Where to get Children's Python?

[Skipper7]

I have my mind set on a childrens python for my first snake. I've done my research, but cannot find many vendors.breeders in the US. Does anyone have suggestions?

[EL Ziggy]

Skip- You should check out Nick Mutton at Inland Reptile. I've bought a few carpet pythons from him that are all great snakes. I saw some really nice Children's Pythons on his site too. He's a well respected breeder and produces some awesome animals.

Inland Reptile - Availability_All Other Animals (http://inlandreptile.com/availability/others_availability.htm)

[Derek Roddy]

I breed children's and spotted pythons. Give me a shout. Although at the moment I don't have any children's available. I should this spring though.

Cheers
D

[EL Ziggy]

Definitely can't go wrong with a Derek Roddy critter. I didn't know you produced those too D.R. You never cease to amaze sir. :)

[Skipper7]

Thanks to both of you. I'll check out inland reptile. I'll take a look at your page, Derek. However, I'm only in the market for an antaresia :)

What is the best way to heat a snake enclosure? Heat panels, che, infrared, heat pad? A combination?

Thanks

[MartinD]

Depends on what sort of enclosure, is it glass, plastic, wooden etc

[Skipper7]

20g glass enclosure. My *often changing* idea is to have a heat mat covering 1/3-1/2 of the bottom, and then use a regular household bulb above the hot side. I've been doing research on the UVB needs of various snakes, and may include a 6% uvb. I have a solar meter so I will be sure not to overload the new critter. Antaresia childreni's idea gradient is 0 to .7-1

Is there a reccomended *cheap* night/day thermostat? Would this one work? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01486LZ50?psc=1

[Derek Roddy]

Definitely can't go wrong with a Derek Roddy critter. I didn't know you produced those too D.R. You never cease to amaze sir. :)

Haha...I have a little bit of everything. lol. Thanks.

D

[Derek Roddy]

I'll take a look at your page, Derek. However, I'm only in the market for an antaresia :)

That's cool. I have 3 of the 4 species of Antaresia. Hopefully, I'll have some more babies this year.

Cheers,
D

[Skipper7]

I decided to call Chicago Reptile House... should've done that to start. He should have some in next week.

I have some questions about my setup. Should I post them here or start another thread? Is there a way to change the name of this thread?

[EL Ziggy]

Did your pet store produce the animal or are they just flipping it and what are your setup questions Skip?

[Skipper7]

They did not produce the animal. However, they are generally regarded to be the best exotics shop in Chicago. If I'm not happy with the quality and care of the snakes, and pretty much everything there, I'll just stick to buying from a breeder. I've yet to inquire where their Children's Pythons come from.

My questions are pretty basic.

Heating/Lighting:
Knowing that they are semi-nocturnal, I will just stick with a UTH or heat panel. The windows in my room should provide a natural light cycle. If not, I can use a household bulb and an extra timer I have laying around.
Which heat pads are reccomended?
How much of my tank should th heat pad cover?
Assuming 1/2-1/3 of the tank needs to be covered, does this have to be exact? My 20gal is 30x12x12 inches. Zoomed UTH has an 8x12 dimension. Would this work if set up lengthwise or do I need one that is exactly the width of the tank?
Without a day/night thermostat, how can I achieve lower temperatures at night? (I will have a single cycle thermostat at minimum)
Which thermostats are reccomended? Obviously I want one that fails in the off position.

Substrate:
I need humidity in the range of 50%. Will aspen work for this or do I need something else?

Tank:
Should I start with a 10gal with paper towels if I get a snake that is under 12 inches?
If so, can I use the same size heat pad as a 20gal but have some of it "hanging" off the edge of the tank?

[sattva]

Have you considered rescuing one off craigslist? They are usually quite plentiful in my area... I can see that you have a lot of pythons on craigslist in your area; are you set on it being a children's?

[Skipper7]

I would love to rescue a snake, but I don't think its something I am ready to do. I have no expepiene and I would be ill equipped to deal with health issues that may arise. Maybe sometime in the future. However, if I get another beardie, it will definently be a rescue. Sadly I don't have the space for a ball python or another beardie right now.

I applaud any of you who have rescued unwanted and/or sick pets.

[Skipper7]

Another question... If I use a heat pad is there any point in putting a basking rock in? Will the UTH heat up a rock like a basking light will?

[EL Ziggy]

Skip- Your UTH should cover 1/3 to 1/2 of the enclosure floor. Mine are probably closer to 1/3. I prefer Ultratherm UTHs over Zoomed because they rarely get over 100F even without a thermostat (which you'll definitely need). I'd probably invest in a 2nd UTH if I were moving the animal to a larger enclosure later. I also use a low watt infrared bulb to boost the ambient temps for my pythons during the winter months. Your snake may appreciate a perch or basking rock placed underneath the heating bulb if you use one. The best thermostats are made by Herpstat or Vivarium Electronics. You can program these for night time temp drops if you want. I've been using the less expensive, but reliable, Jump Start thermostats for years without issues.

