Just home with new Mexican rosy... best cage heating strategy?

[FlagonFly]

No pics yet, s/he has already burrowed down after a bit of cage exploring. I was really surprised at how smooth it felt while we did some short handling. Curious but steady and didn't seem overly stressed or jumpy. Didn't ball when handled at the store. So far it matches most of what I've read about their temperament.

Not sure of exact age, the store shows received at 6-8-12 and I was told "she's a baby" so what might I estimate?

So for now I have a 10gal terrarium with a medium UTH under one side and just got a thermostat for it so should be able to set that to around 85-ish (should I maybe go higher or lower for the temp under the warm hide?)

But I also have a set of small lights (day and red night) from a kit I got a year or so ago. Should I consider adding some of the heat with the lights? Am thinking the lights would do a better job than UTH of keeping the humidity lower. Gets pretty humid where I live, one concern I had before deciding to get it.

The other concern was how much it would stay hidden all the time. I think lights from above for more heat might encourage it to come out more than if it got most heat from the UTH. Seems logical but what's the consensus 'round these parts?

[alessia55]

If the thermostat and UTH can get you the heat gradient you need, then you do not need to add any lights. How are you measuring temperatures inside the enclosure? Do you have a temperature gun? Or are you using an analog or digital thermometer?

How are you measuring humidity in the enclosure? Without knowing the exact humidity readings, we can't tell you if they're too high or too low.

As for guessing her age... that's hard to do without a photo and some measurements (length/weight). When you do take a photo, make sure you put an object in there for reference, like a pencil.

About her hiding... it's normal and healthy. Moving into a new home can be very stressful. Give her plenty of time to acclimate without handling her. Staying hidden is a normal snake behavior. Do not change the heat source just to try and get her out more. Let her settle in at least a week, then try feeding her. Once she is feeding for you regularly, you can start handling.

Congrats on your new scaly friend! :)

[franks]

I would strongly suggest using lights with an undertank heater. The lights burn up humidity, and I am convinced that they increase the activity level of Rosy boas. I tinkered with this for a while, and now my rosy is the most active snake I have. Here is the run down:

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g223/diehardislanders/IMAG0316.jpg

On the left side of the tank is my UTH. This picture was taken when I first made the enclosure so the lights are not in it. I put the lights in the center. The UTH is set at 88* constant and the lights are on a timer. The lights spike my temps to 92* warm side and raise my mid and low temps as well. When the light timer goes off, I lower the UTH as well. 15 minutes after the temp starts cooling she becomes a ball of non-stop activity.

[FlagonFly]

Thanks for the tips. Definitely plan to leave her be for awhile. Was thinking about the longer term plan. Measuring temp with a thermostat for the UTH, and I also have another small digital one with probe that seems to match what the thermo says. I have a gun but has been misplaced by some young hands.

Humidity is uncertain at best. I have two of the cheaper stick-on type on the cool side wall: one is showing around 40% and the other 56%

Once she starts coming out I'll get some pics to post! Appears healthy despite being a mega-chain purchase.

[FlagonFly]

I like your cage setup! For the adult cage I was picturing something really similar, with bedding on one side and more rocky stuff on the other. Would seem the natural way to do it.

Since it likes to burrow, was also a bit concerned about the UTH on glass at the bottom. I have about 2" of bedding, maybe should add some more, but if more heat came from overhead lights and least for a good portion of the day, the thermostat could keep the UTH temp lower and less chance of burns.

So 85 in the warm hide is too low you think? I have seen a lot of varied answers on this so far; will need to watch and see what the snake does moving between sides, etc. Is borrowed mostly on the warm side right now as best I can tell.

Am excited about this one. We did have a cali king that escaped and gone over a month now. Was a great snake and did not seem bothered or stressed by handling at all. Have an eye on another some day maybe. Not giving up completely but the snake bite had set so to speak and had to get another! Like tatoos.

[franks]

I am sorry to hear about your kingsnake- I am in a similiar position with a pewter corn at the moment. My UTH is under the decomposed granite and crushed stone, so she cant burrow through that to make contact with the glass. My humidity is generally similiar which is why I run lights as much as possible. 85* is too low for a basking site, especially after feeding.

[FlagonFly]

What times on/off do you have your day lights set to? Pretty sure they used mostly/only lights at the pet shop so I have mine on today for at least part of the day, like 10-3 I think I set, to make it similar to what she's had for the past several weeks.

She came out from borrowing and likes the warm side hide so far today. Not a good shot of it through the glass with the point-and-shoot cam, but about 5min after the light came on, she stuck her head partway out and warned up her brain a bit I guess... lol

Curious to see age estimates and sex. Don't remember seeing any spurs but didn't look too closely yet. I'll get some better pics up in a few days probably.

She skipped a feeding on 8/3 (day before I got her) and last ate on 7/28 so if she stays fairly calm I may try to feed her tomorrow or Tues or so. According to the chart going back to 6/4 it was the first feeding she skipped. They don't have any sheds marked but has she likely already done that at least once by now?

[FlagonFly]

ignore this post... :) can't figure out how to delete it

[FlagonFly]

Here's the best pic I have so far. Blurry but the color looks about right. Did I guess the subspecies right?