I'm, too sexy for MA skin, too sexy for MA skin soo sexy it's a sin!!!

[Toronto1977]

Good info Rogue. Reptilegal, stop acting like a defensive neonate lol. If you're going to be actively posting on online forums (as you've been) you're going to need a MUCH thicker skin than that. You also need to STOP using the word *perfect* because your photos are proof of imperfect husbandry. People with over 20 years experience don't even claim to be perfect, let alone someone as green as yourself. The moral of the story is to take the good information and ignore the rest... AND not being so damn sensitive, geez.

[Reptilegal]

Originally Posted by Rogue628

I'm sorry you feel like you've been browbeaten about the husbandry of your animal. With such a large diverse group of people, you're going to find some are more blunt (or brutal) in honesty of opinion, while others will beat around the bush, trying to find a more polite way of trying to give you knowledge about your snake.

Although I don't quite remember you saying if this was your first snake, I'm assuming it is from your posts. You've asked alot of newbie like questions as well. You joined this forum in order to gain knowledge on how to keep your animal properly as well as learn about him and I'm glad you've learned first hand the importance of humidity, especially during shed. Learn from that lesson and try to not let it happen again. Stuck shed can pose problems with your animal, so you want to make sure he has proper humidity each time you notice he's going into shed. You may not always get what we call a perfect shed (all one piece) and it's ok for it to be in a few large pieces, but, to be honest, the way he was looking in the first pic, wasn't a good shed. To be honest, the way the shed looked when it started coming off looks like it was due to not having the proper humidity for a while. That's why it's important to increase his humidity as soon as you realize he's going to shed soon. The quicker you can up the humidity, the more success at having a perfect shed.

There are a few things I would like to politely point out...it's not directed towards you for being a bad keeper...instead think of it as polite suggestions to keep your favorite pet healthy and happy, ok? We were all new in the hobby once, and as I've learned even recently (and I've been keeping several types of snakes for a while), there is always something you can be doing better. While he's in his shedding process, try to not handle him if you can help it. Their skin is sensitive.

His enclosure. Now, don't jump to conclusions but from the little bit we are seeing in your pics, there are some things you can do to make it better for him. One is he needs something better to lay on instead of painted wood. There are tons of people here who use substrates such as aspen, repti-bark, eco-earth, and all other sorts of 'bedding' you can purchase at a store. I personally use newspaper. It's not the prettiest looking substrate in the world, but it makes for much easier clean up for the enclosure and with it being so easy to change out, I don't mind doing daily cage cleanings (take out the paper, wipe down the enclosure with at least some hot water for a quick clean) if I have to, especially since I have a couple of animals that seem to know if they knock over their water bowls, they'll be getting out for a little while lol. I'm pretty OCD about my animal's and their enclosures because it's the perfect breeding ground for all types of bacteria and other nastiness that can and will harm your snake. So please at least put some paper down. If anything, it's a small barrier for possible splinters you can't see, but his scales can find.

You said that string was there to help hold the light cover. I personally would try to use something safer, like a zip tie, but if you are going to continue using it, can you at least cut it shorter? Just as an extra precaution.

I would like to ask how you're heating his enclosure. If it's just by a basking type light, he's getting heat topside but not enough on his belly. Snakes need belly heat, especially to help digest their food and heat lights typically don't give off enough heat to give him an appropriate amount of belly heat. So when you're measuring his enclosure's temp, you need to see how warm it is on the floor to get a more accurate reading of what he's actually getting.

What is he using for a hide? Is he going under the ledge or does he have something else he can call his home or safe place. Snakes are insecure animals and need a place they can feel safe, or even wait in ambush for food (as they do in the wild). Most snakes feel more secure in a hide that allows them to touch at least 3 sides when they're curled up.

Your particular animal may like to have a branch. If you don't have something he can climb on, try giving him something. If he doesn't seem to use it after having one for a couple of weeks, you can take it out if you want. Putting a PVC pipe in that type of enclosure and making it easy to remove would be really simple to do.

Your animal is pretty simple to keep as they don't require alot of heat and humidity like others, which if don't keep their husbandry correct, can develop little nasty things like a respiratory infection.

I'm not telling you what you're doing is bad. I'm just throwing some stuff out there, kind of like food for thought in ways to help you became a better owner. I'm sure there are things I've forgotten, but I'm tired and haven't been able to sleep (insomnia sucks) so I'm not functioning at my best.

Remember, you joined this forum for a reason. And we have alot of really good and knowledgeable people here who are more than willing to help, even if some do seem rude. We all truly have the animal's best interest at heart. We're here to help you.

Now THIS is a MUCH nicer way to ask!!!
Yes I am a beginner and I know people are going to say 'diamonds are not a beginner snake' but hey.
His enclosure is pretty tall, and the part that showed in the pic was the top basking area, he also has another ledge below with an insulated bird box it's a rectangle shape ( small enough so he can curl tightly at the bottom without being too squished)
Then the bottom part is dark (shaded) with newspaper bedding and another hide ( it's like a large clay pot but the flat bit isnt on the bottom it's on the side, and inside it has sterilized bird feathers (bought from pet store as nesting material) and a sheet of newspaper over it so the feathers don't go over him, and the entrance to the clay pot has a thick piece of insulating material (i think it's called styrofoam, it's like white) over the entrance with a small hole cut in so he can get through.
The wood a underneath the light gets warm, but maybe I can put a flat cement block to get more heat? Or do you have any suggestions??
I WAS told to get a HEAT ROCK but I was like 'what the heck!! NO WAY!!! those things could kill my snake!!!'

