RHP and setup advice please [Archive] - sSNAKESs : Reptile Forum

Schriztopher

02-20-14, 02:49 PM

So I'm new to the hobby and plan on building a viv this weekend to house a carpet python. I already ordered the 16" x 11" radiant heat pad from boaphile and am wondering what else I need. I have aspen substrate, a couple hides, and water bowl ready to go. Should I put a fluorescent light on the cool side? Do I go with a thermostat, rheostat, or dimmer for my RHP? Any suggestions on viv size? I'm thinking about 3' x 1.5' x 2' as it will fit the best where I am putting it. Thanks in advance, I want to get this nice and cozy before ordering my carpet.

Lankyrob

02-20-14, 06:22 PM

Depends on the type of carpet but i wouldnt go any smaller than 4x2x2 foot for the viv.

You definitely need a thermostat for the rhp

Mikoh4792

02-20-14, 06:34 PM

Thermostat is always best. It controls the heat when you are not home, whereas the rheostat and dimmer would need to be manually controlled 24/7.

What kind of carpet are you getting? For small carpets like palmerston jungles and rockhampton coastals i could see a 3x2x2 working well. For most I'd agree with rob and go for at least 4x2 floor space. If you're getting into bredli's and bigger carpets like southern coastals i'd go for 5-6 ft x 2 ft floorspace.

Mikoh4792

02-20-14, 06:42 PM

Here is a room full of AP T-10's. These are 4 x 2 x 15". And that's what adult carpets look like in them. IMO 3 x 1.5 feet is a bit cramped for an adult carpet.

Even though these are 15" tall you can still make use of climbing space by installing perches.(If you want to sacrifice height for length)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t31/1493388_552908178134530_490289935_o.jpg

Schriztopher

02-20-14, 07:55 PM

Ok thanks for the tips on the enclosure and I will definitely go with a thermostat. Any recommendations?

Ive been doing some more reading and this being my first snake I'm leaning a little more toward a corn snake to start out. Anyone feel the need to sway me toward one or the other? Are corn snakes more docile?

I'd like to get my gf a little more comfortable around them .My buddy had a juvenile jungle carpet that was a little feisty and she wouldnt go near it. However she would hold his red tail. Also, I wouldnt need the height or depth for a corn that I would having a carpet right?

Mikoh4792

02-20-14, 08:14 PM

I'd say it's important to give some height for most snakes, including kingsnakes and cornsnakes.

2 feet of height isn't really height. Most terrestrial snakes will still climb higher than that on logs, rocks, bushes, fences...etc in the wild.

Thermostat reccomendations:
- High end: herpstat, vivarium electronics, helix
- best bang for buck : ranco or hydrofarm

Get what you like. I think any snake can be a great addition as long as you like them and can care for them. Carpets are a bit more "on edge" than corns but most calm down with age.

Mikoh4792

02-20-14, 08:16 PM

The minimum I'd recommend a cornsnake is 3x2x2.

Schriztopher

02-20-14, 08:23 PM

Ok, sounds good. What about the Zoo Med 500r?

Mikoh4792

02-20-14, 08:25 PM

that's a decent thermostat. I used to use one some time ago and worked fine.

Schriztopher

02-20-14, 08:29 PM

Thanks a lot guys, I'll post pics of the viv when it's done.

One more thing - I read somewhere aspen may not be good since the snake can accidentally digest it during feeding?

Mikoh4792

02-20-14, 08:47 PM

That's true for any loose substrate but if your husbandry is correct the snake should be able to pass it no problem. My snakes are currently on newspaper but when I kept them on loose substrate they would get a little in there during each feeding and always passed it fine.

Or if you are going to worry, you could always dry the prey item so less sticks on it, or present the prey item over a sheet of paper/flat surface and have your snake eat ontop of that area.

