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

Kylie · 01-30-12, 09:19 PM

Do snakes need sticks in their tank? as u see in mine she has one but i dont ever see her climbing it, if i take it out will it harm her? its taking up alot of room and i dont thinks he likes to climb over/around it..

alessia55 · 01-30-12, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie

Do snakes need sticks in their tank? as u see in mine she has one but i dont ever see her climbing it, if i take it out will it harm her? its taking up alot of room and i dont thinks he likes to climb over/around it..

Your snake not using the stick in there is totally normal. However, I would keep it in if it's something good for her to rub up against when she's shedding. I have a "stick" in my Kaybe's cage because he uses it to help himself shed. In my Pika's cage I don't have one because the hides he has are pretty rough and he can use the top of them to help himself shed, and space is pretty cramped in his cage as it is. It's totally optional. But just make sure there's something rough in there for her to use when she's shedding.

Kylie · 01-30-12, 09:33 PM

What bout corns?

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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, 04:15 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