newbie snakes

[NennaMeerkat]

I guess I am the odd one out here with a dimmer. At the same time I don't go anywhere and am 99/9% always at my home or just a few miles away. Point being that even if I am not at home my husband is. We have so many different animals with different needs it is nearly impossible to take a vacation or even leave overnight. So if temps swing out of control (doesn't really happen here in Texas to an extent I am worried) and my AC/Central Heat somehow fails we would be here or at most 20min. away. Thus able to deal with the changes needed for my dimmer.

At the same time if more heat is needed I DONT alter my dimmer instead I put up my low wattage heat lamp for my girl. Even in the coldest temps here in Texas it holds the temps perfectly. Turn it off at night and move my girl to the heat pad area if I feel she needs it.

There can always be an alternate option...right?

[Lankyrob]

I wasnt suggesting that a dimmer couldnt or wouldnt work just explaining why i use a thermostat instead.

[NennaMeerkat]

Oh no I understand Lanky 100%. Have from the beginning. In fact I was given advice about a dimmer on here...so I know that it has to be used by someone at some point on here. If I could afford a thermostat I would probably get one. Just the best option for me at this point.

Sorry to derail this thread...again >.<

[sickvenom]

Originally Posted by thomas1123

Thanks for a short summary of everthing and some new info i didn't know! lol i decided to buy a 10g tank for mine whenever i get him/her. but when it gets to be an adult i will probably move it into the 50g if i dont have another snake in it by then lol i know that they are venomous but isn't it only in their rear fangs and the only way to really get any affects of the venom is if they chew on the bitten place if i remember right. (correct me if im wrong). i have two hide and a water bowl in my tank with a fake plant. i'll check out the Zilla thermostat.
Thanks

if you are buying a 10 gallon tank, then buy a male hog. there's a chance he could live his whole life in it. and just get a bigger snake for the larger tank.

hogs are rear fang snakes, but there are confirmed deaths from them. most have been a result from allergic reaction to the venom. and yes, they really do have a to chew on you for a bit.

[sickvenom]

Originally Posted by NennaMeerkat

I guess I am the odd one out here with a dimmer.

not really. dimmer switching are hugely popular because of their low cost. nothing wrong with them, as long as you understand their limitations. i know people who have used dimmers in their snake rooms for years without issue.

[thomas1123]

well i live in florida and the temp doesnt change drastically. and im home most of the day because of school. (i'm in college) its mostly hot here and my parents own a hardware so i can get a dimmer for a fairly cheap price. the problem is is that im running low on money lol i need to pay for gas and food. so i think i will ust get a dimmer from my parents work and then save up and buy a thermostat. but also i still havent gotten my snake yet so its not a huge priority right now. ive been going around some of the petstores around here looking at there snakes and some are just terrible. the petland has a gtp that has mites and there still selling it! i know i won't be buying my snake from there. but i asked them if they knew any snake breeders and they gave me a few numbers to call.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by sickvenom

if you are buying a 10 gallon tank, then buy a male hog. there's a chance he could live his whole life in it. and just get a bigger snake for the larger tank.

hogs are rear fang snakes, but there are confirmed deaths from them. most have been a result from allergic reaction to the venom. and yes, they really do have a to chew on you for a bit.

post some info on the deaths caused by hognose

[Jay]

Found this from the University of Florida

Heterodon means "different tooth," which refers to the enlarged teeth on the rear of the upper jaw. These teeth inject a mild venom into its prey, and also serve to pop inflated toads like a balloon to enable swallowing. They use their blunt nose to search through leaf litter and soil for prey.

Adults mainly eat toads, but will sometimes eat other frogs, insects, and invertebrates. Juveniles eat small frogs and toads, insects, lizards, and small snakes.

It lays eggs. Breeding takes place in both the spring and fall. Males often follow the female around for several days prior to courtship and copulation. They lay between 4-61 whitish, thin shelled, leathery eggs 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) long. Eggs are deposited in a moist sandy, shallow hole, or under debris, and hatch in 39-65 days. Hatchlings are 6.5-9.5 inches (16-24 cm).

The Hognose Snake is renowned for its "death feigning" behavior. When threatened, it flattens its head and neck and hisses loudly. It may strike, but only with its mouth closed. If it is further harassed, it will flip on its back and convulse for a short period and may defecate and regurgitate its food. It will then remain motionless with its belly up, mouth open, and tongue hanging out. It may play dead for several minutes before cautiously turning over, looking around to see if it is safe before crawling away.

Flattening its head and hissing when it is frightened gave rise to two of the local names used for this snake. Florida crackers (native Floridians) call the banded form of the Hognose Snake a "Puff Adder" and correctly believe it to be harmless. However, the black form of the Hognose Snake is called a "Spreading Adder" and is wrongly believed to be deadly. Both color forms of the Eastern Hognose Snake are harmless to humans. However, humans that are allergic to its small amount of venom have been known to produce local swelling, but no human death has ever occurred.

Another old myth says that the Hognose Snake can mix venom with its breath and is thus able to kill a person from a distance of twenty-five feet. In truth, its breath is harmless.

[mistersprinkles]

Anybody ever kept the larger, evil, mean Eastern Hog?