proper tank/snake managment

[Reptile_Reptile]

So i noticed a re-occuring topic is not to use fish tanks as vivs so why doesnt everybody post the pro's and cons and such and then make it a sticky thread so when it comes up you can just link the facts about it to the thread so sticky situations involving clashing forum members can be avoided.

i for one still dont know why its bad. ive only been harassed to change it never taught why to change it

[infernalis]

Very good points JR.

First, your corn snake will be fine in an aquarium as long as the other conditions are met.

Here's why. Corn snakes are found in states that have cooler climates all the way down to Florida. They are well adapted to varying temperatures and humidity conditions, so in all reality no one can find true fault with a nice 35-55 gallon aquarium set up with a nice water bowl, substrate and hide (bare basics) as long as a basking spot or under tank heat mat is used so the snake has a warm spot.

Most any non tropical colubrid snake can be kept in a "fish cage"

However if doing so certain things become more critical, The overall room temperature will have a far greater effect on the overall ambient temperatures inside the cage. But once again, this is not super critical with north American colubrid species. As long as you don't freeze them solid, they will live.

************************************************** *******

Where I have to agree is most (not all) any python or boa (Boids) are tropical animals from warm humid climates.

For instance BP spend the daytime hours under cover and have a preference for animal burrows. Down underground it's very humid much like a typical home basement that does not have a dehumidifier running in it.

So to properly keep a ball python in proper health, it is important to get as close as possible to the humidity levels they are accustomed to in nature.

Furthermore their temperature requirements are a lot more critical than a corn snakes would be, Glass is a poor material to keep the heat in the cage where you need it & a screen top lets out the humidity.

Constant misting and soaking can lead to scale rot and belly rot & even lead to respiratory issues, so it's just far better to use a setup that does not let your humidity escape rapidly like a screen cover does.

Hope this answers your questions...

[Reptile_Reptile]

certainly does now i just measured my snakes skin and she is approx(not exact as im told the skin is a little strectched) 4' 4'' and she is in a 20 long. is that suitable? or should i bump it up to a 30?

[presspirate]

I have read of people painting 3 sides of the aquarium black and covering it with something insulating, such as cardboard. To help hold the heat. Also, covering 3/4 of the top with a damp towel will help hold the humidity. What I do with all of my snakes is provide a humid hide. Basically any container big enough for the snake to fit in, with a hole cut in it with a layer of damp sphagnum moss.

My personal feelings about aquariums for pythons and boids are, they are just not big enough for the snake to be comfortable. Lengthwise, they could be fine, but they only have 12 to 18" in depth and that just doesn't seem like enough to me. And having a 360 degree view of the world outside of their cage tends to make them a little nervous. As infernalis said, your corn may do fine, but as he grows you'll want something bigger for him than a 20 gallon aquarium.

[presspirate]

certainly does now i just measured my snakes skin and she is approx(not exact as im told the skin is a little strectched) 4' 4'' and she is in a 20 long. is that suitable? or should i bump it up to a 30?
Is this the corn or the BP?

[Reptile_Reptile]

sorry my corn my bp is about 17'' long i think (i do the damp towell thing actually and i have a forest siding for aquariums on my bps tank (3 sides) none for my corn tho

[presspirate]

Well, until you can get the setup you want and need, do the humid hide bit for your bp. And for the corn, just get yourself a rubbemaid tub, you'll be out maybe 10 bucks. Alternatly, you can check the freebies and pets section of your local Craigslist, or freecycle.org. You may be able to come up with some free or inexpensive caging items. Good luck. You are concerned for you buddies. Thats definately a start.

[Reptile_Reptile]

ok so i'm holding my corn right now and she is right next to my ear and occasionally i can hear her breath not exactly wheezing but i can still hear it. do they make noises (she is being really active just trying to slither around.) or do i need to change something asap?

[presspirate]

My corns are young yet, but my bigger, older snakes I can hear them breath especially if they are right next to my ear. They do have nostrils. Hopefully someone else can be of more help here..