Ultratherm Heat Pads (http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads)

https://www.amazon.com/Herpstat-1/dp/B01MFFOJ91/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1486419253&sr=1-1&keywords=herpstat

https://www.amazon.com/MTPRTC-ETL-Certified-Thermostat-Germination-Reptiles/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=pd_sbs_199_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZYZ53EQB1QHVHMREZ4AR

[Skipper7]

Thanks for the help Ziggy.

So a 11x11 Ultratherm should work for a 30x12 footprint tank?
I'm planning on putting some sort of climbing perch in on the hot side.

The jump start was reccomended elsewhere as well. I think I'll go with that. If I have a bulb and UTH do I need to have them both plugged into a thermostat? Or will the thermostat just on the UTH work?

What substrate is reccomended if it will need to hold a bit of humidity? My house stays at 40%, but I know a bulb will lower that a little bit.

[sattva]

Another question... If I use a heat pad is there any point in putting a basking rock in? Will the UTH heat up a rock like a basking light will?
The heating pad should be sufficient... Heat rocks are a big no,no for snakes... They can cause severe burns... I am using mostly heating pads on rheostats right now, which is not necessary the best way to go... I am planning to go to melamine cages with a HERPSTAT 6 running RBI Radiant Heat Panels when I can afford it...

Just make sure it has a warm hide and a cold hide to go to so it can regulate it's temperature... When I pick up my Jungle carpet python and my Taiwanese beauty snake, both had nothing but a light bulb for heat right in the middle of the tank with one hide under it; Their cages were filthy... You could tell they lost interest in the snakes... Lucky they both were health... Just shows you how tough they are...

[Skipper7]

Rest assured I would never use a heat rock! Those things are pure evil!! Lol

I meant a normal rock under the bulb. Will a snake get ample belly heat if on a perch 6 inches above the heat pad?

My #1 choice would be radiant heat panels, but I can't afford them at the moment. I will have a hide on both sides of the tank

[EL Ziggy]

Thanks for the help Ziggy.

So a 11x11 Ultratherm should work for a 30x12 footprint tank?
I'm planning on putting some sort of climbing perch in on the hot side.

The jump start was reccomended elsewhere as well. I think I'll go with that. If I have a bulb and UTH do I need to have them both plugged into a thermostat? Or will the thermostat just on the UTH work?

What substrate is reccomended if it will need to hold a bit of humidity? My house stays at 40%, but I know a bulb will lower that a little bit.

You could use the 11x11 or even the 11x6 UTH. My UTH is plugged into a thermostat and my red heat bulb has a dimmer.

Substrate is up to you Skip. I like the look of the eco-earth/coco husk but I use aspen sani-chips for all my pythons. I'm not too concerned about humidity. I live in GA and the humidity ranges from 30-65%. I don't mist cages or offer humid hides to any of my snakes and I've not had any bad sheds or RIs. (6) of my snakes are in pvc enclosures, I have (1) in a tub, and (1) in a 40g tank. I believe in many cases humidity "requirements" are overblown and as long as an animal is well hydrated they'll be fine.

The snake won't get belly heat from the UTH when it's perching. It'll have to lay on the floor of the enclosure for that. My pythons are usually on their hot spots during the day or if if they're digesting or shedding. Otherwise they prefer to bask under the light.

[Skipper7]

Good to know ziggy. Would you mind posting a picture of your setup and how the heat pad is placed?

I'm sorry for the barrage of questions, I just want to make sure my new little guy will have the best home possible. I'm happy to answer any beardie questions you may have ��

[EL Ziggy]

I've changed some things around and don't have any recent pics of my setup Skip but these might give you some ideas. I have my albino carpet and olive python in a split AP T8. I have my UTH centered to give both snakes a hot spot and I have heat bulbs on both sides to boost the ambient temps. When they get large enough for their own enclosures I'll be using RHPs for most of my carpets.

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t674/EL-Ziggy/Mobile%20Uploads/20151221_183001_zpszzkzck55.jpg (http://s1319.photobucket.com/user/EL-Ziggy/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20151221_183001_zpszzkzck55.jpg.html)

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t674/EL-Ziggy/Mobile%20Uploads/20160109_212147-1_zpstvxlqkmm.jpg (http://s1319.photobucket.com/user/EL-Ziggy/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160109_212147-1_zpstvxlqkmm.jpg.html)

[Skipper7]

Thanks for the pics. Those are some beautiful snakes btw!

[Skipper7]

Another question: Can mites be transferred from snake to beardie or vice versa?

My vitticeps does not have mites, but I know there is a possibility of a new snake having them. I plan on quarantining and checking substrate/water for them, but I want to know if a new snake needs to be kept in a completely different room from the beardie.

[Andy_G]

Yes snake mites can harm a lizard as well. All new acquisitions should be kept in a seperate area for a while until acclimated and you're sure they are 100% healthy, so you're on the right track with thinking that way.

