Baby snake "substrate" question

savvylr · 10-04-16, 03:23 PM

So, I got my Hognose girl. I have three hides currently, because she came to me in shed. Her eyes are currently blue so she has not actually begun to shed yet. Right now she has one cool hide with no shredded paper towels, and two hot hides, one with shredded dry paper towel and one with damp paper towel. Does this sound okay for while she is in shed? Once she is finished, I will take the damp hide out.

Also, I have a jumpstart thermostat attached to my reptitherm heat pad. I have a mini size because the enclosure is just a 15 quart or so. Anyway, I have it set to 92, but I've temp checked it for the past week or so and on top of the paper towel liner, it seems like there is at least a 4 degree difference, while on certain parts of the bare tub, I picked up a reading of 97 degrees! I don't understand. I am using a digital infrared laser thermometer, so temp accuracy isn't an issue. I just don't want it to be too hot should my girl burrow under the paper towel and thus be touching the bare plastic. The warmest I've seen on the paper towel is around 86, the coolest at 84, while at the same time the bare tub being between 90 and 97 degrees! I don't understand this fluctuation in heat.

dannybgoode · 10-04-16, 03:29 PM

The temperature dial on your stat is unlikely to be calibrated hence the need to double check the temps with a heat gun. I'd dial the stat down until your getting correct readings from the gun.

Also where is your stat probe placed?

savvylr · 10-04-16, 03:38 PM

Okay, I'll keep checking it out. I'll go ahead and lower it a couple of degrees and see how that goes. I have the probe placed inside the tub on above the uth. I have a hole drilled in the bottom to feed the probe through and I have it secured with tape so that it will no move at all. I read about placing it between the heat pad and the actual container, but I wasn't sure about that? I didn't read so many positive things. Any help would be appreciated.

savvylr · 10-04-16, 05:14 PM

Update: Turned my thermostat down to 90 and it is now fluctuating between 86 and 92! Thank the Lord because she has decided right against the tub under the paper towel is where she needs to be. Had a mini heart attack when I couldn't find her at a glance haha.

JellyBean · 10-04-16, 06:55 PM

Yay! Let's see pics of your new girl when she settles in

A couple of thoughts:
*I have found that "Spagnum moss" works great for a humid hide. (Not that there is anything wrong with your paper towels).

*Be real careful with the tape being in the tub... If it gets stuck on your baby, neither of you will be happy.

savvylr · 10-04-16, 09:00 PM

I actually have spagnum moss, but read that they could ingest it? As long as I feed her on the paper towels and not the moss, ingestion shouldn't be a concern, right? And I have triple checked that the tape is secure on all edges HOWEVER I would love to hear how others secure their probes without using tape!

JellyBean · 10-04-16, 09:12 PM

I'll let the experts chime in now

savvylr · 10-04-16, 09:17 PM

Heh, now I'm paranoid about the tape and am trying to figure out an alternative to it tonight...

savvylr · 10-04-16, 09:29 PM

And I just went ahead and took the precautionary measure of removing the tape from inside and attaching the probe to the UTH directly... Gonna see what temps look like in the morning. My thermostat seems a bit off so I've got it heating up to 86 or so, not 92 (set at 92, it was getting up to 99 degrees). I've read that I could hot glue the probe inside? I may try that tomorrow, pending the responses I get here.

dannybgoode · 10-04-16, 10:55 PM

Sphagnum moss is very widely used in reptile enclosures with no ill effects so no need to worry there.

Definitely best to have removed the tape. Better safe than sorry. The probe is better in the tub and the way I'd secure it is to drill a couple of small holes either side of the wire then use a thin piece of metal wire to loop over it and then twist the ends together under the tank so it's pulled nice and tight round the probe wire. I'd anchor the probe wire at a couple of points this way-hope the explanation makes sense!

Others may have other methods.

savvylr · 10-05-16, 03:32 PM

Good to know! I am having very good luck at keeping constant temps with the probe on the actual UTH, but I'll keep monitoring it and if it starts having trouble I'll move the probe back inside with the method you suggested. The specific tub I have (a ziploc 15 qt weatherproof tote) has an uneven bottom and so it was creating severe hot spots because it could not heat evenly. Having the probe on the actual mat seems to be evening out the heat so that there are no hot spots more than +/-2 degrees, whereas when the probe was in the tub the temps would range from 88-99 in different areas above the heating mat at the same time, depending on how flush the mat is with the bottom.

Good to know about the moss, though! I'm going to throw some in with her today. Also going to offer her a pinky as well. If she doesn't take it, gonna wait after she finishes shedding. Pray all goes well! Thanks!

**Andy_G** · 10-11-16, 03:14 PM

Usually the temp inside the cage/tub is a few degrees different than on the heat pad itself...if the probe is placed directly on the heat outside of the enclosure but you're measuring the hot spot with a temp gun on the inside and adjusting accordingly that works just as well as it won't fluctuate. Nothing wrong with either method, either inside or out, when it comes to underbelly heat.

Railrider1920 · 10-12-16, 05:30 PM

I always preferred to feed outside of the main enclosure, in a tub of some sort. That way the snakes get used to being picked up and taken out of the tank. Then feed them in a tub with no substrate. If you feed them in the main tank, they think that their going to get fed every time the top is opened. I don't know if that is correct, but that's what I remember anyhow.

**Andy_G** · 10-13-16, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Railrider1920

I always preferred to feed outside of the main enclosure, in a tub of some sort. That way the snakes get used to being picked up and taken out of the tank. Then feed them in a tub with no substrate. If you feed them in the main tank, they think that their going to get fed every time the top is opened. I don't know if that is correct, but that's what I remember anyhow.

That's not correct. Unless the ONLY thing you do every time you open the snake's cage is feed then this doesn't happen...and even then it's a stretch. One could easily flip that statement and say that if you use a separate feeding container, a snake will expect food every time it's handled so your chances of getting bit are higher...but that's not true either. It's easier for the owner and the snake to feed in it's own enclosure, but of course to each their own. Ingestion of substrate isn't a concern unless you are using large sharp jagged substrates or certain types of sand or if the snake is otherwise ill. It's also best to avoid offering prey that's soaking wet to minimize ingestion.

akane · 10-16-16, 12:10 AM

I did not find it accurate that a feeding bin reduces getting bit. I got a mostly starved, kept cold who knows how long rosy who was striking everything in reach. I had to get her off my finger once which she was determined she could fit or rip a chunk loose. I fed her well in her tank for weeks. Today I reached in and touched near her middle half a couple times. She started to crawl out of her house so I touched a bit behind her head carefully. Then I slowly lifted her first 1/3rd and then the rest with the other hand. She crawled around my hands and arms and I put her back. I have done nothing else but feed her in her cage until she was no longer starving. She would be due for feeding Monday and is already looking for food but still didn't strike me. I have heard a few say to just develop a certain touch or feed only with tongs so the snake knows when you are holding feed from your bare hand. So far just making sure not to surprise her has worked fine. I am feeding on a sand/soil substrate preparing for bioactive. She might have scraped some up fitting meals down but her mouth is pretty tight to the prey size and she's had no problems yet. I sometimes have to dry her gerbils with paper towels before feeding because my ziplock bags leak and I warm it up in water.

If you have questionable substrate and fed damp prey you might want to have a clean tub for feeding but plenty have functioning substrates for snakes that do not cause problems with regular feeding on them.