said:
There are UTH's here in Israel. I thought the name UTH stood for some brand of light bulb which is why I said that we didn't have it here... never heard of such a thing...

But if you mean a heating mat/cable, we have those, yes.
Click to expand...

ah, sorry. It's an acronym I've seen used here a few times, I didn't think to type it out -_-

Corns don't need extra lighting. Some reptiles do, but corns aren't naturally active during daylight hours and are built to not need it. And ya, UTH's aren't the only method of heating, but they are the most preferred. Ceramic heaters, heat lamps with light that the snakes can't see (infared? I never looked into it because I'm happy with my UTH) are also used sometimes. Heat rocks are bad though, say away from those.
 
v_various said:
ah, sorry. It's an acronym I've seen used here a few times, I didn't think to type it out -_-

Corns don't need extra lighting. Some reptiles do, but corns aren't naturally active during daylight hours and are built to not need it. And ya, UTH's aren't the only method of heating, but they are the most preferred. Ceramic heaters, heat lamps with light that the snakes can't see (infared? I never looked into it because I'm happy with my UTH) are also used sometimes. Heat rocks are bad though, say away from those.
Click to expand...

I agree... I think that the best guideline is to make sure that no matter what heating method you use... make sure that your snake cannot come in direct contact with it.

No electric device is fool proof... if there's a shortage it may overheat. But in these cases you know that only half of the tank is exposed, and the snake doesn't come in direct contact with the source...
 
One good thing about UTHs, they aren't going to tip over/fall off and start a fire...

Nanci
 
Nanci said:
One good thing about UTHs, they aren't going to tip over/fall off and start a fire...

Nanci
Click to expand...

Are you sure? If there's a shortage and it begins to heat up can't it technically melt the plastic? or if it's on a flammable surface like a desk- can't it cause a fire?
I really am asking here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top