My setup- Oppinions, criticisms, please.

[rerat]

Well, this is what we've got set up for our arrival either today, or tommorow, the breeder wasn't positive yet. I was hoping to get some insight, tips etc. on how things are looking for our soon to be baby. (I know, I know, overprepared and all that, but I just wanna do it right)

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[rerat]

Er..I DO know the water dish goes INSIDE...a minor technicality, it'l be in there, don't worry.

 

[hana]

lot's of places to hide are a good thing. I'm sure your snake will enjoy that. One thing though, you might want to consider putting some fake plants in there. Ya know, like those branches of leaves that they make for reptile vivs. That way your snake will feel more seccure as it moves from hide to hide. Plus, it will make the tank look even nicer.


hana

 

[zwyatt]

Things look good so far. One thing I would do is to invest in a $10 thermometer with a probe and digital read-out. They are much more reliable. I was overprepared too, but it paid off as I have a healthy snake and no problems so far. Good luck!

 

[SnakeLuvrs]

Things look good so far. One thing I would do is to invest in a $10 thermometer with a probe and digital read-out. They are much more reliable. I was overprepared too, but it paid off as I have a healthy snake and no problems so far. Good luck!

they even came out with these lil thermo guns... you can literally aim and take a temp... i am not sure how much they are... we will be getting one in daytona... here is a pic of one of my setups with those plants that hana mentioned...

there are more hides in there now... toilet paper rolls and others

and one cute pic

 

[MastersHaven]

Well, this is what we've got set up for our arrival either today, or tommorow, the breeder wasn't positive yet. I was hoping to get some insight, tips etc. on how things are looking for our soon to be baby. (I know, I know, overprepared and all that, but I just wanna do it right)

HHMMMMMMM.... that viv looks ummmm.... goofy...or bare!!!!

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

Just messin with ya rerat... :grin01: paybacks, ya know!

It looks just fine... like mentioned before I would add a few plants so the little guy feels more comfortable. but the only other thing I can think of would be what type of heating are you using? that looks to be a pretty good size tank for a hatchling so just make sure the heating is enough to keep it an adaquate temp.

:wavey:

 

[colinmcc]

One thought .....

With all glass vivs, the snake can easily be spooked from all sides. Hatchlings especially. Might be worth getting some of that landscape background and sticking it to the back and sides. Not only will it help the snake feel more secure, it'll look nicer too.

 

[graffixcs]

The set up looks fine, you certainly could maintain a healthy snake in there.
One concern I do have is with the heat, it appears to have a UTH placed under the tank. I don't see a thermostat to ensure the glass does not get too hot, the little buggers will bury them selves and could get burned from an unregulated heat mat.

Other than that a trip to Walmart won't hurt. The indoor/outdoor thermometers are $9.98, the probe will give you (when placed accordingly) the temp of the glass above the heater and when you fix the module to the tank will also give you the ambient temp. I am not endorsing this as it may sound, I just know it works. (I use that method on 2 vivs)

The plants can also be purchased at Walmart from the craft section, just wash them well when you get home and they can look great.

 

[ozzy512]

This thermostat that you are recomending...does it actually turn off the UTH, or does it just tell you the temp, so you can turn it off? Also, where does one find these at the store, what department?

 

[colinmcc]

It's not a thermostat mentioned there I don't think.

Just a thermometer. It takes a reading at the unit, has an external probe on a wire from the unit and a hygrometer (humidity) built into the unit as well. You don't connect it to the heat source or anything, just take readings with it.

At least, thats what it sounds like. I use one just like it.

 

[rerat]

think I'l use
http://cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19168&highlight=rheostat
This. I can get the parts easily tommorow, which is when the baby should be here, but It'l be fine for a little while right?

 

[Anita]

Temperatures

We got our new baby snake just 2 days ago. He is really cute and shy.

