Rainbow boas good 2nd snake?

[marisa]

Yes I agree with Matt as well. It's very good you are getting the ball python situation over with. My post wasn't meant against you, but to point out that in this hobby balls are considered a beginners snake meaning you should master that before getting *anything* else.

Marisa

[VI Reptiles]

Heather rose, So far my ball python has not been so forgiving as you have described, Its constant stress thinking my snake isnt going to be alive in the morning or when I come home from school hes not going to be alive or if hes going to be ok the next day.

Marisa, Good. To master them takes a long time I guess.

Im so mad and I wish I never did this but I was told get the mulch stuff ( not cedar ). It was ok for about 2 months and then he started getting scale rot..... I payed 15 dollars for it and now im paying for that mistake. First I thought it was just wood under his scales and so on till now.

Thanks

[BoidKeeper]

The snake probably had scale rot to begin with. You could have caused it if you were keeping the cage too wet and too cold though. But like I said, the scale rot was probably already there.
Cheers,
Trevor

[HeatherRose]

Heather rose, So far my ball python has not been so forgiving as you have described, Its constant stress thinking my snake isnt going to be alive in the morning or when I come home from school hes not going to be alive or if hes going to be ok the next day.

I can completely understand what you're going through, I've beenin the same situation with one of my herps.

I mean that ball pythons in general, are more forgiving of general beginner husbandry mistakes...not that they should be made, but if it's something like not being able to get your humidity up high enough, it will be okay for a bit.

But, if you're looking to get a rainbow boa (as said in another thread) that can lead to worse problems, faster. I'm not saying it won't lead to issues with ball pythons either though.

Basically: If you think BP humidity is too difficult to achieve, rainbow boa humidity will be impossible...

I'm definitely not trying to jump on you or anything at all, I promise...I wish you and you ball the best of luck

[marisa]

The best thing to do at this point is what you are probably already doing...paper towels, hot temps, and plenty of alone time for the snake aside from the vet visits every couple days.

By "master it" I only meant be successful in keeping a ball python healthy, happy and feeding for a good amount of time, then move on. It will help you in the long run and could possibly save money in vet trips.

Marisa

[VI Reptiles]

Heather, The thing is I tried 3 layers of newspaper moist then my snake always went under the paper and I never saw it. Then I tried the forest ground and it did not work because now I have to deal with scale rot. I put another hide in it which was a moist hide. It started looking worse so i took it out. Was it a good idea? He spend almost his whole time in there instead of his dry spot. Im running out of ideas


Its just getting soo hard to keep this guy and Im constantly using money to keep him alive and I feel like I will never get another snake the way im going.


Thanks

[marisa]

Dude. Let me give you some advice.

1. Rubbermaid. Small. He does NOT need major room right now especially with a health problem. Rubbermaids are ten bucks, IF that.

2. Heat pad on 1/3 controlled to create a 90 degree hot spot. Heat pads are less than 20 bucks.

3. Appropriate sized water dish on cool end.

4. paper towel on the bottom. Paper towel costs like 2 dollars.

5. ONE hide on the warm side.

Done.

This is what I would do. It's a simple set up, will hold enough humidity for him to be healthy without misting and adding to much moisture for his scale rot while also providing one hide over the warm area where he needs to be. Sick snakes need warm temps to keep up.

Stop the complications like humid hides, misting, moving things in and out, worrying etc. Set him up simple, do the vet thing, and mainly leave him alone for time to heal. This is all my opinion and what I would do if it was my snake.

Marisa

[marisa]

It's as simple as this.

<img src="http://8snakes.myftp.org/marisa/cage.jpg">

One of my rubbermaids:
<img src="http://8snakes.myftp.org/marisa/Snakes/dolores/cage.jpg">

Marisa

[HeatherRose]

I'm with Marisa 100% on the rubbermaids...

My snakes are all kept in them, and I have never had to worry about humidity once. It's a snap.

[Bartman]

That is exactly what I do as well.

Ive actually taken the hides out as I found when they knock the water over it ruins the hides. My rubermaids are black and they are in a rack so they are secure feeling forsure

Good luck VI, at least you are taking it to the vet so thats great!

[VI Reptiles]

Ok! I will go on saturday buy a new heat mat, buy a rubbermaid and try it that way, hopefully less then $50. Geese if I would have done this in the beginning I would have saved an extra $70 from the 40 gallon aquarium. Maybe I will stay with ball pythons if all goes well.

Marisa, Im just wondering if I need to mist his rubbermaid?

Thanks

[dia]

Just make sure to put air holes in the rubbermaid.

[marisa]

Yeah air holes are good.

You shoulnd't have to mist at all. I never ever mist unless I happen to catch one in shed. Even then I miss the sheds and don't mist, they still shed perfectly.

This set up allows constant cleaning which a sick snake needs. All the components aside from the tub itself are disposible and cheap.

Marisa

[VI Reptiles]

Great, less money to spend!


Thanks

[marisa]

No offense, but keeping animals is not cheap. You seem to want to learn but on the other hand the overtone of all your posts is "how cheap"

Somewhere along the line people made the mistake of getting the idea that the reptile hobby can be cheap. I am a firm believer it takes a good chunk of money to keep ANY animal healthy let alone a collection of them. Reptiles are not cheap. You can expect to spend hundreds more dollars on this snake in its lifetime. Even if nothing goes wrong, that's food costs alone.

Marisa