rescue mission

[BAFlathead]

a little background:
my wifes cousin owes me some money on a 125Gallon terrarium i sold him and had been suppling me with mice to finish paying me off on the deal. i got rid of my rat snake in december, so i hadn't went for mice since then, and called to see how the mice population was. while on the phone with him he mentioned that if he'd known that i was looking for a BP that i could have his, he hasn't felt like taking care if it for a while. its been off its food for a little over two months now. now for the specs:

he has the BP(doesn't even know if its a he or she) in a 29G glas tank with NO background on any side on the coffee table in his living room, one half log hide, a big water dish and a (eeeeeek!) heat rock!!!

i'm picking the BP up on saturday morning. i'm going to keep him in the glass tank(i know you guys dont like them) for now until i build a rack system in the next month or so. i will completly change the setup though:
three sides covered in black posterboard
removable front cover that be placed on for security
UTH!
flourescent light instead of incandescent
correct size water dish
2 dry hides and one humid hide
aspen bedding over unprinted newspaper(instead of carpet)
dual output digital thermometer
humidity gauges

is there anything i'm forgetting?
also, i'm going to have a fecal done, is there anything else i should have done?
thanks, Tim

[greenman1867]

Don't get too wrapped around the axle about the glass tank thing. I think if you make the changes you said it will be waayyy better than before. Just keep your temps/humidity correct and provide good hides and the snake will love you.

Also once you get it in it's new improved home don't handle it at all for a couple weeks. Then only if absolutly required. Try getting it to eat 3+ times in a row before you handle it.

I don't really think you need a light at all so long as the room the snake is in allows for a normal photo period, if it doesn't well, I guess a light is a good idea.

Good job on taking this snake off your friends table. I hope everything turns out for your new snake and you.


**edit: You would think with every message board/caresheet out there telling people to avoid Hot Rocks like the plague, the manufacturers would fix them or stop making them. **
Shawn

[mykee]

There are a few things that you mentioned that are just not necessary;
1. flourescent light; ball don't need "fake" lighting, they don't regulate themselves on a photo-sensitive schedule. Normal ambient room light is sufficient.
2. Three hides; two is ample, humid hide is only necessary during a shed or if the humidity in your tank can't be mainitained (at which point I would recommend a rubbermaid as an enclosure).
3. Aspen bedding OR newspaper. Don't need both, overkill. As a beginner, I would recommend the newspaper, it's easier.
4. Instead of those cheap-a$$ humidity gauges that plain old don't work, I would recommend a digital hygrometer ($10 at Wal-Mart).
5. I don't recall you mentioning a dimmer or rheostat of any sort for your UTH, it's not an option, left on without a dimmer of sorts, your UTH can reach temps of over 140 deg.

Other than that, you seem to have yor stuff down, with at least some basic knowledge of how to keep your ball. Good luck and don't stop learning.

[BAFlathead]

thanks for the replies. all of my tanks are on timers/surge protectors & rheostats for the UTH. I have been trying to find the digital hygrometers at wallyworld, but to no avail. right now i have flukers hygrometers(the brass ones). i might nix the humid hide except for during sheds( thanks for the tip) as i'm not having humidity problems. i still plan on using both newspaper and aspen though. i get the newspaper for free and i like the aspen much better, it just seems to make cleanup even easier.

on another note, i get to pick up my yearling BP and female blood red corn in the morning. i'll post picks of the new guys tommorow. thanks again.

[mykee]

If you're going to keep the aspen, don't feed on it. Impaction is bad.

[Spirit]

Originally posted by mykee

2. Three hides; two is ample, humid hide is only necessary during a shed or if the humidity in your tank can't be mainitained (at which point I would recommend a rubbermaid as an enclosure).

I was going to say exactly this, but Mykee said it for me. :)

[greenman1867]

Keep us posted on how your new BP is doing :)

Shawn

[BAFlathead]

Originally posted by greenman1867
**edit: You would think with every message board/caresheet out there telling people to avoid Hot Rocks like the plague, the manufacturers would fix them or stop making them. **
Shawn

i can tell you why they don't. the same reason the aquarium industry still makes Under Gravel Filters, people STILL buy the darn things. every used aquarium that i have bought but one i had to throw away the dang UGF, same with the heat rocks. if the people would just break down and buy the CORRECT setupthere would not be heat rocks or UGFs on the market any more.

mykee, i ALWAYS feed in a tub. was a pain with the wild caught rat snake i had, but i still did it. thanks for the info though. i appreciate everyones time and intrest. i'll keep you all posted as to the progress. :D