He has 2 thick vertical branches, (one of them is curly)
And a horizontal one.

The string poses no real danger, but I guess the bits sticking out really don't need to be there so I will cut them way down

The floor area is usually about 7-10 degrees cooler than his basking spot.


Thank you for KINDLY telling me what I need to do ect
THIS is what I look for on a forum

[Reptilegal]

Originally Posted by Toronto1977

Good info Rogue. Reptilegal, stop acting like a defensive neonate lol. If you're going to be actively posting on online forums (as you've been) you're going to need a MUCH thicker skin than that. You also need to STOP using the word *perfect* because your photos are proof of imperfect husbandry. People with over 20 years experience don't even claim to be perfect, let alone someone as green as yourself. The moral of the story is to take the good information and ignore the rest... AND not being so damn sensitive, geez.

Okie dokie, I just get very offended sometimes.

How's this, his molt was quite rough but with appropriate action it ended up coming off fully with no real drama.

I may not be keeping him PERFECT but I am doing my darn best to!!

[Reptilegal]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Look I know it's tough to be cool about people telling you that you have made a mistake but your snake suffers when they look like that. Obviously you love your animal or you wouldn't be upset about the comments. Maybe instead of getting ugly you should be thinking about how to avoid this and make shedding more comfortable for your snake.
Next time get informed not upset.

I do love him, SOOO much!!!
And all this made me feel like I am a terrible owner! And that he is living a bad life!!!

I'm all up for information on what what I am doing wrong and what I can do to make things better, but if I am told NICELY!!! it's quite a punch in the chest to have people say iv got poor husbandry, your letting him suffer etc

Saying 'your letting him suffer' does not give me any information on what I can do to help him!!

The way ROGUE627 said it was wonderful!!!

I am quite a sensitive girl so I just need to be told calmly and nicely.

[Lankyrob]

There is no issue with the heat bulb only as a heat source. All my snakes just have heat bulbs. They DO provide belly heat in exactly the same way as the sun does in nature, it heats the substrate/floor and the the snake absorbs heat from there. It also provides very good ambient air temperatures.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Not to be critical or anything, but why only take advice that's given to you kindly? Take all advice as advice, since it's not your feelings that should be important, but your snake's welfare.
Heat bulbs should work as long as the light isn't too far away from the floor. In that case, a UTH should be added. Maybe to help with shedding, you could add a humid hide.
And by the way, he's not living a terrible life if you're willing to learn and better his environment.

[Terranaut]

Originally Posted by Reptilegal

I do love him, SOOO much!!!
And all this made me feel like I am a terrible owner! And that he is living a bad life!!!

I'm all up for information on what what I am doing wrong and what I can do to make things better, but if I am told NICELY!!! it's quite a punch in the chest to have people say iv got poor husbandry, your letting him suffer etc

Saying 'your letting him suffer' does not give me any information on what I can do to help him!!

The way ROGUE627 said it was wonderful!!!

I am quite a sensitive girl so I just need to be told calmly and nicely.

Saying your snake is suffering is just fact and no need to tell you how to fix it..... everyone else already has. You have spent more time complaining about the way you have been told rather than accepting it and bettering the situation. Forums are txt so there is no "tone of voice".
If I posted a pic of a starving skinny child and said " check out my kid" would you reply with " well your kid looks great but you might consider looking at their diet the seem just a tad underweight". No you would say " omfg give that kid food and get them to a doctor". The later being much more sound advice and you would not be worried at all about hurting my feelings. Right? The people here just want to help the snake out. The best advice you will get on this site won't always be painless. Please just accept it for what it is and don't get troubled by how it was worded or all advice may seem like a slap in the face.
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. So lets put this to bed and get on enjoying our/your snakes in a possitive way

[Jendee]

I have got see pictures of the 7 ye old tree house type of cage you built for your reptile LOL with flower pot big feathers styrofoam 3 story condo lol

[Rogue628]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

There is no issue with the heat bulb only as a heat source. All my snakes just have heat bulbs. They DO provide belly heat in exactly the same way as the sun does in nature, it heats the substrate/floor and the the snake absorbs heat from there. It also provides very good ambient air temperatures.

I've never had any luck with heat bulbs in the past. I may have had the wrong type of bulbs or had it too far away from the bottom of the cage. Either way I could never get the right temps on the floor of the enclosure. Using heat tape or UTH properly is the only way I've been able to get it right.

On a side note, now that I'm trying to get materials together to build permanent homes for my burms, I find I'm running into a similar issue but I think I'm going to try to use heat panels.

[Lankyrob]

Originally Posted by Rogue628

I've never had any luck with heat bulbs in the past. I may have had the wrong type of bulbs or had it too far away from the bottom of the cage. Either way I could never get the right temps on the floor of the enclosure. Using heat tape or UTH properly is the only way I've been able to get it right.

On a side note, now that I'm trying to get materials together to build permanent homes for my burms, I find I'm running into a similar issue but I think I'm going to try to use heat panels.

If i had the cash i would use rhp's for all my snakes but for now i use ceramics.