New GTP set up.

[crum222]

So I picked up a new gtp that I should be getting in a couple weeks. So I'm modifying a 18x18x24. I took the screen top off and aquarium siliconed a piece of plexi to the top. Then attached a rhp to the top. Put 2 sets of closet rod holders to the sides and am using 1 inch PVC as perches. Siliconed the thermostat cord to the rhp. Going to use eco earth and hang vines and fake plants to make some hiding spots. Any observations/tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

[crum222]

And here is a pic of him/her, about 18 inches long.

[Mikoh4792]

Looking good, set up looks very nice customized(with the plexi top and RHP).

I know some people attach the probe to the rhp but you can always just zip-tie the probe to the highest perch as well, and just set it to ie. 85f. Either way works, but with your method, if the room gets too cold the RHP might overheat the hotspot.

[sharthun]

Beautiful gtp and nice setup on the enclosure.

[lady_bug87]

Looks good! I would add some narrower perches just so it has some options and lots of cover

[crum222]

That is one thing I was curious about was the 1 inch perches if they were to big or needed a little smaller.

[lady_bug87]

I would get some of that jungle vine stuff zilla makes they have a few different sizes and I would secure it to the perches. If they're too big the snake won't be comfortable and won't perch. Thats what I found anyway.

[knicrn24]

I already have vines in the amazon cart! Hopefully we get her next week!

[Mikoh4792]

I would get some of that jungle vine stuff zilla makes they have a few different sizes and I would secure it to the perches. If they're too big the snake won't be comfortable and won't perch. Thats what I found anyway.

I second the jungle vine. You could do criss cross patterns so your gtp can move more comfortably between the two pvc perches.

[Sharlynn93]

I was told to use much smaller perches...and that clear tanks were bad for a youngster...I was advised to cover the back and sides...

[Mikoh4792]

I was told to use much smaller perches...and that clear tanks were bad for a youngster...I was advised to cover the back and sides...

A good option would be plants with suction cups if you don't want to cover the sides with paper

[Sharlynn93]

True...I put a couple in my tub even. Want to make sure it feels secure.

[lady_bug87]

I would use silicone to adhere the suction cups. Just in case the snake climbs up and pulls it down.

I use aquarium safe silicone

[Sharlynn93]

Plus with humidity they tend to fall on their own...found that out...glad the snake wasn't in there yet... :o

[Mikoh4792]

Forgot about that. Mine would fall everytime I misted the glass walls.

[lady_bug87]

The good thing about silicone is if the op wants to change the viv around you can easily peel it off with a razor blade

[crum222]

Yep have plants and vines ordered. And was going to cover the sides with some sort of black paper once it was up and running.

[Sharlynn93]

Would hot glue work instead of silicone? Idk about acrylic, but on a tub?

[Mikoh4792]

Would hot glue work instead of silicone? Idk about acrylic, but on a tub?

Never tried hot glue on a tub, but I imagine it'd be hot enough to melt and fuse with the plastic. In my experience with glass, hot glue doesn't stick too long.

[Sharlynn93]

the low temp doesnt melt the tub...I used it for my cricket tubs, just fine...just didn't know how much weight it will hold...

[Tgunz127]

If you drill a hole in the tub and make sure some hot glue squirts out of the hole, it will have something to hold onto and SHOULD stay put

[lady_bug87]

I'd still go with silicone

[Sharlynn93]

good idea! I will try that, from the looks of the weather I have a while yet before mine gets here...trial and error...(didn't mean to highjack a thread! but could be helpful to others as well! :) )

[crum222]

Hey I'm cool with it. I'm sure I'll learn something too. Lol

[Sharlynn93]

I'd still go with silicone

we posted at the same time :o I will look for some...we want to revamp another tank anyway...

[lady_bug87]

I'd make sure its aquarium safe

[LarryS]

Great looking kid!

Agree with the comments made already.

The only other thing I would look into changing is having the probe wire siliconed to the RHP. I can see the snake coiling around the probe wire and pulling it away. You could probably clamp the wire to the acrylic ceiling somehow.

In also prefer the probe be situated in a way that the animal can't interfere, but always enjoy finding that others have success using other methods.

[Sharlynn93]

I'd make sure its aquarium safe

oh, I wouldn't buy anything BUT aquarium silicone...I don't want to take any chances with my animals...even with my dogs I check dog food ingredients, percentages, etc...toy breeds are sensitive to a lot of things...

[crum222]

Update.

Got everything up and running. Have a basking spot in the upper 80s, bottom perch hits the middle 70 away from the panel and upper 70s under if. Humidity 68 right now with no misting at all. How does the Temps look. I think there pretty close from what I've read. Also got some smaller pvc but still need to cut it, and cover the sides and back. But would like to hear from some experience.