EL Ziggy

02-20-14, 09:07 PM

Welcome and best wishes Schriz. You can't go wrong with a king, milk, corn or bull snake. I'm a bit partial to colubrids though. I think they're great for beginners and experienced keepers. They come in beautiful morphs, the husbandry is pretty simple, they grow to a decent/manageable size, most are great eaters and they're fairly docile with just enough attitude. I also love carpets but haven't taken that plunge YET. I keep all my snakes on aspen and I feed all of them inside their enclosures. I've never had any issues with ingested substrate.

Schriztopher

02-21-14, 08:10 AM

Thanks, Ziggy and Mikoh. I'm sure it's not that big of a deal but a couple care sheets recommend glass vivs. I prefer the look of wood/plastic ones with glass in front. This is totally fine right?

Lankyrob

02-21-14, 10:07 AM

Wood or plastic vivs are better in my opinion.

In terms of the snake, you are going tombr looking after this animal for a minimum of 15-20 years and possibly upto 30years. Get something that you like or you will end up with regrets.

Schriztopher

02-22-14, 01:10 AM

I'm about halfway done with the 4x2x2. Decided to go ahead and build it big rather than having to build/purchase a small one and then another a couple years later or whatever. Going with one of the charcoal corn snakes most likely, will post pics of the enclosure at least this weekend. Still waiting on goodies to get here so I can get it right before ordering the lil guy.

Mikoh4792

02-22-14, 01:21 AM

Awesome, big enclosures aren't just good for the space, but you can make it look very nice as well with a naturalistic setup. Should be great for your corn.

Schriztopher

02-23-14, 10:34 AM

Three coats of Minwax. Going to install the glass and tracks today, then I'm just waiting on parts to get here. Overall I am happy with it, although the caulk is a little bit of an eyesore. I should have went with clear.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o531/Schriztopher/Mobile%20Uploads/20140223_103110_zps6fd9b9e2.jpg

Mikoh4792

02-23-14, 05:10 PM

Looks great! Are you going to be painting the inside? I don't think the caulk looks bad, usually a layer of substrate will cover it up nicely.

Schriztopher

02-23-14, 06:48 PM

Thank you. No, I just sanded the inside nice and smooth between coats of acrylic. I like the natural wood look on the inside and if anything will paint the outside later on. Picked up some branches at the park today too that I may attach to the walls and create a perch or two after they are cleaned thoroughly of course.

Schriztopher

02-24-14, 03:40 PM

This is most likely my first and last time ordering something through boaphile. I ordered my $87 RHP on Thursday and was told it will probably ship this Wednesday. In my mind it should have shipped Friday and I'm not too happy with them. The product better be amazing.

Mikoh4792

02-24-14, 04:47 PM

As long as they keep their word I don't see a problem. Every company has their own shipping terms.

But if you do decide to not buy from them again, reptile basics is a great company for RHP's.

Schriztopher

02-24-14, 06:19 PM

But if you do decide to not buy from them again, reptile basics is a great company for RHP's.

Good to know, thanks again.

More pics coming soon

Schriztopher

02-25-14, 10:12 PM

Progress pic, should look much better when it's not empty =P

Will also have a display case lock installed once everything is set

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o531/Schriztopher/20140225_092907_zpsb567f230.jpg

LarryS

02-26-14, 02:32 AM

That looks very nice! Anxious to see it with inhabitant and furnishings.

Schriztopher

02-27-14, 12:02 AM

That looks very nice! Anxious to see it with inhabitant and furnishings.

Thanks :)

So when I set up my RHP & thermostat should the probe just be sitting in the bedding underneath the warm hide? Or should it just hang on the back wall near the substrate?

Schriztopher

02-28-14, 11:52 AM

RHP made it here this morning from Boaphile.com - here it is installed

Will be adding pics as I add furniture today, thanks for looking

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o531/Schriztopher/20140228_114046_zps81556339.jpg?t=1393523264

Mikoh4792

02-28-14, 11:56 AM

Awesome, looking good.

For the probe, I'd zip tie it to a perch. Will this be the only heat source?

Schriztopher

02-28-14, 12:02 PM

Awesome, looking good.

For the probe, I'd zip tie it to a perch. Will this be the only heat source?