[Skipper7]

Thanks andy. I've been fortunate in never having to deal with mites. The new snake will be housed in a used tank... a bleach solution should kill any mites, no? Will mites be fairly obvious if the snake is kept on papertowel and given a white water bowl?

[RAD House]

Have you considered rescuing one off craigslist? They are usually quite plentiful in my area... I can see that you have a lot of pythons on craigslist in your area; are you set on it being a children's?

I would not recommend that any beginner in the hobby picks up a snake off of craigslist. There are too many issue someone with no experience could easily miss.

Another question: Can mites be transferred from snake to beardie or vice versa?

My vitticeps does not have mites, but I know there is a possibility of a new snake having them. I plan on quarantining and checking substrate/water for them, but I want to know if a new snake needs to be kept in a completely different room from the beardie.

Thanks andy. I've been fortunate in never having to deal with mites. The new snake will be housed in a used tank... a bleach solution should kill any mites, no? Will mites be fairly obvious if the snake is kept on papertowel and given a white water bowl?

As long as you keep them in separate rooms and follow a good self cleanliness protocol, then your other animals should be safe. It may be worthwhile to come up with a treatment plan ahead of time, just in case of the worst. I have heard good things about the Chicago reptile house, but just make sure to make sure to ask plenty of questions. You definitely want to know the source of the snake, how well it has been feeding, and the prior set up it was kept in. Bleach will kill the mites but you must be sure to thoroughly rinse it out after as it can also harm your snake. I recommend you pick up some f10 cleaner, it is what most vets and shelters use to disinfect, just be sure to follow the directions. Adult mites will be visible on the paper towel but babies will not be. It may take a few weeks to see anything even if they are present. Most people recommend a quarantine of at least a month, up to three, for captive bred animals. For wild caught, captive hatched, or anything other then domestic propagation a quarantine of even longer is called for.

[Skipper7]

Good to know about the mites, thanks. I'll just go with three months then. It won't kill me to have him in another room-- and its not worth the health of another animal. She I avoid handling the snake during a quarantine period? Dunno why I didn't think of F10SC... I already have a bottle in the house.

I did send an email earlier asking who produced the snakes and what their health guarantee/policy is. They did say on the phone that they wont sell a snake that isn't feeding normally.
As you can see, I am full of questions :) I'll submit the shop to the same torture you guys are getting. I'll do some more research on mites, and ask the shop what they think as well.

I really appreciate all of the help. I recently read through the long thread on respecting other people's posts. I share most of the sentiments posted in the replies.I assure you that I have done research on my own, and that I am not trying to be a drag. I just felt as though I should run ideas past people who actually have experience... hence this forum. On that topic, how hard is it to "spot clean" a poop on sani chips? Can I just scoop out the dirtied ones? Or do I have to disinfect everything.

[Skipper7]

Is paper towel enough of a barrier between the snake and heat pad to avoid burns?

[Andy_G]

Sani chips clump well and only require spot cleaning. Once the cage starts to smell, or once every month and a half or so, a complete bedding change should be done.

As far as the heat pad concern, it should be hooked up to a thermostat. Your snake won't get burned by something that is the right temperature. No heat pad of any kind is safe to use without a way to control it's output.

[Skipper7]

Thanks Andy.

After talking with the breeder, I've decided I will use a 16qt sterilite tub until the python gets a bit bigger.

[Skipper7]

I'm still slowly getting closer to purchasing a snake. I'm now considering hognose as well. I have another question:

Where can I purchase a heat bulb guard in the US? And, will the guard itself get hot enough to burn a snake if used with a CHE?

I will be building custom enclosures sometime soon.

[Skipper7]

Still looking for an answer to my above question, and I have come up with another. Does it matter which type of moss I use for a humid hide? When the shed cycle finishes, can I let the moss dry out and use it again later?

Thanks.

[EL Ziggy]

I don't see many heat bulb guards for sale. I did find this one on Amazon. If that doesn't work you may have to make one. I've used sphagnum moss for my humid hides but I don't use humid hides anymore. You can dampen it as needed and re-use it.

https://www.amazon.com/NOMOYPET-Heater-Guard-Reptile-Vivarium/dp/B01FXFFMY0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488226816&sr=8-1&keywords=heat+bulb+guard

[Skipper7]

Thanks everyone fir the help. I got everything ready with a breeder to pick up my snake at the tinley park NARBC next weekend... then I shattered my shoulder at lacrosse practice. Snake and pics will have to wait.

I'll still try to post some pics of the show if my brother or I make it.

[EL Ziggy]

Sorry to hear about the injury bud. Contact sports can be tough on the body. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery.

[Scubadiver59]

Wrap it up, take a few painkillers, and get your buttocks to the show!!!


Thanks everyone fir the help. I got everything ready with a breeder to pick up my snake at the tinley park NARBC next weekend... then I shattered my shoulder at lacrosse practice. Snake and pics will have to wait.

I'll still try to post some pics of the show if my brother or I make it.