[Reptile_Reptile]

ok cause its not wheezing but i was wondering if it was labored breathing or something like retics do

[Lankyrob]

My adult corn you can hear her breath if near your ear too. Especially when she is trying to escape as i try to put her back in the viv - she will get her head near the viv then suddenly double back on her self up my arm to not be put away!

[Reptile_Reptile]

oh no Gonda is all about her shoe box hide she is either in that or in the aspen bedding under her water bowl

[Lankyrob]

Once she is back in the viv she is always under her moss hide but when she is out she dont want to go back!

[infernalis]

My corn is the same way, could care less until I take him out, then he don't want to go back in.

[shaunyboy]

So i noticed a re-occuring topic is not to use fish tanks as vivs so why doesnt everybody post the pro's and cons and such and then make it a sticky thread so when it comes up you can just link the facts about it to the thread so sticky situations involving clashing forum members can be avoided.

i for one still dont know why its bad. ive only been harassed to change it never taught why to change it


thats a fair point mate

top marks for you hanging in there and still wanting to learn the pro's and cons of snake keeping.

you'll learn plenty on here and you'll find we're not a bad bunch at all.

i only work with carpet pythons so if you go out and buy yourself a nice carpet feel free to ask anything you want mate.i will try and explain it as best and polite as i can.

anything else ive had personal experience with i will gladly share with you.you young folk are the hobby's future after all.10 out of 10 for hanging in there.

cheers shaun

[TylerWortman]

When your snake is breathing in your ear if you notice it sounds "bubbly" I have been told that it usually means their is a respiratory infection. My BP and my JCP both breath heavy (mostly JCP) but very now and then I'll hear my BP breathe. Pretty normal for snakes to breathe a little heavier when taking out of their cage. Kind of like when you let a dog out of his cage, they get a little excited and start to breathe heavier.

[shaunyboy]

When your snake is breathing in your ear if you notice it sounds "bubbly" I have been told that it usually means their is a respiratory infection. My BP and my JCP both breath heavy (mostly JCP) but very now and then I'll hear my BP breathe. Pretty normal for snakes to breathe a little heavier when taking out of their cage. Kind of like when you let a dog out of his cage, they get a little excited and start to breathe heavier.


yes bubbley or rasping sounds can be the first signs of a respiritory infection

also a piece of shed stuck up a nostril can make a similar sound.if its a piece of stuck shed then wait until its next shed then if its still there you would need a vet to reverse flush the nostril with a catheter.

ive had young carpets that get so nervous and start panic breathing.like a human having a panic attack.

it could really be any of the above.imo id just keep an eye on it just to make sure its nothing requiring treatment.

if it was an ri then the next stage would be gurggling sounds or bubbles of saliva and its mouth gapping open a little bit.its all easily treated so i wouldnt worry too much and then again it may be nothing at all.

just keep an eye on things

cheers shaun

[Lankyrob]

Certainly in my case there is no bubbling and she has been doing it for months, just an audible breathing sound that i haven't noticed on my other snakes, is a "clean" sound tho.

[Reptile_Reptile]

sweet i was slightly worried. but i dont think its a RI because ive heard a snake with an RI before and this defiantly isnt but i am going to check her nostril for some stuck shed cause she did just shed

[DeesBalls]

Now I honestly see young wrong with glass enclosures, if properly taken care of. I have 4 snakes; 2 corn, 1 BRB and 1 BO. All are in 10 gal, except my ball she is in 20gsl glass tank. I have perfect humidity perfect sheds, poops, and pees... even my BRB tank is at a nice 87% humidity. My corn snakes have had noting but perfect sheds and my ball has had a few bad ones, but that was last year.

I would much rather have shoe box enclosures, or maybe visionariums, or a rack, but gotta go what I gotta do for now. Imho I think it goes to you as a snake/reptile keeper... I use gas and all is well.

Some use racks and shoeboxes or tubs.. to each their own.

