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 #1845190


HoosierBP
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 New to Snakes

So I just found this community and have spent the last couple hours reading posts. It’s a very helpful community and I appreciate that. I have a couple questions. First let me say that this will be my first snake, or reptile of any kind. And I have been reading up on BPs for the last couple weeks.

1. Are there any good sites for 1st time snake owners?
2. Size of tank?
3. I have read that you shouldn’t feed or handle for the first week after you bring a new snake home, but how often should you feed a young snake?
4. I have been reading about live-feed and pre-killed. But nothing that say how to pre-kill. If I got that route what is the most humane way to do it?
5. Basking area? (I have read about having a basking area that is hotter than the ambient temp. But how do you achieve this. I have read not to use heat rocks, so what do you use to get that one area hotter than the rest of the tank?)
6. Climbing areas? (Do BPs like them? I have read some sites that say they do and some say they don’t.)
7. Decorations? (Should I put fake plants in the enclosure to make it more "wild-like" or not worry about it.)
8. Hides? (How many should I have? Do I need a humid one in addition to regulars?)
9. Substrate? (Some sites recommend astro-turf, is this a good choice for substrate?)
10. Soaking tub? (Do BPs like to soak before shedding? Should I provide a bowl big enough for it, or just one to drink from?)
11. Bathing? (I have read that "for different reasons" you want to bathe your snake in warm water. Do you just do this in the bathtub or what? And how warm of water?

Well I think that is all I can think of for the moment. I will not be getting my BP for a few days, so I am just trying to learn as much about them as possible. And I understand that snakes are like any other creature and that all are different. I am just looking for general information until I learn what my snake prefers.

Thanks,

HoosierBP
08/28/08  04:08pm

 #1845195


Pythonkidd3
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   Message To: HoosierBP   In reference to Message Id: 1845190


 New to Snakes

1.basically google it all!!
2.20 gallon long is great for pretty much his whole life (when its a baby snake you should try and clutter it with random stuff)
3. thats right and about every 5-7 days then as it gets older every 10 days
4. just buy the prekilled/ frozen mice at the store (snakes perfer live mice though but its up to you)
5. put lik a rock right under the heat lamp on one side of the tank and let the other side be with out a lamp.
6. they should hav one cuz if they do then great and if they dont it wont matter cuz they just wont use it.
7. i would say yess because it feels mor like home to them and itll make it feel more secure.
8. 2 one on each side
9. i dont like it you can get like a carpet thing that folds out and covers the whole cage thing and its easy to clean.
10. the water should be big enough for it to fit its body in.
11. bath tub is fine and about temperate water


im excited for you!!!!!!!!! post pics!!!!!!
08/28/08  04:16pm

 #1845197


Jyson
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   Message To: HoosierBP   In reference to Message Id: 1845190


 New to Snakes

Hello there, its always good to see someone who does research before hand. :)

1. Here!
2. Babies- 10 gallon, subadults - 20 gallon
3. Correct! Feed your snake once a week.
4. CO2 box, air tight box that you fill with carbon dioxide, kills them in their sleep.
5. You use a UTH (under tank heater) with a thermostat, temps: 90 warmside, 80 cool
6. No need for climbing with bps.
7. Just keep in mind the more you put into the cage the more you need to clean.
8. Yes, two, one on each side. You need to have 50 to 60% humidity.
9. No, the best is newspaper, cheap and easy.
10. If you bump the humidity up to 75%, your bp will shed in one piece.
11. You could if you want, usually people do that to get off stuck shed or to help aid in eliminating mites. But you could just bathe them in luke warm water about once a month, just for fun if you like.



08/28/08  04:17pm

 #1845216


HoosierBP
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   Message To: Jyson   In reference to Message Id: 1845197


 New to Snakes

Thanks for the info. I will post some pics after I get everything set up. Will be about a week before that happens.

Should I use lamps for a 20 gal. tank, or will UTHs be sufficient to maintain proper tank temps?
08/28/08  04:31pm

 #1845234


Pythonkidd3
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   Message To: HoosierBP   In reference to Message Id: 1845216


 New to Snakes

put the UTH under the hides and also use the lamp
08/28/08  04:42pm

 #1845237


Jyson
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   Message To: HoosierBP   In reference to Message Id: 1845216


 New to Snakes

UTHs! Heat lamps dry up the humidity and are just flat out terrible! Make sure to get a thermostat with the UTH, a Ranco ETC-111000 would do.



