i got a new viv

[TeaNinja]

its 4x2x2. i'm gonna get the whole setup ready before i do the tank swap, do you think it will get too cold there if i have it on the ground where it is? or should i make a stand for it. if i make a stand ill move it somewhere else in my room besides in front of the window, it just fits there pretty well without a stand. it has a fixture in it on the top for a bulb, i just need to get a mesh guard. i still have a UTH, can i put it on the bottom of the wood with a rheostat or would it not conduct heat well enough? let me know, i've heard mixed answers.

/edit
and i know the band aid is dumb, i JUST got it and have yet to clean it up lol.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/newviv004.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/newviv002.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/newviv001.jpg

[infernalis]

In my experience, UTH don't work well under the wood.

That is a nice Viv. someone put a lot of effort into it.

[presspirate]

If you had a piece of plexi glass that would cover the floor you could put the uth under it. But with the right bulb/ceramic it wouldn't be necessary. definitely get a cage for the bulb, and save the uth for your next snake.

[TeaNinja]

the guy who gave me the snake had a ceramic bulb that he gave me, but the filament was already broken so it was unusable. im gonna go to petco soon when i have some $ and buy abunch more bedding and a ceramic bulb and a few other things. Someone told me i should try a different kind of bedding for my dumerils instead of aspen, but i COMPLETELY forget what they said. anyone remember who? or what alternative bedding they suggested?

[infernalis]

Don't go to PETCO.

Amazon.com: Zoo Med ReptiCare Ceramic Heat Emitter 100w: Kitchen & Dining (http://www.amazon.com/ReptiCare-Ceramic-Heat-Emitter-100w/dp/B0002AQCPU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1291119697&sr=8-3)

[Lankyrob]

I have my viv's directly on the floor (otherwise they wouldnt fit in the room!!) doesnt seem to cause any issues.

[Xanafein]

the guy who gave me the snake had a ceramic bulb that he gave me, but the filament was already broken so it was unusable. im gonna go to petco soon when i have some $ and buy abunch more bedding and a ceramic bulb and a few other things. Someone told me i should try a different kind of bedding for my dumerils instead of aspen, but i COMPLETELY forget what they said. anyone remember who? or what alternative bedding they suggested?


I use shredded coconut

[Jay]

I use shredded coconut
same very thick

[presspirate]

I use cypress for my boa's.I pay $6.99 for a bag big enough to fill two cages 2" deep two times each. From the local garden center. It's the organic stuff not mixed with cedar.

[TylerWortman]

Do you have any ventilation holes?

Locks?

Also I'm trying a new trick with my drafty windows. Its large plastic wrap over the whole window taped along the edges with double sided tape. After you pull the plastic wrap tight and stick them to the tape you can then take a blow dryer and go over all the wrinkles in the wrap. This shrinks the wrap and make it look much better. This is suppose to keep out any unwanted cold air.

[marvelfreak]

I use reptile bark. If you did you the UTH you could put a ceramics tile over it. Nice cage.:)

[TeaNinja]

I use reptile bark. If you did you the UTH you could put a ceramics tile over it. Nice cage.:)

i can't decide wether to stick with aspen bedding or switch to repti bark :O
i seem to have no issues with aspen, why is repti bark or cypress better then aspen?


and the viv has a mesh airhole on the right side of the tank for ventilation, as far as a few other holes i believe.
and i have to twist a knob to open the side, so it locks. i don't have anyone at my house who would tamper with the cage/let my snake out. so i pretty much only have to worry about him escaping on his own.

[infernalis]

because Aspen gets all moldy and nasty if it gets wet.

Repti bark holds humidity and you can wash it then use it over again.

I wash repti bark all the time and put it back in the cages.

[TeaNinja]

because Aspen gets all moldy and nasty if it gets wet.

Repti bark holds humidity and you can wash it then use it over again.

I wash repti bark all the time and put it back in the cages.

oh, nice. do you get the zoo med repti bark?

[infernalis]

Yes. I found a place on ebay that has flat shipping, so I abuse that and order 10+ bags at a time.

For my needs, I mix it with a little coconut hair (Eco Earth) and get this....

http://www.mypetforums.com/buck/substrate.jpg

[TylerWortman]

I met someone recently who mixes their repti bark with coco hair just like above^^^^^ He says he put worms in the bedding. Told me he never has to clean the tank because the worms take care of the mess.... Cool, but I don't know how I feel about having another living animal in my snakes environment unless it must be food.

[infernalis]

Most of my snakes would eat the worms.....

[Lankyrob]

We use repti ark but have been chucking it out and starting with fresh - gonna try washing it next time it needs "changing".

[TeaNinja]

i set up the new viv. i changed out the aspen bedding for repti bark/coconut shreds and got some thermometers and made a new hide on the cold side of the tank. im gonna try out the heat rock and see how that goes. other then needing a heat guard for the light bulb i think its just about done. eventually i'll get some good stuff for him to climb on around the cage. he seems pretty happy about it, he spent the first half hour roaming the cage checking everything out.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/newviv002-1.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/newviv003.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/newviv004-1.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/newviv005.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/newviv006.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/newviv007.jpg

[Freebody]

It looks great! GJ :)

[Lankyrob]

Looking good - did you say heat rock tho? Think most peeps would stress not to use a heat rock with snakes due to the risk of them burning themselves.?

[TeaNinja]

Looking good - did you say heat rock tho? Think most peeps would stress not to use a heat rock with snakes due to the risk of them burning themselves.?

it says it maintains 20 degrees above the ambient temp of the cage, and i've been checking it and it's been fine so far, im prolly going to end up returning it and getting a new heat emitter just cuz its pointless, i don't think he actually needs it. (they only had 150W heat emitters right then, which is too high and too much $) but it seems to be fine so far.

/edit
on second thought, he was fine before i bought him ANYTHING. im just gonna return the rock and probly get a smaller heat emitter then they had, what wattage emitter do you think i should get?
and theres only 1 light fixture in the cage, if i have the no light emitting heat emitter, do i need to put a red bulb on the outside for light or something? lmk your suggestions

[presspirate]

The snake doesn't need light, and they couldn't see the infra red anyways. The light is for your viewing pleasure. As far as the heat emitter, I'd guess 50-75 watt would be good, but you should def. use it with a rheostat or a thermostat. They can get quite hot.

[TeaNinja]

The snake doesn't need light, and they couldn't see the infra red anyways. The light is for your viewing pleasure. As far as the heat emitter, I'd guess 50-75 watt would be good, but you should def. use it with a rheostat or a thermostat. They can get quite hot.

weak sauce, i didn't think i needed a rheostat for that. oh well, thanks.

[infernalis]

Looks really good..

[presspirate]

You don't have to spend a fortune on a rheostat, but you don't want to cook your snake. I've bought rheostats for around 7 bucks. at the hardware/home stores they will call it a "Light Dimmer" Or, I have made my own....How to make your own Rheostat for less than $7! Detailed instructions. - CornSnakes.com Forums (http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19168)

And just recently, I purchased a couple of thermostats for under $40.00....Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NZZG3S/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A3VZKFNMHAPZBO) Just be sure if you are using a rheostat to moniter your temps twice a day at least.

[TeaNinja]

Looks really good..

haha thank you, sometimes i get hung up on the little asthetics and get carried away lol. im gonna take the rock back and get a lower wattage heat emitter and everything should be great.