First time snake owner, looking for help! - Page 7

alessia55 · 01-30-12, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

What bout corns?

I fixed my post. I made a silly mistake; I momentarily forgot yours is a corn! Oopsies. My post still applies

Kylie · 01-30-12, 09:53 PM

Oh ok haha i want a boa!! they have a gorgious one at the pet store

Kylie · 01-30-12, 11:12 PM

What does it mean when your snake is shy? lol
She will pop her head out of her rock, and as soon as somebody walks by she runs back into her hide, its probably just her getting used to everything right? just want to make sure...i love her already! don't want anyyything to happen to her!

Lankyrob · 01-31-12, 07:43 AM

I have 7 snakes on any given day i will guarantee only to see 2 of them, some days i MIGHT see 4 of them - snakes arent generally animals that are on show on a regular basiss.

alessia55 · 01-31-12, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

What does it mean when your snake is shy? lol
She will pop her head out of her rock, and as soon as somebody walks by she runs back into her hide, its probably just her getting used to everything right? just want to make sure...i love her already! don't want anyyything to happen to her!

She's fine

She's just getting used to her surroundings still. One of mine ALWAYS has his head out of his log and doesn't care if you go right up to his cage. My baby snake stays in his hide completely all day and if I walk by he'll also duck his head back in. It's normal- just getting used to a big monster walking by and trying to remember you're not dangerous

She'll warm up to you soon enough

Kylie · 01-31-12, 01:15 PM

Once i have her in my hands/arms she seems fine, but she gets scared when lifting her out i think she might have been doped it seems like she has some trust issues when being held. She hasnt "hissed" at much lately and she does not always feel so tence, does this mean shes kinda liking me? lol

Kylie · 01-31-12, 03:55 PM

Is there a certain type of fake plants that can go into snake tanks? any certain type of material that is bad

alessia55 · 01-31-12, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

Once i have her in my hands/arms she seems fine, but she gets scared when lifting her out i think she might have been doped it seems like she has some trust issues when being held. She hasnt "hissed" at much lately and she does not always feel so tence, does this mean shes kinda liking me? lol

I know taking out your snake and handling her is a point of much excitement... but you really shouldn't handle her at all until she has eaten for you at least once or twice. This is because handling can be stressful for the snake, and what matters more is that she get some food in her belly. Taking her out before she's settled in and eating can cause her to be more stressed out, and it might mean she misses her meal this week. Just something to think about.

That being said, most snakes do get a bit tense when they're being lifted because it's an unusual feeling for a snake. They're not used to suddenly being air lifted into nowhere-ness. They prefer to be on the ground. With time, she'll get used to the feeling and start to realize that when she gets lifted she will be handled gently and get to explore the area a bit. It's all about time, patience, and being gentle... She'll tolerate it more after a few sessions.

alessia55 · 01-31-12, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

Is there a certain type of fake plants that can go into snake tanks? any certain type of material that is bad

Most fake plants are fine. I use the kind that they sell in pet stores and at reptile expos that have a suction cup on them. If you go with a fake plant in a pot or something like that, make sure it's heavy enough that your snake can't push it over or have it topple onto her and hurt her. These are the kind I use, and I drape the between hides to increase the sense of security the snake feels:

Kiljosh · 01-31-12, 05:31 PM

Just mentioning this because I learned it soon after I bought a thermostat.

If you hook it to a light, unless it's a special type, the light will turn on and off depending on the temperature at the probe. So if it's in your room at night, you have to deal with a click from the thermostat and the light coming on and off constantly.

If you attach it to a pad to heat the tank all you hear is the click, much better

And also, a 150watt bulb seems like a lot of power to get those temps unregulated, what does the mesh on the top of the tank look like? I've been told a fine mesh blocks a lot of heat and UV rays. UV doesn't matter with him I'm pretty sure but with more heat getting to the floor by just using a wider mesh you could save yourself some money on electricity and switch to a lower watt bulb I'm betting.

Nice snake I'm sure you'll be a great owner because you came here!

Lankyrob · 01-31-12, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiljosh

Just mentioning this because I learned it soon after I bought a thermostat.

If you hook it to a light, unless it's a special type, the light will turn on and off depending on the temperature at the probe. So if it's in your room at night, you have to deal with a click from the thermostat and the light coming on and off constantly.

If you attach it to a pad to heat the tank all you hear is the click, much better

And also, a 150watt bulb seems like a lot of power to get those temps unregulated, what does the mesh on the top of the tank look like? I've been told a fine mesh blocks a lot of heat and UV rays. UV doesn't matter with him I'm pretty sure but with more heat getting to the floor by just using a wider mesh you could save yourself some money on electricity and switch to a lower watt bulb I'm betting.

Nice snake I'm sure you'll be a great owner because you came here!

Or just use heat bulbs that dont emit light

exwizard · 01-31-12, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

What does it mean when your snake is shy? lol
She will pop her head out of her rock, and as soon as somebody walks by she runs back into her hide, its probably just her getting used to everything right? just want to make sure...i love her already! don't want anyyything to happen to her!

Schatzi, my amel corn almost always is curled up in her hide. Totally normal.

Kylie · 01-31-12, 09:19 PM

Thanks guys, i LOVE getting replies!!

I got a mat and ordered a thermostat, just waiting for that to come in before I use the mat, in the mean while i am using a 100wat bulb cause the 150 was WAY to got, and the 50 i tried was WAY to cool, right now the warm end is at 85F, and the cool end is at 70F good temps? The warm end gets up to 90 and i turn it off for a little untill the temp goes down, i know the light going on and off might not be to good for her but i dont want her to over heat!! The previous owners had these plants in her tank that were the bendy ones with medal bars in them...bella kept getting caught in them and i was worried she would hurt herself. so im going out to buy her some that has nothing in them that could hurt her, was just curious if there was a certain type

So should i not handle her anymore? im going to be trying to feed her Thursday evening...I just want her to get used to me!! im so in love!!

alessia55 · 01-31-12, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

So should i not handle her anymore? im going to be trying to feed her Thursday evening...I just want her to get used to me!! im so in love!!

Yup, I'd hold off on handling her again until she eats. After she eats you ALWAYS want to give her at least 48 hours to digest before you handle her. Trust me, you'll get lots of time to get used to each other

You just need to make sure she's eating first! If all goes well (which it should, since you're making the changes necessary), she'll be with you for many, many years. These few days of no handling won't matter in the long run.

Good luck on Thursday; keep us posted on how it goes please!

Kylie · 01-31-12, 09:52 PM

Thanks i will for sure, im really nervious to feed her haha, im hoping one of my friends who have done this before will come over and help me! im still confused on what i should do the pet store has no frozen right now so i have no choice but to feed her the live hoppers...and i don't know if i should leave her in her tank or take her out to a container..one guy told me to leave her? but shes always been fed out of tank. but its hard to get her out of her hide without lifting it and ill need to be able to see her eat so the mice dont hurt her, you know?

Ill definitely let you all know how it goes!