First Timer Seeking Advice!!! (BASIC!)

FirstSssnake · 01-27-05, 07:42 PM

Hello hello,
Long time snake lover, first time buyer here looking for any advice offered, trying to learn and raise a healthy beauty...

I just picked up a Dumeril's from the local pet shop, despite their lack of knowledge, it was on sale for $80, and once I held it I had to have it!!! Anyways... it is fairly old I believe, that is why it was cheaper because they weren't selling any snakes... I would say its about 2 feet long or so...

As far as setup goes, I did a little research online to try and figure it out. I'm using a donated 29 gallon tank (i'm a broke PSU student...) with some cage carpet crap. I got a nice big water bowl and some vines, and two lights. Thats where my biggest concern is.. the heating.

I bought a 100W Sun Glo and a 75W Night Glo... n thats it. For now I guess that will suffice but should I buy a heating rock or something? And for temps, I'm guessing it should be about 85 on the warm side and mid 70s and night??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I'm really enjoyin my snake and it's only been like 4 hours!!! Thanks in advance!!!

ps. Will have pics up soon, beautiful beautiful pattern...

ChokeOnSmoke · 01-27-05, 07:51 PM

Go read some care sheets. Just type in dumerils boa care sheet on goggle and start reading. I would also recommend moving it to a rubbermaid bin and get an undertank heater. It will be much easier to regulate humidity and heat. The setup you have no is really bad for humidity. Get a thermometer so you know what the temps are. Heat rocks are a definite no. If its only 2 feet it shouldn't be very old I think they average about 6 or 7 feet(dont quote me on it). The Reptiles Magazine had a good article on them a few months back. Good luck and do some research.
*Go read the HOW TO thread in the General Enclosure forum to learn how to wire heat tape and a dimmer or thermostat.
I hope you have a good lid on your aquarium as well otherwise it will escape.

JAdkins2451 · 01-27-05, 07:51 PM

Heat rocks are a no-no, I would use a heat pad. I dont have experiance with dumerils but I am sure it will need a hide and or a substrate which it can hide in.. I am by no means in expert on snakes just some basics.

Ah choke beat me to it lol... And like he said google is an awsome source for care sheets and other info..on them.

timfriesen32 · 01-27-05, 07:55 PM

Guessing what the temp should be isn't necessarily your best option.

I would probably try to keep the temps a bit warmer than you mentioned. I keep my dumerils with a warm side at 86-89 and 78-80 cool side. The temp in my house drops at night so the temp in the tank drops to....but only a few degrees (3-5).

If you need another heat source to get you temps correct DO NOT buy a heat rock, they can very easily burn your snake. I would go with an under tank heater.

Make sure you have something covering the top of you tank that doesn't let all the humidity escape. If it gets to dry (which the heat will do) your snake will dehydrate.

Best of luck with your new snake. Dumerils are great snakes.

TIm

timfriesen32 · 01-27-05, 07:57 PM

I type slow....two other posts before I finished mine.

Research, Research, Research is alays good. You can never learn to much.

TIm

FirstSssnake · 01-27-05, 10:07 PM

WELL THANK YOU ALREADY!!!! Theres nothing like good message boards... still need some help tho... im tryin my best here work with me haha..

ok... tank is about 12x14x30, has a screen top so I guess I'll tape up like half of it or somthin to help humidity...

next... i think im confused about the warm side/cool side thing, haha dont bust my balls its my first time!! I'm thinking now it means the side under the lamp versus the cooler side. and before I was thinking day and night...

I used one of those digital outdoor thermos and it seems that with the 100w bulb it was about 87-89 or so(on the side with the lamp), like u said, but now I put the 75W night glo on and it seems to be about 84 or so in the same place..

As far as the tank, is it a major problem to just adapt to this one and maintain it, cause I really dont feel like puttin it in tuperware if u kno what i mean...

one more thing, the 'hide'.. should i just buy one of those hollow rocks with the hole or i read somewhere about a small tuperware with a hole and moist moss inside... any help there?

thanks again to all of you, i really appreciate it!!!