08/28/08  04:44pm

 #1845246


Pythonkidd3
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   Message To: Jyson   In reference to Message Id: 1845237


 New to Snakes

haha sorry i didnt know that!!!
08/28/08  04:55pm

 #1845254


HoosierBP
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   Message To: Pythonkidd3   In reference to Message Id: 1845246


 New to Snakes

What about at night? Should I use any red or blue bulb lighting for the tank?

Also should I use aquarium backing for the tank, for the back and sides? I read somewhere that having a clear tank on all sides can stress the BP out.
08/28/08  05:04pm

 #1845258


Jyson
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   Message To: HoosierBP   In reference to Message Id: 1845254


 New to Snakes

No need for a heat lamp or bulbs. A UTH will keep the cage plenty warm throughout the day and night.

Background could help alot, Bps do stress alil in a tank, me personally I would go all out back and sides. That was a good question btw. :P
08/28/08  05:08pm

 #1845270


HoosierBP
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   Message To: Jyson   In reference to Message Id: 1845258


 New to Snakes

What about something like a piece of sandstone in the tank with him to bask on? would that help at all without heat lamps?
08/28/08  05:12pm

 #1845277


Jyson
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   Message To: HoosierBP   In reference to Message Id: 1845270


 New to Snakes

Heat lamps really arent necessary unless your house stays at and/or below 75 degrees, and even if then I still wouldnt use them. I never heard of putting sandstone in a bp cage but I must say it doesnt sound too good for them. Heat tape or a UTH works like a ferness, they warm up the entire cage and gives the enclosure a proper heat gradient, it doesnt just warm up one side.
08/28/08  05:17pm

 #1845279


HoosierBP
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   Message To: Jyson   In reference to Message Id: 1845277


 New to Snakes

Thanks for the info Jyson, you have been a big help. If the humidity is spot on, will my BP need anything to rub against when it comes time to shed?

Just trying to get all my eggs in one basket here. :)
08/28/08  05:20pm

 #1845287


Jyson
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   Message To: HoosierBP   In reference to Message Id: 1845279


 New to Snakes

Not really, mine dont have anything to rub against except for there hides and water bowls and most of the time they dont even use that.

Glad I can help. :)

Jason



08/28/08  05:25pm

 #1845303


HoosierBP
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   Message To: Jyson   In reference to Message Id: 1845287


 New to Snakes

I just read about ceramic heat emitters? Are those any good or will drop the humidity in the tank as well?
08/28/08  05:36pm

 #1845411


Jyson
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   Message To: HoosierBP   In reference to Message Id: 1845303


 New to Snakes

They too will drop the humidity as well. A lamp is a lamp.
08/28/08  07:07pm

 #1845588


HoosierBP
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   Message To: Jyson   In reference to Message Id: 1845411


 New to Snakes

I have been looking up enclosures on Google Images, and I notice that alot of people use the log as a hide for the snake. I was under the impression the BP liked to be enclosed on all sides in its hide.

Do they like the logs, or do people like the logs for the look, and the ability to see the snake even when it’s in it’s hide.
08/28/08  09:08pm

 #1845627


Pythonkidd3
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   Message To: HoosierBP   In reference to Message Id: 1845588


 New to Snakes

like a half circle logs are fine and so are the big hollow rocks are good too
08/28/08  09:30pm

 #1845648


Reflex
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   Message To: HoosierBP   In reference to Message Id: 1845588


 New to Snakes

Quote:

I was under the impression the BP liked to be enclosed on all sides in its hide.


You are absolutely right. Half log hides don’t give them the security they need.
08/28/08  09:40pm

 #1845752


Pythonkidd3
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   Message To: Reflex   In reference to Message Id: 1845648


 New to Snakes

sorry that i keep givin wrong info!!!!!!!!!! haha maybe you should trust people that are older then 14!!!!! haha
08/28/08  11:06pm

 #1845903


HoosierBP
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   Message To: Pythonkidd3   In reference to Message Id: 1845752


 New to Snakes

Hey no problem Python, we were all 14 at some point. Heck you’re probably a heck of alot smarter than I was at 14 :).

So couple more questions. I will be getting my BP soon and I have decided to go with newspaper substrate for at least awhile. Online sources suggest using it, because it is easier to check for the presence of mites. My question is what should I be looking for? What will it look like?

Also when is the best time to feed? They are nocturnal snakes, so early in the evening or later on at night? Or does it even matter?

Are there any lights out there I could get for nighttime viewing that (a) mess with the humidity and (b) won’t bother the snake?



