| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
dansharpy
Snake Mite
33 Posts |
 Posted - 16/02/2012 : 10:09:04
|
Ok so ive been studying this forum and various sources of information over the last few days but i do have a couple of questions (sorry if these have been asked before, i have searched everywhere and cant find definitive answers!) I realise some of these might be quite obvious or things i could ask in the shop at time of purchase, but id like to get everything clear in my mind before hand (both for the snakes sake and my sanity!)
1. Is there a best time of year to be buying a snake?
2. I understand that a new snake needs to go into a RUB as larger vivs make them stressed. However is this literally just a small plastic box with holes drilled in it? Could someone post some links to the sort of thing i should be looking for? Also i have seen sizes quoted of 8" x 8" x 8", do the heat mats fit in these or do you get different sized heat mats as the snake grows (and hence their home also grows) How does everything (2 hides, cover, substrate, heatmat) fit in a box this small?!
3. What is the average sort of growth rate? I realise this is very specific to the particular snake, but approx. how often does their home size need to be updated?
4. Ive seen that astroturf can be used as substrate. However ive also read that the heat mat needs to be just under the surface of the substrate. Does the thickness of the astroturf make the heatmat less effective? What is the usual preference of substrate?
5. All the equipment required can be very confusing as a newbie (we were all there once!) is it possible for someone to post links to the sort of things i should be looking for. There are som many different types of vivarium, faunarium, thermostat, heat mat etc. it would be good to get some guidance on which ones i need to start off with!
Again sorry if these are obvious questions, the clearer i am though, the better snake owner im going to be!  Thanks in advance for your patience!! |
 |
|
|
Dancross0
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1315 Posts |
Posted - 16/02/2012 : 10:23:14
|
Most of the set up questions are answered here...
http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9878
As for the best time of year to buy a snake, it really depends what you want to get. Last years hatchlings are still about, and some breeders are selling them off cheap before they produce this years (which will usually be avaliable in the summer!).
As for moving up the housing size, this is debatable. Mine will be going from 18"x12" fauns to 36"x15" vivs in the summer when they're about 2'+ (heavily planted with lots of hides so they don't feel exposed). But other people do it differently... |
Aguna CB11 Anery - Typhon CB12 Amber - Plissken CB08 Carolina - Iara CB11 Caramel
Indra CB12 Lavender (?) - Evren CB12 Carolina (?) - Ophis CB11 Hypo Lavender - Sirae CB11 Ghost Motley
|
 |
|
|
dansharpy
Snake Mite
33 Posts |
Posted - 16/02/2012 : 10:32:31
|
Ah, sorry, i completely missed that sticky somehow! Thanks for your response!  |
|
|
|
|
Sta~ple
qeeun speler
United Kingdom
6129 Posts |
Posted - 16/02/2012 : 10:35:09
|
1. Any time :D if you want babies usually in the summer, yearlings are around all year since breeders change breeding plans, people who bought babies last year don't want any more and adults are always about too :D
2. Yes it is literally a plastic box. You can get the exo terra large flat faun like here http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9878 no drilling needed, or just mooch about Staples looking for RUBSs or Wilkos for like plastic storage boxes. Heat mats don't go into the plastic tubs, heatmats only go into wooden vivarium. Plastic tubs goes ontop of heat mat. You can keep upgrading heat mat sizes but I just bought the size my adults use and just put the RUB on part of the heatmat so I don't have to keep buying new heatmats.
3. As you said, depends on snake. Mine were born about 8" and a year later were around 2ft and at 2 years they are now just over 3ft. My babies were in Chinese takeway boxes for 3 months and then got a bit bigger plastic tub which they were in for a year until I moved them into their final home. Think most people upgrade 2/3 times in the snakes life.
4. I have no idea about astroturf I'll be honest lol. Most common substrate is newspaper, kitchen roll and aspen.
5. The link in number 2 is a good idea of what you need :P |
   
A very special super, duper thanks for K :3 |
|
|
|
dansharpy
Snake Mite
33 Posts |
Posted - 16/02/2012 : 13:10:56
|
Thanks for all your help guys! Definately have a better understanding now!
Been reading the 'finding a lost snake' topic now though so im already scared of it getting out, and i havent even got one yet!! |
|
|
|
|
Sta~ple
qeeun speler
United Kingdom
6129 Posts |
Posted - 16/02/2012 : 18:00:27
|
Opps I didn't see Danscross reply.
Think they are near impossible to loose with fauns and RUBs so long s you out the lid on properly, most escapees are small snakes been put into wooden vivs and they squeeze through the glass door! |
A very special super, duper thanks for K :3 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
A few newbie questions...