Clownfishie · 01-28-05, 01:23 AM

First off, congrats on your new addition... dums are awesome, easily one of my favourites out of my collection

I've got a caresheet up on my site that should hopefully help answer your questions... you can find it at http://www.hhreptiles.com/dumerilcare.htm.

To answer your immediate questions though -- yes, the warm side is the side with the heat lamp or under tank heater (UTH), and the cool side is the side without heating. As was already mentioned, you definitely don't want to use a heat rock. I'd also recommend purchasing a UTH as opposed to using a heat lamp.
Tanks aren't the best choice for snakes -- you'd be better off with a rubbermaid for now, and then you can move him into a custom built enclosure once he grows a little. It's quite difficult to maintain humidity in a tank, and boas require a decently humid environment.

For a hide (remember to have one at each end of the tank), there are many options. You can spend the money and get get a few hides from your petstore... or you can go a little more economical and make your own. I've used clay flower pots with a hole knocked out of the side, plastic flower pots with a hole cut in them, margarine containers with a hole cut in them, cardboard boxes... you could build a basic hide out of a few pieces of scrap wood... there's lots of possibilities

Some are obviously more attractive looking than others, but as long as it's functional and safe, that's the main thing.

Anyways, hope that helps a bit -- read as many caresheets as you can, and feel free to ask any other questions you might have

Best of luck with your new addition.

Jen

FirstSssnake · 01-28-05, 06:29 AM

Now I'm a little confused...

Clownfishie, you say to use a rubbermaid, yet on the care sheet you gave me it says that Aquariums usually work the best?? Will I have many problems if I stick with my tannk and keep the top covered?

And as far as heating, The temps were fine during the day but with that night glow bulb they dropped to about 69 on the cool side... which I'm gathering is too cold...

I did see one of those UTH pads at the pet store that looked like it would cover about one side of the tank, but it didn't have any adjustments or anything, how do you regulate temperature with one of those?

The heating thing has got me worried, can't decide whether I should keep these lamps or just use a pad alone.....

Thanks in advance again, its a big help

FirstSssnake · 01-28-05, 06:42 AM

Found a couple of coolwhip containers and cut a notch out, I imagine this will work okay for the hides...

Oh yeah, I'm thinkin I'm gonna cover all the sides of the tank with cardboard or something because it seems like that might keep him from stressing some, let me know if this will help, thanks all

ChokeOnSmoke · 01-28-05, 05:20 PM

You can use an aquarium the only thing is the more you cover the top the more humitdity but less ventilation. A rubbermaid is just cheaper and easier to use. All you have to do is drill or melt a few holes and secure the lid.
Go to the general forums HOW TO thread(right at the top) and it will tell you how to wire a dimmer to a uth among other things. Those containers should work fine as hides.

ozone · 01-28-05, 07:18 PM

others on this board are more of an expert than myself, but this is what I've read fairly consistently...

You may wish to use a relatively thick bed of shredded aspen chips as a substrate...that way the Dumeril can burrow and hide anywhere in the viv (warm/cool) and feel safe. This would more closely mimick their natural environment.

Also, when using an under-the-tank heater in a glass tank, be sure to measure the temperature of the glass itself, because it can get quite hot and burn the snake (unbeknownst to the snake). It's a tricky balance to get the substrate-level temp right, without the glass being too hot. I've found that a piece of cardboard on top of the glass over the heating pad but under the substrate does of good job of protecting the snake's underbelly from the hot glass, while providing enough temp to keep the snake happy. Couple this with a thermostat that regulates the output of the mat (plus perhaps a day/night lighting cycle), and you can achieve consistent and proper ambient temps in the viv.

a 75-watt red-light bulb could be your answer to keeping the temps correct ambient temps during the day and/or night. My viv was getting too cold this winter with the heating pad alone.