| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Purple Grant |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 11:02:33
Hi, so I've had my snake, Vesper for 24 hours and I've not seen much of it (not even enough to take a gender guess, hence the "it").
It had a little look round the vivarium when it first went in then burrowed under the substrate at the heat mat and has more or less stayed there ever since (Well, he's moved a few inches into a nearby hide sometime when I was asleep).
I've already broken the "Leave it alone for 5 days rule to give it a gentle poke after thinking "Oh no, the viv's to hot/cold or the move was too traumatizing and it's DIED!"
Now I know logically that the viv's the right temperature, that it's journey home was extremely gentle and that reptiles work to a slower clock than the mammal pets I'm more used too, but I worry.
Just looking for a little reassurance. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Purple Grant |
Posted - 22/10/2013 : 14:51:37
Yes, I plan to add more to the viv in bits and bobs. I'm mainly keeping an eye out for a parrot perch of a good shape I can make a bit of climbing space with. I'll get more plastic plants too (6' sounded loads, didn't realize how thin it was until it arrived!)
I think Vesper's settling in pretty well. I've posted a video of him out being handled HERE. |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 22/10/2013 : 13:40:44
That's brilliant, better safe then sorry :) In case you are interested I found this thread - just scroll down to the bottom ;) http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26847&SearchTerms=snake,through,glass,doors |
| Thorne Walker |
Posted - 22/10/2013 : 08:49:37
quote:
Originally posted by Purple Grant
Thanks all.
My first day with a snake has been very like my last day with an empty vivarium!
IMO that's one of the many reasons to kit out a viv to the 9's...
The reality is you're likely to be looking at an 'empty viv' for most of the critters life... I peek in hides to see what Kitty is up to, there is a flashlight beside his viv just for the purpose. If I'm lucky (or haven't fed in a bit) there might be a little face sticking out somewhere.
Kitty's decor works for him, he has lots of hides that he uses depending on what he's up to. He can climb and wander over and under during the cover of night but... it's also (mostly) to create a visually appealing centre piece for me to look at rather than just an empty box! I'm sure he doesn't give a rodents bottom one way or another about the flowers. 
I like your last pic much better than the first, my 2 suggestions would be to double the ivy(double and a half even) and to build the aspen layer up to 5-8cm so Vesper can tunnel. It's a natural behaviour and it will allow V to get about without coming out and to create cozy safe spots everywhere so there is always a hiding place nearby.
If you transpose yourself into Vesper's world and look at things from that POV... You, your family, and the cats/pets are all  Predators... until proven otherwise. Once there have been a series of "well it didn't eat me" moments you and V will have a relationship but the instinct will always be it's best to be in a spot safe from possible predation. With time it can come from the viv and V will be out and about more but truly that is (probably many) years away. Remember, corn snakes are a 20 year pet. You have lots of time.
The concepts pet, viv, feeding schedule just doesn't translate... I think it's part of the biggest differences between keeping reptiles and keeping 'domestics' the cat/dog live in our world, we have to live in the reptile world...
|
| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 21/10/2013 : 01:27:17
No bother, soooo better to be safe than sorry |
| Purple Grant |
Posted - 20/10/2013 : 21:14:29
I was 100% sure he couldn't fit through.
But when you speak too confidently about something that's when it's most likely to go wrong isn't it?
There is now a slide-binder on his door.
(Thanks for the offer Scottishbluebird, but I found one at the back of a drawer.) |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 20/10/2013 : 19:11:43
quote:
Originally posted by Purple Grant
He's 3 months old.
I did a lot of looking/thinking/worrying about this and I'm sure he can't get out the doors. They're an excellent snug fit.
If he's 3 months he can probably get through the gap - you'd be amazed how thin they can squash themselves - please get a paper binder just to be on the safe side |
| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 19/10/2013 : 02:30:54
viv is better, just one thing, not major, but digital thermometers are far more accurate, get them really cheap from ebay, if they come from abroad they are much cheaper too, maybe order one, see if it can race the tweezers!