That's what I'll do with the probe then. Yeah, should be enough right? I've been getting right at 71ºF in the enclosure, and that's with it just sitting empty with no glass. The research I have done is saying around 75ºF cool side and 81-85ºF hot side for corns, so I'm hoping it will do fine. Guess I'll know tonight for sure.

Terranaut

02-28-14, 01:05 PM

dbank999

02-28-14, 01:24 PM

Please tell me you have the viv upside down?
If not.....pssssst. The rhp goes on the ceiling :)

I thought the same thing when I saw it, but it definitely is easier to mount upside down :laugh:

+1 for the Reptile Basics... They ship their RHP's with the wiring left for you to finish (real simple t-tap style plug, takes 5 seconds to clip together) this way you don't have to drill a large hole to accomadate for getting the plug through.

Although you made good use of those electrical port covers used for computer wiring very nicely..

Good job!

Schriztopher

02-28-14, 01:49 PM

I thought the same thing when I saw it, but it definitely is easier to mount upside down :laugh:

+1 for the Reptile Basics... They ship their RHP's with the wiring left for you to finish (real simple t-tap style plug, takes 5 seconds to clip together) this way you don't have to drill a large hole to accommodate for getting the plug through.

Although you made good use of those electrical port covers used for computer wiring very nicely..

Good job!

Thanks, and yeah it is upside down lol. I wish I had gone with Reptile Basics for that reason =/. I thought about disassembling the power cord from the base for that exact reason but didn't want to break anything. Oh well, it's starting to come together. Here's another pic. Still have to add another plant, hides, water dish, and run the thermostat probe.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o531/Schriztopher/20140228_134223_zps4e9afab4.jpg?t=1393530548

Terranaut

02-28-14, 01:52 PM

Looks great.

pdomensis

02-28-14, 02:34 PM

That's looking nice. Where did you get your glass runners?

Schriztopher

02-28-14, 02:58 PM

That's looking nice. Where did you get your glass runners?

Thank you, True Value had them for about $4 each for 4 foot sections. Home Depot probably has them, too. They're just "C" or "U" aluminum channels paired up running side by side.

LarryS

02-28-14, 04:28 PM

Schriztopher

02-28-14, 04:40 PM

Looking very nice! Is it a Helix panel? I thought they came with a removable plug.

You can always cut off the plug, rout it through a small hole in the cage wall and install a new plug. I think they run about $1.50

It's from boaphile, and it does look like it is removable. I got excited though and didn't want to take the skirt off or risk breaking something, so I just went with the cabinet grommet.

Now I can't decide whether to drill another hole for my probe at the bottom behind the perch, or just run it through the same grommet down the side tacked nice and tight.

Schriztopher

03-02-14, 08:39 AM

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o531/Schriztopher/20140302_083540_zps0d32c086.jpg?t=1393684675

Mikoh4792

03-02-14, 08:42 AM

wouldn't the grommet be big enough for a small/medium sized snake to escape through?

Everything looks great.

Schriztopher

03-02-14, 08:46 AM

wouldn't the grommet be big enough for a small/medium sized snake to escape through?

Everything looks great.

Yeah, I should have went with a 1" grommet, the cord would have fit perfect. Instead I'm just going to "fill" the excess with hot glue I suppose.

Mikoh4792

03-02-14, 09:13 AM

Yeah, I should have went with a 1" grommet, the cord would have fit perfect. Instead I'm just going to "fill" the excess with hot glue I suppose.

In my experience hot glue wouldn't stay on for a long time. I'd probably use silicone(aquarium sealant).

Schriztopher

03-02-14, 09:14 AM

In my experience hot glue wouldn't stay on for a long time. I'd probably use silicone(aquarium sealant).

Oh, alright. I'll go with some of that then. Thanks again

sharthun

03-02-14, 10:35 AM

Looks great!!!!!

Schriztopher

03-03-14, 05:20 AM

Thanks all - Here is the finished version.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o531/Schriztopher/20140303_051521_zps69f2ca2b.jpg?t=1393759025

She's supposed to be here tomorrow (Tuesday) but I'm not sure they're going to ship her with it being as cold as it is :(