[Reptile_Reptile]

Now I honestly see young wrong with glass enclosures, if properly taken care of. I have 4 snakes; 2 corn, 1 BRB and 1 BO. All are in 10 gal, except my ball she is in 20gsl glass tank. I have perfect humidity perfect sheds, poops, and pees... even my BRB tank is at a nice 87% humidity. My corn snakes have had noting but perfect sheds and my ball has had a few bad ones, but that was last year.

I would much rather have shoe box enclosures, or maybe visionariums, or a rack, but gotta go what I gotta do for now. Imho I think it goes to you as a snake/reptile keeper... I use gas and all is well.

Some use racks and shoeboxes or tubs.. to each their own.
the word young being out of place destroys what your trying to say. i dont get your overall meaning lol im sorry plz edit so i can understand

[DeesBalls]

I will when I get on my laptop, I'm on my phone and sometimes things gym mis spelled... ill fix it in a Mon.

[DeesBalls]

Now I honestly see nothing wrong with glass enclosures, if properly taken care of. I have 4 snakes; 2 corn, 1 BRB and 1 Bp. All are in 10 gal, except my ball she is in 20gal glass tank. I have perfect humidity perfect sheds, poops, and pees... even my BRB tank is at a nice 87% humidity. My corn snakes have had noting but perfect sheds and my ball has had a few bad ones, but that was last year.

I would much rather have shoe box enclosures, or maybe visionariums, or a rack, but gotta do what I gotta do for now. Imho I think it goes to you as a snake/reptile keeper... I use gas and all is well.

All I am trying to say is that theres nothing wrong with them. Personal experiance tell me that they work just fine, my snakes are not agressive, dont refuse food, and are well behaved snakes.

Some use racks and shoeboxes or tubs.. to each their own

[Reptile_Reptile]

ok ty dude ..........

[TylerWortman]

?????????????

[MacAdder]

My experience is that fish tanks as vivs are not appropriate due to the ventilation being a problem.

[Reptile_Reptile]

i didnt agree i just wanted his view

[DeesBalls]

they have been working for me for the last year and a half :)

[Lankyrob]

Just my two penneth worth but surely in terms of hmidity, how much a tank would hold easily will depend on the relative humidity of where you live??

[Reptile_Reptile]

average 40-50 percent humidity but i mist 2 times a day and have a moist towel that i change everyday (to avoid gross mildew smell/mold) to help with the humidity

[infernalis]

One thing for all to consider during the winter.

Forced air heat kills humidity fast.

We heat our herps with radiant heat, the whole house has radiant heat.

Radiant heat does not drive out moisture like forced air does.

[presspirate]

That is an excellent point Wayne. I typically run a humidifier in the room my snakes are in. (Formerly bedroom, now living room)

[infernalis]

I must be part reptile anyways, forced air dries out my skin and I get all itchy from it.

[presspirate]

Watch it when you go into shed.

[shaunyboy]

I must be part reptile anyways, forced air dries out my skin and I get all itchy from it.


try lining your bed with some damp sphagnum moss and get dorothy to mist you twice daily mate:yes::yes::yes:

cheers shaun

[Reptile_Reptile]

...cough* back on subject please. this is supposed to be a learning thread for the newcomers.

um what do you mean forced air? is that what a heat lamp is?

[Lankyrob]

Aircon and blown air heaters is what wayne is meaning.

[presspirate]

Forced air is when you have a furnace in your house that blows warm air through the duct work and comes out those vents in your walls. A heat lamp would be considered radiant.

[Reptile_Reptile]

ah ok thank you i was worried for a second

[infernalis]

Just before moving here our last place had a register that blew hot air all winter long just behind the snake cage.

it was a love/hate relationship.

My snake loved to sit right along the back edge of the cage, but her sheds sucked.

Overall humidity management in the winter is more important than in the summer.

The dew point changes drastically, so the humidity in the air all around you, inside or outside is all very dry air compared to summer when evaporation of water keeps the overall air more humid.