| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Puffin |
Posted - 30/07/2011 : 21:00:32
Hi all, I’ve been lurking around the forums for the last couple of weeks now and I’ve tried looking through most of the posts to answer my questions, but there are still some things I’m not really sure about. I hope you don’t mind, these may be really stupid questions.
1. I have the faunarium mostly set up and ready for a new snake, however does anyone have any tips for making it more secure. The bigger door locks, but it’s the smaller door I’m worried about. Should I put something on top to weigh it down or will it be fine as it is?
2. I have a Lucky Reptile digital thermometer but the probes are too big to go through the holes in the lid. Should I drill a hole in the lid like in LittleMick’s guide, or is there another way I can get them in?
3. Also I’m a bit confused about where to put the probe for the thermostat. Some people are saying to put the probe on top of the heat mat and others are saying to put it in the faunarium with the thermometer probe. Which way will be the most accurate?
4. And lastly, which is the best way to keep pinkies? I assume just keeping them in an airtight container in the freezer, but in ‘Corn Snakes in Captivity’ it suggests freezing them in water to stop them dehydrating. Has anyone used this method? If so is it effective?
Thanks. :) |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Simmy_82 |
Posted - 11/08/2011 : 15:32:58
Nah that temp is good. Its similar to mine. Mine is between High 27's and Low 29's |
| Puffin |
Posted - 11/08/2011 : 15:30:35
Yeah, both the thermometer probes are inside the faun. The one at the warm end is tied to the stat probe with an elastic band and I placed them in the hide. I managed to get the probes through without too much damage to the plastic, it just bent a bit, but I plugged it with some paper and secured it with some washi tape on the outside.
I spent most of yesterday morning adjusting the stat (was a bit frustrating, lol), I managed to get the temperatures to between 27.1C and 28.5C, is this still too high?
Thanks again everyone for your advice!! I really can't wait til tomorrow!  |
| Tallscientist |
Posted - 10/08/2011 : 10:43:03
Hi Puffin
Just wanting to check that the probe for the thermometer is inside the faun? Just wanted to be sure that the temp it's reading is the temp the snake is experiencing. I ended up cutting off some of the vents around the thermometer hole to get the probe from the stat in. I will put some tissue in the hole just to make sure my new addition doesn't escape!
I got mine all set up, but I was hoping to use some coconut shells for the hides, only to discover that the coconut was off  so I have rummaged around and found some small cardboard boxes. I think I will go out and get some proper hides, have to go to the local reptile shop anyway to get some pinkies in the next couple of days. |
| Puffin |
Posted - 09/08/2011 : 20:03:45
Thanks, I’ll have another fiddle around with it. I'm glad I decided to set it up yesterday, gives me plenty of time for trial and error, ha ha.
Of course! I can't wait to show off my new addition! 
My power went out for a bit and it reminded me: What do you guys do when your power goes out? Will the snake be ok if it's only for a short period of time, or should I stock up on heat packs (especially in winter)? |
| eeji |
Posted - 09/08/2011 : 18:41:11
i would personally turn the stat down a tiny bitso it maxes out around 28.
....and pics are required when you get your (first of many) snake home :D |
| Puffin |
Posted - 09/08/2011 : 17:48:47
(I didn't want to end up spamming the board, so I figured posting here was the lesser of two evils.)
Thanks everyone!
I tried putting the stat probe directly on the mat, but it was too big to fit under the faunarium, so I ended up feeding it through the air vents as Simmy_82 suggested and wedged a piece of paper in there to block a possible escape route. I also tried putting the thermometer on the inside, but the wires for the probes were really long and even tied up were a bit awkward. So that is now on the outside too.
I've got a couple of food containers lying about so they will be of use for once!
Anyway, I went to go and see some hatchlings yesterday, from an ad on preloved. (Can't believe how much they are asking for at the local pet shop! ) I got to hold the one I liked the look of (a snow, alert but didn't mind me handling it too much) and also got to handle one of the parents! I'm going back to pick up a hatchling on Friday, I can't wait!
Just another quick question, I set up the stat yesterday and had a headache trying to set it to the right temperature. I think I've figured it out, lol, the temperature fluctuates between 28.1C and 29.9C. Is 29.9C too high? (The stat usually kicks in at 28.3C and 29.7C) |
| Simmy_82 |
Posted - 31/07/2011 : 07:26:36
1 - Was wondering the same thing. As mine looks a little loose. I may still tie it down to be safe.
2 - Have you got the Exo Terra Faun? Insqueezevthe probes between the air vents on the top corners of it. Fits fine if your careful not to over bend them.
3 - I've got both probes together inside the faun. Fixed together with the wife's hair bobble. Temp on star this morning was 26c, temp on therm read 31c. The mat is outside the therm. Turned it down a little this morning. Thank god for the thermostat, they are deffo needed.
4 - I've bought an airtight box to keep mine in the freezer with. |
| eeji |
Posted - 31/07/2011 : 00:22:45
1 - sorry, can't help on this as I've never used fauns
2 - put the whole thing inside then theres no need to make any more potential escape routes
3 - put the stat sensor outside the faun directly on the heat mat, and use the reading from the thermometer inside to calibrate your temperatures. This way the probe can be secured with tape (tape inside with the snake is a big no no) and theres no chance of it being disturbed/moved and the temperatures getting too high.
4 - mine are in a plastic bag next to the fish fingers
....and welcome to TCS!
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| Puffin |
Posted - 30/07/2011 : 21:55:44
Thanks for the quick reply gingerpony!
Maybe I was overestimating the strength of the snake, but I'm probably just a bit paranoid because I'll have two birds and a hamster in the next room.
D'oh! That seems so obvious, lol. Heh.
Thanks for the advice about the stat, I'll definitely make sure to do that.
Yeah, I thought it was a bit weird and if there's no advantages to storing them that way then there's no point in doing it, and since I'll only have the one snake (for now, haha) I'll only really need to buy them as I need them. |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 30/07/2011 : 21:12:04
heya and welcome
1. the faun should be fine, it takes quite a lot of pressure to open the smaller door, but if in doubt i'm sure tying a piece of tightly round the faun, over the door, should prevent escapes.
2. i'd be tempted to put the whole thing inside! but place the thermometer where you can see the dial from the outside.
3. either way to position the probe is fine as long as tou ignore what's on the stat dial and set the temps according to what the thermometer reads.
4. never heard of it, never had a problem with them drying out, i just put them in a bag in the freezer. though somewhere deep in my memory, i think they used to freeze pinkies in an iceblock years and years ago.......not generally done now though. |
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