Help for new snake owners!

Viperx2000 · 04-28-13, 07:58 PM

Thank you for your response. Yes I do have an under tank heater. The hot side of the tank varies from 80 - 85 degress and the cool side is 75 degrees. I don't mind the bite it doesn't hurt at all really but the wife gets a little frightend by it. Taking him out with a hook I do not believe would help much because getting him out isn't an issue. He doesn't get defensive at all. It is when he is actually being handled as soon as he gets near skin he stops... puts his nose directly on the skin and then bites slowly....

smy_749 · 04-28-13, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viperx2000

Thank you for your response. Yes I do have an under tank heater. The hot side of the tank varies from 80 - 85 degress and the cool side is 75 degrees. I don't mind the bite it doesn't hurt at all really but the wife gets a little frightend by it. Taking him out with a hook I do not believe would help much because getting him out isn't an issue. He doesn't get defensive at all. It is when he is actually being handled as soon as he gets near skin he stops... puts his nose directly on the skin and then bites slowly....

Its not about taking him out with the hook. Its called hook training because he will learn to associate the hook with 'no food' and he will turn off his feeding response. It doesn't matter what the ambient temps are on the hide side because the snake doesn't float in mid air. He will be resting directly on the undertank heater so you need to get something that can accurately read surface temps (a temp gun). If the ambient air in the hot side is 80-85, then you can gaurantee that the surface hes resting on is much hotter.

Viperx2000 · 04-28-13, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

Its not about taking him out with the hook. Its called hook training because he will learn to associate the hook with 'no food' and he will turn off his feeding response. It doesn't matter what the ambient temps are on the hide side because the snake doesn't float in mid air. He will be resting directly on the undertank heater so you need to get something that can accurately read surface temps (a temp gun). If the ambient air in the hot side is 80-85, then you can gaurantee that the surface hes resting on is much hotter.

Ah OK, I understand the hook training theory now thank you. I will see if I can get a temp gun to check the surface temp.

smy_749 · 04-28-13, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viperx2000

Ah OK, I understand the hook training theory now thank you. I will see if I can get a temp gun to check the surface temp.

Keep us updated! They have temp guns at most hardware stores for under 30 dollars. Comes in handy and you can use them to check for drafts in your home where heat is escaping :P