My Vivarium Setup

[Chris_Flowers]

Heres a picture of my vivarium setup:

[snakemann87]

Looks very very nice....just be sure to feed outside the enclosure with the substrate your using

[Chris_Flowers]

Feed outside!? The guy at the reptile shop just said put the pinky in the vivarium by the snake.

Confused!

[snakemann87]

Yes that would be suitable but your snake has a chance at an impaction cause the substrate. NOw if you used newspaper it would be fine. Simply take him out...place him in a shoebox..and place the pinky in. Not to diss petstores but don't listen to them. They usually have no idea what they're talkin about its good you joined here so you can get teh right information

[dank7oo]

thats true .. i would have to agree

[Chris_Flowers]

Ok fine. But I have a few questions!

I have a small container which the snake came in. Its approx 10cm wide by 18cm long and a depth of 7cm. Its perforated to allow air to get in - would this be suitable to feed him in?

Should I place some tissue in there?

How long should I leave him in there for?

Should I place him in it, then place the box in the vivarium?

If so, which side of the vivarium would be best - cool or warm?

Lastly, what about the 'never handle 1hr before and at least 24hrs after rule'? Presumably if I put him in a shoe box (or similar) I'd have to handle him to take him out!?

The container is transparent (see through) by the way.

Thanks for your help

[stretch]

Just put him in a shoe box or something. After he eats give him a few minutes then put him back in the enclosure, but make sure you don't handle him at least 48 hours after you put him back in. You don't need to put anything in the box with him. Leave him in there till eats if its longer than a half hour or so take him out and wait about another week. Also you can leave the feeding container out of the enclosure if you want.

[CDN-Cresties]

Nice setup man, how long did it take to build?
Thanks
-Steve-

[Chris_Flowers]

Ok thanks. I've just put him in the shoe box with his pinky and put the lid on. Hopefully he'll eat

Put some small holes in the box so he can breathe. Had to make sure theres no way he can get out of it though!

If he doesn't eat, should I be worried? Or simply just wait another week? I should mention he's only a year old.

Many thanks

[Chris_Flowers]

Originally posted by crestie
Nice setup man, how long did it take to build?
Thanks
-Steve-

Hi Steve, thanks

I actually bought the vivarium ready made from the Northampton Reptile Centre here in the UK. All its contents I just arranged myself as you do

[Chris_Flowers]

Woohoo! He/she ate it

Left it in the box for about 40 minutes. Opened the lid and it had gone - the pinky that is, not the snake - then I'd have something major to worry about lol

I thought I'd see a bulge in the snakes body but at quick glance there didn't appear to be a bulge. Then again, I only quickly picked him/her up and then placed it back in the vivarium. It headed towards the heat but then turned and head back towards the cool side and back under its water bowl!

Fingers crossed it keeps the pinky down and doesn't regurgitate it

So its best to leave it alone now for about 48 hours right?

Thanks all for your help, you've been great

[Invictus]

Super sweet enclosure man. Looks VERY well ventilated.

[Chris_Flowers]

Originally posted by Invictus
Super sweet enclosure man. Looks VERY well ventilated.

Thanks

Considering it came from a pet shop, its a great viv. Having said that, it'd be unfair to say they are a pet shop - they are only dedicated to selling reptiles and I have to say, the owners and staff did seem to have a genuine interest in reptiles. Family run business.

However, they did give me the wrong feeding information for my substrate I suppose...

[lordkovacs]

i like a small shoebox size rubbermaid for feeding. i also like the walls of hte box to be coloured so the snake has a darker area. problem with using a box is that you can't clean it, and if you leave it near the snake's tank, the smell of the mouse will still be on it and drive him crazy... just a thought.
MIKE

[lordkovacs]

nice set up btw