If you want i can send you a paper binder, just email me scottishbluebird@aol.com say THE CORN SNAKE FORUM in the subject box, or i just delete mail i dont know. If you have a hunt through you will find a thread where quite big snakes are squeezing through, really scary how they manage that |
| Purple Grant |
Posted - 18/10/2013 : 23:43:30
He's 3 months old.
I did a lot of looking/thinking/worrying about this and I'm sure he can't get out the doors. They're an excellent snug fit. |
| Razee |
Posted - 18/10/2013 : 22:49:11
It looks very nice, bet he'll love the ivy. Mine used to love various tubes as well, like toilet roll or kitchen towel tubes... I used to cut some of them in half, to make tunnels. And if they poop on them, you just chuck them out :-)
Just one word of warning - if he's a hatchling ( I'm guessing he is, by the little coco hides ) , he could easily get out between the panes of glass. They can flatten their heads quite a lot, if they want to... you could push a piece of folded cardboard between the two glass doors, or use a paper binder on the edge of the inside glass.... just to be on the safe side. |
| Purple Grant |
Posted - 18/10/2013 : 22:16:30
I've added some things to the viv. Better?
Vesper ate a pinky today too. Wouldn't take it from the tweezers, but I only had short household ones (big ones somewhere in the post between here and China.) so maybe my hand was a bit too close for him. So I put it on a wee dish and left the room for an hour. When I came back it was gone.
Very pleased. |
| Purple Grant |
Posted - 15/10/2013 : 21:28:13
quote:
Originally posted by scottishbluebird
You can get mopani wood on ebay, dont know if you would be better waiting for dunelm visit, but might be worth a look
I was looking at some today, but I went for the Komodo Tropical Vine Branch as it seemed more versatile as a first thing. I'll be keeping my eye out for other bits and bobs though. |
| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 15/10/2013 : 20:42:08
You can get mopani wood on ebay, dont know if you would be better waiting for dunelm visit, but might be worth a look |
| Purple Grant |
Posted - 15/10/2013 : 20:08:19
You can't order the wood online though :( Maybe because all the bits are different, and they'd get returns.
I've ordered an Ivy garland though, I'll have a look at the wood when I finally make it to Falkirk. |
| lupi lou |
Posted - 15/10/2013 : 19:20:23
it's mopani wood they come in different sizes, I can't remember how big the piece is that I got from dunelm, but is it fine to use, they have it in the range too |
| Purple Grant |
Posted - 15/10/2013 : 16:54:20
Just noticed this "Decorawood Ornament" on their website, but it doesn't say what size or kind of wood it is. Any of you Dunelm fans know if it's snake-appropriate? |
| Purple Grant |
Posted - 15/10/2013 : 16:34:25
quote:
Originally posted by scottishbluebird
lol love the kitty
agree Dunelm Mill is brilliant
Think I'll just get some ivy online. Finding my way round in Falkirk (Nearest DMs) isn't a strong point. |
| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 15/10/2013 : 14:48:29
lol love the kitty
agree Dunelm Mill is brilliant |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 15/10/2013 : 08:45:25
The more cover they have the more secure they feel, so I would agree, get yourself down to your local Dunelm Mill, and get some ivy garlands and other leaves from their artificial flowers bit - best prices around! |
| Purple Grant |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 23:27:34
quote:
Originally posted by gazzamartin
Viv looks a tad bare. Try putting in extra cover for your snake, fake plants, wood, stuff like that. By doing this the snake will feel a lot more secure and hidden, and be more likely to venture out for a wander.
I had been thinking it would be better to add stuff once he had got more used to people. Let him get used to being out of a hatchling box and having a couple of hides before adding other new elements to his world and also so I don't end up chasing him to handle.
It all that off the mark? Am I better getting branches etc and putting them in now? |
| gazzamartin |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 22:50:20
Viv looks a tad bare. Try putting in extra cover for your snake, fake plants, wood, stuff like that. By doing this the snake will feel a lot more secure and hidden, and be more likely to venture out for a wander. |