[crum222]

And sorry about the sideways pics lol.

[Mikoh4792]

I think upper 80's is a bit high. I'd lower the hotspot to mid 80's(84-86f).

[crum222]

Can do vines are ordered and still have plenty of time to dialer in.

[lady_bug87]

I think upper 80's is a bit high. I'd lower the hotspot to mid 80's(84-86f).

Agreed I keep my hot spot around 86

[Mikoh4792]

Agreed I keep my hot spot around 86

Yeah I'm pretty sure high 80's isn't going to hurt, it's just that I've been told by many breeders that temps higher than 86F will dehydrate chondros. So far mid 80's have been doing great for mine.

[crum222]

Cool, backed it down a bit and was getting 84-86 with my temp gun. Let it run a couple days to make sure it stays consistent. But it's looking pretty good.

[lady_bug87]

Yeah I'm pretty sure high 80's isn't going to hurt, it's just that I've been told by many breeders that temps higher than 86F will dehydrate chondros. So far mid 80's have been doing great for mine.

You're right. From what I've seen if it's higher than 86 mine grounds herself.

I usually find her perching in a spot between 82-84 most of the time

[Aaron_S]

Yeah I'm pretty sure high 80's isn't going to hurt, it's just that I've been told by many breeders that temps higher than 86F will dehydrate chondros. So far mid 80's have been doing great for mine.

If it dehydrates the chondro then how is that not hurting it? So yes, high temps will hurt. It may not be within 5 seconds but yes it will.

I want other people reading this to realize it will because the last thing anyone wants is someone to experiment and end up in a bad situation.

[Mikoh4792]

If it dehydrates the chondro then how is that not hurting it? So yes, high temps will hurt. It may not be within 5 seconds but yes it will.

I want other people reading this to realize it will because the last thing anyone wants is someone to experiment and end up in a bad situation.

I meant dehydrate quicker. With temps in the high 80's you need to mist more often and keep the ambient humidity higher. With temps in the mid 80's I can have the humidity 60-70% no problems.

You will not hurt the chondro directly by having a hotspot in the high 80's.

edit:

"I want other people reading this to realize it will because the last thing anyone wants is someone to experiment and end up in a bad situation."

- Yes I'm the one advocating 84-86f, not telling anyone to put their chondro under a high 80's hotspot.

[KORBIN5895]

You took that wrong.

[Aaron_S]

You took that wrong.

Yes, yes he did.

[crum222]

So had the set up running for over a month. Got the snake and it's much smaller then we thought. For the first week she stayed on the top perche. But now she's in the floor. The temps were still in the mid 80s so I backed it down another degree and added smaller perches. Didn't think it would be too big. Plenty of places to hide. But thinking about setting up a smaller tub with some great tape I have. Any advice on the best way?

[Mikoh4792]

Can you post pics of your gtp on the perch? If it's a baby those perches might be a bit big.

Wouldn't say you need to go smaller on cage size, just smaller on perch size. And a lot more decor for cover and security.

[crum222]

Yeah I'll get some pictures tomorrow. Sorry for the errors need to proof read better on my phone lol.

[knicrn24]

i think our new smaller perches are appropriate to her size, we're just worried about her being on the ground :(

[Mikoh4792]

i think our new smaller perches are appropriate to her size, we're just worried about her being on the ground :(

Maybe her perches are too hot. Sometimes gtp's will ground themselves.

[crum222]

They were hitting 83-85 with a temp gun. The lower one was around 80-75. She was laying on the ground inside of a skull now.

[crum222]

This is her set up now. She's is the skull on the floor.

[Mikoh4792]

If your snake doesn't have any health issues, then I'd have to guess that it's feeling insecure from the clear sides of the enclosure and open perches. Everything is covered except for the middle of the perches. If it were me, I'd get rid of the pvc, get several more vines and just make a crazy entanglement so the space seems less open.

[Mikoh4792]

Better yet you can go with an enclosure that is easy to customize(plastic cage or plastic tub). this way you can drill holes and install many horizontal perches made of wood or vine. The solid sides of plastic will also benefit in adding security for the animal.

Not only that, temperature and humidity is much easier to maintain with enclosures that do not have screen tops/heat lamps. Radiant heat panels with a solid top are the way to go imo for gtp's.

Think of this, but on a smaller scale(since yours is a baby)

http://pvccages.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/b2f4c3902.jpg

[knicrn24]

Well I'm sad to say that we found the gtp dead today in the tank. :(

[Mikoh4792]

I'm sorry to hear. I wonder what could have been the case.

[sharthun]

Well I'm sad to say that we found the gtp dead today in the tank. :(

Darn sorry to hear that!:(

[Tsubaki]

Aw sorry to hear that,!