Ruthveni kingsnake at home .. any suggestions for improvements?

[DragnDrop]

I've moved Erik into a 15 gallon tank, which I think is enough room for a while since he's only 23 inches/58.4 cm right now.
He makes a lot of use of the climbing branches (I admit I'm not the neatest branch siliconer, but it got the job done). There are two moist hides, one cool and one warm and a warm dry hide, but since he does a lot of tunnelling through the aspen, I've let it be his cool dry hide :) The water dish is covered so there's less chance of the aspen getting into the dish, and he's had no trouble finding the access hole to get a drink. There's a large flat rock partly submerged in the water. I clean the rock by soaking in boiling water daily when I change his water. Heat is supplied by a UTH under the right side of the tank, temperature range between cool and hot side is approximately 75 F/ 24 C to 90 F/ 32 C.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/321Ltrtank-med.jpg

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/321Ltrtank2-med.jpg


If you can see anything that needs improving, please let me know :)

[Auskan]

My only concern would be the cut hole in the margerine container that is a hide. I just wonder if the edge might be a little sharp? I also use these kinds of containers, but I leave the lid off, cut a hole through the top rim in a kind of u-shape and then turn it upside down, so that when entering and exiting they are still just sliding along the substrate, if that makes sense.

[Vanan]

I cut holes into small rubbermaid tugs for egg-laying. I figured too that they would scratch themselves on the edges so I duct taped the edge and haven't had a problem with it.

Nice to see a normal Ruthven's! The normals seem very under-appreciated.

[Big Mike]

Beautiful snake you have there. I don't know the specifics of Ruthveni but I don't think that you need two moist hides. With access to drinking water, he should be OK most of the time. When you see that a shed is coming (dull colors and cloudy eyes) that is when he will need the humidity of a moist hide.

I guess if you keep it clean, keeping the moist hide in all the time...should do no harm. Watch for mold and any feces that may get left in there.


p.s. I wouldn't' worry too much about the plastic edge...and it really is not a good idea to use tape of any kind in a snake's enclosure...they will eventually find a way to get stuck to it.

[Tim_Cranwill]

I agree with Mike. Milk/Kings will usually soak during a shed so they don't need two humid hides. One would be more than enough. I would change the cool humid hide into a dry hide. You could also take a paper towel roll, rip a small access hole in the middle of it and have it go form the hot side to the cool side. I find my milk/kings use these hides a lot. They are nice and tight and have a decent temp gradient. The aspen will be like a third hide too. :)

I'm not too sure about the rock in the water dish and boiling it everyday. Just seems like more work but it's obviously up to you how much work you want to do. ;)

You've done a great job though. Better to over do things than to under do them. And that is a sweet looking Kingsnake, by the way. :D

[reverendsterlin]

a hot knife will ease the edges off of any plastic container

[Andy_G]

90 sounds a couple degrees too warm for a hot spot, drop it down to 86-88 if he doesn't use that side while digesting. Aside from that and what others have said, awesome snake and nice set up!

[PaulBar]

Nice set ups. Here's my two cents worth. Try and provide deeper Aspen bedding. I find my Hondurans love to burrow and the more bedding the better. At least 3-4 inches.
I also use overturned clay smooth finished plant dishes as dry hides laid over the Aspen shavings.
The snakes find comfort in the weight of such hides, and I have not needed to use a moist hide since I keep a large bowl of water in the cage, and keep a humidifier going in the room.
Never had any issues with shedding.

Nice snakes btw.

Paul