| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| NexivRed |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 12:27:30
So Ophion spend her first night in her setup and I am paranoid it's all okay for her, as obviously I have to just leave her be for a week now.
I'm not sure what volume the tub is, but I think it's about 17" long. You can see my snake in the bottom right hand corner for size comparison.
So she went for a drink first off, had an explore, and now she's under the hide in the top right. It's got moss the previous owner gave me in there that's barely moist (I was worried about her getting too wet). He gave me the hide top left which he said'd probably do her her whole life, but do you reckon it's a bit too big for her to feel safe in atm? I could put something smaller inside it for now.
The heat mat is a strip 2/3 of the width of the box, and almost half the depth. Temp in the top left hand corner under the hide reads 27.0, and bottom right left of the water bowl (not under it) reads 22.2 so are they okay?
I've drilled one row of holes along the top on both sides, and a row along the back lower down. Is this enough for a tub that size?
She's just on absorbent loo roll at the moment. I was going to get aspen but the previous owners had had bad experiences from snakes accidently ingesting when snakes got some stuck to wet mouths (not feeding related as they remove them for that). So I'm not sure what to go for long term.
What improvements can I make, and is there anything I'm missing? I have to say, I'm glad I got two thermometers because I know I'd panic that the entire tub was too warm!
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| a2c7 |
Posted - 14/07/2012 : 20:06:37
My fauns and vivs always show signs of snake burrowing, every so often we're rewarded with a cute head popping out of the aspen, or body pushed against the side while the stupid snakey thinks it's hidden. We personally like aspen as it's cheap, easy to clean and easy to get hold of. We were looking at megazorb, but we felt no real need to change from aspen. |
| Thorne Walker |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 20:42:42
Both my critters spend a lot of time cruising under their aspen... there are little snake sized holes all over the place... |
| NexivRed |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 20:40:42
You're right, Hissy. I hadn't noticed it was perfumed. Shant be using that then.
So can they burrow with chips? And what would she look best on. I'm afraid of losing her in the enclosure if I get something that's similar to her body colour. Some sort of reddish substrate would suit her I think. |
| Donnie |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 20:23:18
I put my little boy Steve onto aspen straight away when I got him home and I have had no issues with him (or my others who are on aspen) ingesting it and he loves to burrow  |
| Hissyfit |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 19:22:42
You really don't need to go mad on the kitchen roll, and I would be worried putting anything that was fragranced in with the snake. I've used mega cheap stuff and quality stuff, all does the same job with no difference  I've never used reptile carpet, but it does look good and as long as the snake had plenty of plants to go into then I wouldn't think it would be a problem. |
| NexivRed |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 16:50:07
I'll get some good quality kitchen roll when I go to the shops later. Luckily the loo roll we use is this FANTASTIC stuff from Sainsbury's. It's like 4-ply, quilted stuff like luxury loo roll, but half the price! However there's more edges than with kitchen roll so it is only a temporary solution.
Hey, I was looking into coloured kitchen rolls. Do you think these would be safe? http://www.wiltonrenova.co.uk/privacy.html
"Renova toilet tissue is extremely soft, non-toxic, 3-ply, fragranced, dermatologically and gynaecologically tested and approved. Colourfast and chlorine free."
I know it's a bit indulgent, but I just happened to come across it ;)
What does everyone think about reptile carpet? It's what her previous owners used after their bad experiences with aspen, but is it true corns like to burrow? Can they burrow in chips? |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 16:45:03
One other thing I thought of - I'd switch to kitchen roll. Toilet roll tends to disintegrate when it gets wet, so could get a bit messy in there lol! Good idea popping stuff in the hides to make them seem smaller and cosier :) |
| bluepoolshark |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 15:28:05
I have made my hides smaller with scrunched up kitchen towel, and Rossi seems to love hiding in it! |
| NexivRed |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 15:25:57
These are the changes I've made. I scrunched up some paper and wrapped one of my son's paper nappy liners around to make balls. They've gone inside the big hide to reduce the size and I can take them out one at a time as she grows.
I coaxed her into it whilst I did her moss, and she stayed in it this time. She seemed a little exposed at the entrance though, so I've slotted a loo roll tube into the door. Fits perfectly.
I took out the moss, and I've put two lightly scrunched nappy liners inside it to add some creases and a bit of bulk. Hopefully it will simulate what it was like with the moss in there, but no risk of moisture.
Drilled some holes along the lid as well, as I'm paranoid not enough air is in there. |
| coxymk2 |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 15:25:42
Looking good nothing to worry about yet!!! Just the feeding,pooing and shedding to come lol |
| NexivRed |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 14:58:11
Oh what a great idea. I've got a few papers etc where the ink shouldn't run out. I'll go and stuff some inside of the hides to create some nooks and crannies.
Thanks guys. |
| Thorne Walker |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 14:56:36
:) looking good..
One thing I noticed with my little one.. he really loved scrunched up news paper.
I'd take the weekly grocery flyer and crumple it into a 'log' shape and put a few hair elastics on the ends to keep it in shape.
it was his fav spot.. he'd get in to the folds and hang out all day long.. might work for you till that other hide is a better fit. |
| NexivRed |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 14:42:44
Okay. I'll partition the big hide inside somehow to let her get nice and cosy. It's probably why she's chosen the moss hide.
I'll take the moss out for now and put it back in the bag. Is it okay to just keep it in a room like that? Does it need an airtight container?
I can't wait till she has her first shed with me! It's going to be so exciting every single time to see her bigger and possibly a different colour. I can't wait! |
| Hissyfit |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 13:46:02
It looks really good, and your new little snake is gorgeous It's fine to keep them on kitchen roll until they're a bit bigger. I have 2 on aspen and 1 on kitchen roll (he's the smallest and feeds in his faun). Looking at the size of her I think your right about the large hide, it is very big so maybe replace that for something smaller for now and she won't be too long growing into it |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 13/07/2012 : 13:26:00
Looks great, only thing I would say is take the moss out. You only want to put moss in temporarily if needed to help with shedding (and I'd wait until she's had a shed with you to see if it will be necessary in the future as a lot of snakes don't need it). It definitely shouldn't be in there all the time as the humidity will then be too high for a corn and she could get a respiratory infestion. Other than that it looks fab, and she is a sweet little thing, congrats! :D |
