First time snake owner, looking for help! - Page 2

Lankyrob · 01-27-12, 04:17 PM

Baths arent overly necessary unless the snake crawls through its own poop.

The hot end should be 86f and cool end no lower than 70f.

Am sure you will but make sure any thing you get from your friend is sterilised before putting into your snakes tank

KEep the questions coming, no matter how silly you think they sound, we have all been there at one time and we are all here to help

Kylie · 01-27-12, 04:35 PM

What should i use to sterilise everything with? And what is the best heat source to use? Is it normal for her to climb the tank? normal for her to Barry her head in the shavings? i just want to know what this all means if shes to warm to cold, im not to sure. I am going out today to get a heat gun to make sure im not cooking her or freezing her.

alessia55 · 01-27-12, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

What should i use to sterilise everything with? And what is the best heat source to use? Is it normal for her to climb the tank? normal for her to Barry her head in the shavings? i just want to know what this all means if shes to warm to cold, im not to sure. I am going out today to get a heat gun to make sure im not cooking her or freezing her.

Getting a temperature gun is a great idea. You'll be able to tell better where her temps are.

Yes, it is normal for her to climb the sides of her tank. Snakes do this out of curiosity for the most part. Yes, it is normal for her to bury her head in the shavings. Sometimes snakes do silly things.

What's the best heat source? Different people have different methods. When I had a corn snake, I used an under tank heating pad on a thermostat. Others use ceramic heat emitters or heat lamps. It doesn't matter all that much so long as whatever you're using is giving the tank the heat gradient your snake needs. Using the temp gun will help you decide what might work best for you.

Kylie · 01-27-12, 06:58 PM

Okay thanks again!!!

Another thing is, what watt light bulb is good for a 2Ft tank? they had a 150 watt bulb in? to much? i put a 50 watt in just from other people telling me its a good choice. Also they are feeding her 3 "hoppers" at a time, my friend who had the boas told me i could probably try 1 reg. mouse?

-Kylie

Lankyrob · 01-27-12, 07:03 PM

The heat source nEeds to be thermostatted whatever you decide on so the wattage of the bulb wont matter as much because the temps will be controlled anyway.

Kylie · 01-27-12, 07:22 PM

Ok, i can not find a thermostat right now, i guess the pet store here does not carry them, only the one i am using now. Also to staralize, just bleach? anything safer?

ladyjustice33 · 01-27-12, 09:31 PM

I have 8 corns and none have a heat lamp. Mine are in 25 qt tubs in a rack system on heat tape and are doing very well. I use sani chips for a substrate and looking at the size of your corn, she can most definitely handle an adult mouse every week. I spot clean every week and clean out the entire tub around once a month with a reptile safe cleaner I got at petsmart, can't remember the name right at this moment. My corns have only one hide over the heat tape and when they want to cool off usually get on top of the hide or hand at the front of the tub. All they have in their tub is a water bowl and hide, but then a tub is a lot different than a glass tank. They also love to burrow under the substrate. All my corns do it, so I think they feel more secure under the substrate. My ball pythons don't burrow, but my rainbow boas do also now that I think about it!

Kayla90 · 01-28-12, 12:00 AM

Welcome to the forum

Very cute looking corn you have

Kylie · 01-28-12, 12:38 AM

Thanks! i love her! i have alot of learning to do tho!

Is it bad to handle snakes often? like i know not to handle her after she eats, and during shedding time, but anytime after is it bad? she sometimes hisses at me and i know its a noise snakes make but what does it mean when she does it when im holding her?

**millertime89** · 01-28-12, 12:41 AM

hello Kylie, I'm Kyle, nice to make your acquaintance.

as far as thermostats go shop around for a better price on one of these and order online. I got two for about 50 bucks after shipping, but I don't know if the place I ordered from will ship up north.
Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden

I also recommend a uth for easiest heat source, just place it on the ground under the tank with the thermostat probe in between and set it to about 85 and see where that leaves you and adjust accordingly.

Kayla90 · 01-28-12, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

Thanks! i love her! i have alot of learning to do tho!

Is it bad to handle snakes often? like i know not to handle her after she eats, and during shedding time, but anytime after is it bad? she sometimes hisses at me and i know its a noise snakes make but what does it mean when she does it when im holding her?

Well it really depends.. you have to get to know her personality more.. So like my roommates female hiss when she's pissed.. or we won't let her go where so wants to go lmao...
But some may hiss in a defensive way..

I handle my snakes as often as I can, but not for long periods of time... Once they start to cool down I like to put them back because the cooler temps aren't that good for them..

Kylie · 01-28-12, 01:04 AM

She hissed at me once when i was taking her out of her tank, and once when i first got her and was just randomly holding her, i think that's the only 2 times she hissed at me, but she hissed at my mom and friend alot more in a short period. That probably means that she didnt feel to comfortable? I have a cat and she likes to sit up at the tank and stare, sometimes pill lightly paw at the tank, will this stress bella out? When i get my new used tank, what should i use to clean it out? or disinfect it per say. Any certain type or brand of thermostat and uth i should use? can i stick with my lamp? or would that be a bad choice? Anything elce i should order online? is ebay a bad site to get some things off?

Maclyal · 01-28-12, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millertime89

hello Kylie, I'm Kyle, nice to make your acquaintance.

as far as thermostats go shop around for a better price on one of these and order online. I got two for about 50 bucks after shipping, but I don't know if the place I ordered from will ship up north.
Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden

I also recommend a uth for easiest heat source, just place it on the ground under the tank with the thermostat probe in between and set it to about 85 and see where that leaves you and adjust accordingly.

Don't know if you have them in Canada, but Hydroponic stores carry thermostats for heat mats they use for seedlings.
sounds silly but the one I got is digital & cost less than the mechanical ones. working great on my incubator.

Kayla90 · 01-28-12, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

She hissed at me once when i was taking her out of her tank, and once when i first got her and was just randomly holding her, i think that's the only 2 times she hissed at me, but she hissed at my mom and friend alot more in a short period. That probably means that she didnt feel to comfortable? I have a cat and she likes to sit up at the tank and stare, sometimes pill lightly paw at the tank, will this stress bella out? When i get my new used tank, what should i use to clean it out? or disinfect it per say. Any certain type or brand of thermostat and uth i should use? can i stick with my lamp? or would that be a bad choice? Anything elce i should order online? is ebay a bad site to get some things off?

Yea, that sounds defensive. She should stop for the most part once she gets more comfortable around you. Less scared. Handling her will help that, but just remember to give her those days off before, during and after feeding day.

Kylie · 01-28-12, 01:20 AM

You guys are so much help! Thanks again, and im sorry for all the questions LOL...

I found it odd, the people i bought her off fed her the day before i came, and i new before that you shouldn't hold them during and after feeding time, and i had mentioned to the old owners when she had picked Bella up and handed her to me and they told me " no you can hold her whenever".

She spends alot of time in her rock, When do snakes sleep? are they nocturnal?
No we dont have one of those stores and i went to the pet shop today and they do not have much, so id have to go into "edmonton" or order it online. I live in a small town.

I am trying to make a list of things i need to order, so far i have;

-Thermostat or heat probe?
-UTH heat source
- Bigger tank ( friends giving me)
- 2 rocks, bigger then i have now
-bigger water dish.

Am i missing anything?