Check in on Sal

cwburns32 · 10-01-16, 12:11 PM

Hello all - thought I'd post some pics of my Tara, Sal. He is about 11-12 months old, 25" long and just weighed in at 218 grams. I am considering getting a larger enclosure for him. Right now I have him in a 41 qt, 23.5" x 17.75" x 8". Considering something 6-10" longer, slightly wider and lower the depth a tad to help with temps in winter.

I am looking at at a 33 7/8 x 18 1/8 x 6 or 35 5/8 x 18 1/4 x 6 1/4 or 10-12" of extra length, .5" of extra width and 2" less deep. I have posted a few pics of his enclosure and him in it - ignore the temps on the pics of just the enclosure, I had just finished cleaning it.

I'm also posting a snippet of his schedule that I keep. Feedings, weight, sheds, poops, cleanings, etc. Please let me know how he is progressing as I don't know too much about boas.

Thanks for any advice!

EDIT: Posting snippet in next post as I could only post the 5 pics. Enjoy!

cwburns32 · 10-01-16, 12:12 PM

See schedule below.

richardhind · 10-01-16, 03:06 PM

Nice looking snake you got there,looks like he's settling in well with you,just remember every snake even if the same species or morph are so individual in the times they shed and eat etc

bigsnakegirl785 · 10-01-16, 04:45 PM

They're spaced out well but hopefully those aren't the rat/mouse's weights? Seems a bit big to be feeding a 2' long snake, and he's really heavy for his length. You sure he's not longer than 25", or the weight isn't off? My girl was about 140 grams at that length, and my 24" boy is about 120 grams. Both are/were on mouse hoppers in the 7-12 gram range at that size.

If you're not weighing him when he's empty, and he's just a heavy individual, that could account for the difference, just seem heavier than I'd expect. Snakes can lose the entire weight of the rat they ate when they poop, so you feed a 20 gram mouse and 20 grams comes out, between the feces and the urates.

They aren't Tara's, but I thought dwarves were lighter-bodied.

(Also sheds and poop look normal, everything is good except the weight and lengths aren't what I'd expect. haha)

cwburns32 · 10-08-16, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

They're spaced out well but hopefully those aren't the rat/mouse's weights? Seems a bit big to be feeding a 2' long snake, and he's really heavy for his length. You sure he's not longer than 25", or the weight isn't off? My girl was about 140 grams at that length, and my 24" boy is about 120 grams. Both are/were on mouse hoppers in the 7-12 gram range at that size.

If you're not weighing him when he's empty, and he's just a heavy individual, that could account for the difference, just seem heavier than I'd expect. Snakes can lose the entire weight of the rat they ate when they poop, so you feed a 20 gram mouse and 20 grams comes out, between the feces and the urates.

They aren't Tara's, but I thought dwarves were lighter-bodied.

(Also sheds and poop look normal, everything is good except the weight and lengths aren't what I'd expect. haha)

He is actually closer to 28" now, had him out on the floor and did a quick measure, much longer than I thought.

As far as mouse/rat size I typically stick with the 13% of body weight rule. When I first got him, yes those rats/mice were probably a tad too big but he handled them just fine. Now he is up over 200 grams and those 20 rams rats/mice are less than 10% his weight. He eats them rather quickly with no problems.

He ate on Wednesday but hasn't really been on the warm side of his cage so he can digest his food. I'm sure he will go tot he warm side if he feels necessary so I don't think I need to be too alarmed but I only saw him on the warmside for about 8 hours over the past 48 since I've fed him.

Going to the store today to grab a larger enclosure for him. Add a tad bit of width, about 10 inches of length and lower the height about 2 inches to help with temps as we reach the cooler months here.

macandchz · 10-08-16, 08:21 AM

very nice! hope you don't mind if i copy the out-line of your schedule. like the way it's set up.

cwburns32 · 10-08-16, 10:29 AM

Do not mind at all! Use O365 version of Excel so I can access the schedule from any internet enabled device anywhere in the world. Not that that is necessary but nice being able to reference it when I'm not at home.

sirtalis · 10-08-16, 10:41 AM

Very nice, beautiful snake, from the pictures he looks to be in good shape, and I think ill be saving your schedule too if you don't mind haha

cwburns32 · 10-08-16, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirtalis

Very nice, beautiful snake, from the pictures he looks to be in good shape, and I think ill be saving your schedule too if you don't mind haha

Please do! It helps me very much so!

Picked up a much larger tub that is about 2 to 2 1/2 inches shorter than the old one which help hold heat slightly better for the winter months. Container store had a huge sale on their Elfa shelving so I decided to pick up a decent sized one. I will eventually move to a display cage and use this shelf for something else (maybe another snake or 2....hmmm). Here is the size comparison.

Albert Clark · 10-08-16, 03:54 PM

Great looking boa! Very nice setup too. How are you heating the enclosure and regulating your heat? The Excel record keeping is well documented, grats.

cwburns32 · 10-08-16, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Great looking boa! Very nice setup too. How are you heating the enclosure and regulating your heat? The Excel record keeping is well documented, grats.

Thank you!

I have a big Ultratherm UTH on the warm side and then a very small one on the cool side that really only kicks on at night to keep it above 74 on that side. I regulate both of them with a Herpstat 2.

Temps set to 86.5 and 75 during day and bump to 88 and 78 at night. Cooler nights here now so moved night temps up a tad. I get a very nice gradient from 85 on the warm side to 74-76 on cool side. Warm hide sits at about 87.5 and cool hide sits at about 75-76. Almost have it perfected, going to have take some time to get the temps and placement of UTHs in the bigger enclosure just right for this similar gradient.

Just finished drilling holes, razor scrapping, sanding. Attached pics, just waiting the UTH so I can start setting up this one. I have a total of 24 holes on the side (3 on each side, 9 on each face) and another 25 on top (3 rows of 7 and 4 in corners). 2 larger holes drilled on the floor on each side and a 3rd on the floor along the back wall for the probes for my thermometers.

Albert Clark · 10-09-16, 10:50 AM

Cool! Sounds like Sal has his condo set up very cozy. Can't beat a Herpstat.