RI in new CRB..help?

[formica]

Originally Posted by Sharlynn93

also, if i use the tote idea, would i be able to put her back into this tank when she is well? i really do not like plastic totes for keeping my snakes, they look crappy and cheap to me, and i like to watch my snakes...(they are in my living room)...

yes of course, you just need to fix it up to offer proper humidity stabilization, the suggestion of a plastic box is just the easiest way to ensure that humidity is up high in the meantime - there is no reason why you cant get your glass tank to hold humidity, if you can seal the lid properly and use a UTH - you will also need a proper substrate, coir or coco husk is excellent for humidity and spot cleaning, and CRB's love to burrow

[Sharlynn93]

i have been looking online for an alternative lid, not really finding anything...just glass ones marketed for keeping fish from jumping out not lockable from what i can see, either...plus the hubby is arguing with me that anything less than a screen lid will suffocate her from lack of air...ugh...i'm in a no win situation here...i will try a different substrate...i saw one at petco, i think it was eco-earth? the stuff sold in a block that expands? is that a good one?

[formica]

yep thats the stuff, its one of the best substrates available for high humidity

dont worry about suffocation, even the tiniest gaps will allow enough CO2 to transfer out, and O2 to transfer in, and unless you seal the lid with silicone to make it air tight, there will always be enough of a gap, and she will not suffocate

for now, a damp towel covering the whole of the top will do the trick, but a piece of plastic (acrylic or polycarbonate (polycarb twinwall is very cheap, often sold as windows for greenhouses)) cut to size will do the job much better, if you want, drill 5 or 6 x 1mm holes for a little extra ventilation, but that is not essential

she wont suffocate i promise! 20 years experience keeping snakes here my CRB is housed in a plastic vivarium (not a tub), it has 5 x 1mm holes at the front on the bottom, and 3 x 1mm holes on each side at the back top...all but 3 of those holes are currently sealed.

[Sharlynn93]

i will try and see if i can find a piece of that plastic, i can actually just lay it on top of the screen lid, maybe? then i have the security of the locks, etc...i actually placed a few sheets of plastic wrap loosely over the towels to hold even more humidity in for now...best i can do till probably tomorrow...will stop at petco on the way home for new substrate...we were looking at misters and foggers online...any input on these? good? or no good?

[formica]

i dont bother with foggers or misters, but my enclosure is almost completely sealed, it gets sprayed once every week to 2 weeks at most - that said, mine is bioactive, with growing moss and plants, so this helps boost the humidity a bit - tbh a few sprays each day is all that should be needed with a standard setup, if you find you cant keep the humidity up with that, then its worth looking into foggers - for now the thermostat and digi meters are more important


yeah anything that will seal up the screen/vents will do the trick

[Sharlynn93]

i will price those out tomorrow...don't get paid until friday so i will have to make do until then spent all my "extra" money on the snake this payday and now have to empty my meager savings to pay the vet tomorrow...i will update after her appointment tomorrow..thanks for your help! i am sure to have more questions in the near future, also...she is alot more complicated to take care of than my others...but i love her..lol

[SuperSleuth]

I went to Home Depot and got a 2x4 sheet of dry erase board. They even cut it for me for free in the size I needed it and it only cost me $10.44. Just make sure the white side is down. I have my tank pre-setup for my BRB on the way and it's holding humidity fabulously. I did edge the lid with weatherstripping and set the lid on the inside of that.

[Sharlynn93]

Great news everybody...first off, the exotic vet i was originally going to go to was 1.5 hr drive...roads were closed due to ice...she called her brother who is our local vet (5 min from my house) and he agreed to see her...he is not an expert but did learn about reptiles in vet school...her RI is all upper, nothing in her lungs...she already had greatly improved just from the changes and home treatments i tried...her dehydration is still apparent, but much better after letting her swim in my sink...oral antibiotic for 7 days and she should be good as new!! btw, she was an absolute hit at the office...even the women who were afraid of snakes just HAD to come see her...even "petted" her..lol...nice sunbeam coming thru the window gave everyone a wonderful show of her rainbow coloring also!!

[Snakesitter]

Great news -- so glad to hear it!

[Sharlynn93]

well, her RI is better, but still hadn't eaten for me, and now I know why!!

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[Snakesitter]

Glad to hear she's better!!! Pict is not working for me though -- anyone else?

[formica]

great news look forward to seeing her freshly shed!

[Snakesitter]

::removed dupe:::

[Snakesitter]

More rainbow picts = always a good thing! ;-)

[Sharlynn93]

her eyes cleared yesterday, so hoping for her to shed in the next few days so I can get some good after pics so excited! hoping she will finally eat for me once she does...