I had a question about these thermometers too. I put a normal small thermometer (inside/outside one) flat on the bottom of the viv on top of the aspen shavings (one in the cool end - reads 78-80 and one in the warm end - reads 88-90). I don't have a UTH, instead I use a 75 W basking light for heat during the day and a 75 W black heat lamp during the night. I have a 20 gallon tank and my problem is that I don't seem to get the cooler end down to 72-75 degrees. Of course it is warm in the house now during the summer too, about 75. Do you think these temperatures are OK or should I go down to even smaller Watts with the lamps? And do you also need a humidity gauge and what should it be showing?

By the way, those small plastic thermometers that you glue on the glas of the viv (close to the bottom) show at least 5 degrees less than the new thermometers that are lying flat on the bottom!!

Anita

 

[Joejr14]

I had a question about these thermometers too. I put a normal small thermometer (inside/outside one) flat on the bottom of the viv on top of the aspen shavings (one in the cool end - reads 78-80 and one in the warm end - reads 88-90). I don't have a UTH, instead I use a 75 W basking light for heat during the day and a 75 W black heat lamp during the night. I have a 20 gallon tank and my problem is that I don't seem to get the cooler end down to 72-75 degrees. Of course it is warm in the house now during the summer too, about 75. Do you think these temperatures are OK or should I go down to even smaller Watts with the lamps? And do you also need a humidity gauge and what should it be showing?

By the way, those small plastic thermometers that you glue on the glas of the viv (close to the bottom) show at least 5 degrees less than the new thermometers that are lying flat on the bottom!!

Anita

If your apartment/room/house doesn't get below 75 degrees, you don't need all sorts of extra heating. A 75 watt basking light is going to put off a lot of heat, probably too much. If you really want to use a light, I'd suggest a red heat light, in the neighborhood of 40watts. I'd nix the black heat bulb at night---not really necessary. Btw, you can use a red heat bulb all day, 24/7.

Do you need a hygrometer? No. For the extra $2 it's not a bad idea to get it included in the thermometer. Hygrometes aren't really a necessity unless you're snake is having shed problems.

Not a surprise with those stick on therms, they suck. That's why you were advised about getting a thermometer with a probe. Are you measuring temps right on the aspen, or below it?

 

[wendyhoo9]

You can find that thermometer/hygrometer in the outdoor section (with all the other thermometers) at Walmart. It's great! I have found those temp strips not be be very accurate myself. I also invested in a thermostat so I would not have to worry about turning the heat on and off all the time. Unfortunately, I ordered it after my little girl came in, but I'm expecting it any day now! I ordered mine from Matt at www.mgreptiles.com, he has great sales and awesome customer service, but he is on vacation right. My sister swears by her thermostat for her two ball pythons, takes the stress out of checking on the little ones all day long!

 

[Bobo's Mama]

I think you are off to a good start, but I can gaurantee that as you get to love your baby more and more you will start thinking of all kinds of cool ideas for hides and will spend more time and money creating them. I like the rock and the cow skull. Those are very cool. I'd glue some fake plants to the climbing stick to make it more hidey to him, so he feels secure in it. I started out with one hide on each side (upside down butter tubs) and a water dish. Now I've got a water dish, a giant fake plastic strawberry for the cold side hide, a wicker basket on the warm side and a huge climbing tree right smack dab in the middle of the viv that also serves as a hide. She can have a split-personality if she wants and lay half on the warm side and half on the cool side or she can choose either one or she can lay up in the branches of the tree or if she wants she can burrow in the aspen and sometimes I've seen her move to all of these spots in one day or she will hang out in one spot for days. And when I first got her she would even hide along the lip of the viv, but now she's to big for that and doesn't even bother trying to...I guess she got tired of falling down and going plop.

 

[Anita]

Hi!

Thanks for the suggestion. I will not put the basking light on tomorrow and see how much it changes the temps. It might be warm enough in the viv without any light during the day (it gets daylight), especially now when it is warm inside the house. In the night it gets a bit cooler and then I can use the black colored "red heat bulb".

I do have the thermometers on top of the aspen shavings (not under it). I think they work OK, however they are a bit hard to read (kind of small) and Victor/Snakey (we have not decided on the name yet), moves around and tosses aspen shavings on top of it. I will go to Walmart and get one of those thermometers with probes.

Thanks again.

Anita