08/29/08  07:59am

 #1872217


Mrs istre
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   Message To: Jyson   In reference to Message Id: 1845197


 New to Snakes

"hi Jyson, love how u spell your name, anyway I had 2 questions for you if you dont mind. I was in another forum and someone said that feeding your snake once a week was powerfedding them and thats not always good, I wanted your advice because you seem like a very nice person and you know alot about BPs. And you had mentioned that to use a undertank heater, well what about a heated rock?, like the one you plug in? Is that okay? Ohhh again about the feeding thing, you dont feed them while they are shedding right? The place where I bought him from had a reptile specialist, he gave me some info, but he didnt seem too sure, he couldnt even tell me a definate answer of when he ate. I was so glad to get that poor BP outta there, they didnt act like they knew anything about it. Anyway thanx for your time, I really appriciate it..."
10/01/08  07:45am

 #1872285


McGornel
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   Message To: Mrs istre   In reference to Message Id: 1872217


 New to Snakes

And this ^ would be called Hijacking a thread. You should really start your own if you want your questions answered, not jumping in to other people’s and trying to take away from them.

Hoosier,

Great to see someone who takes the initiative to do plenty of research well before getting their animal. I salute you for that, because God knows how many snakes are suffering right now due to poor husbandry.


-Mike
10/01/08  11:14am

 #1872289


Mrs istre
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   Message To: McGornel   In reference to Message Id: 1872285


 New to Snakes

"mind ya business, and get a life, my question still stands to Jyson..."
10/01/08  11:23am

 #1872292


Rabernet
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   Message To: Mrs istre   In reference to Message Id: 1872289


 New to Snakes

It’s common courtesy to start a new thread with your questions. For example, you can copy what you posted here and said "Jyson, please read" and he’d see it much more quickly. I know that this is not the only forum that Jason visits.

As for your questions, I feed once every 7 days, babies get fed every 5. Heat rocks are only good if you cut the cord off of them and use them for decoration only - they’ve killed far too many animals already.

A UTH (Undertank Heater) on a thermostat is what is best for heating your enclosure.

Hope this helps.

Also, if you are less confrontational with people here, you’ll make a lot more friends than enemies. You take things far too personally.



10/01/08  11:30am

 #1872293


Rabernet
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   Message To: Rabernet   In reference to Message Id: 1872292


 New to Snakes

As for shedding - I feed once a week - regardless of if they are in shed or not.
They may or may not eat, but they get that choice.



10/01/08  11:32am

 #1872435


McGornel
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   Message To: Mrs istre   In reference to Message Id: 1872289


 New to Snakes

Quote:

"mind ya business, and get a life, my question still stands to Jyson..."



You are just Little Ms. Happy all the time. And still with the " " " I see. You should probably listen to people on here rather than just get all up in arms every time they suggest something, you will learn far more.

-Mike
10/01/08  03:58pm

 #1872469


Mrs istre
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   Message To: McGornel   In reference to Message Id: 1872435


 New to Snakes

"My God, Im just asking the boy a question, I dont need advice on a proper way to do it, every move I make someone has a problem. People say things off topic and ask questions off topic all the time if you notice, why am i the only one being called out. If you have nothing nice to say to me please dont speak to me, I dont need everything pointed out to me like a child. Im a grown woman, I know how to ask a question. All Im asking is if you are gonna talk down to me, be rude, call me out (for nothing) then just move on, keep going, Im not here fpr drama. Im just here to ask a few questions about my BP..."
10/01/08  04:48pm

 #1872476


Rabernet
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   Message To: Mrs istre   In reference to Message Id: 1872469


 New to Snakes

Did you miss where I answered your questions?



10/01/08  04:58pm

 #1872506


Shawn78
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   Message To: Rabernet   In reference to Message Id: 1872476


 New to Snakes

Quote:

As for your questions, I feed once every 7 days, babies get fed every 5. Heat rocks are only good if you cut the cord off of them and use them for decoration only - they’ve killed far too many animals already.

A UTH (Undertank Heater) on a thermostat is what is best for heating your enclosure.


Rabernet did answer you and he is giving you good information. As I have quoted above what he has said
10/01/08  05:22pm

 #1872517


Mrs istre
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   Message To: Rabernet   In reference to Message Id: 1872476


 New to Snakes

’Yes, I read where you answered me, that last message was in regards to the person that had something to me before you did. I will definately take your advice. I just wasent clear on if they eat while they shed. and the heated rock thing. How do they kill animals??? And whoever that was that was talking to me before you is who I was saying all that to, I mean come on hyjackin a thread? Yes I must be stopped I hyjacked a thread with a keyboard. If Im the one that takes things too far and personal, then why would someone call me out for asking a question? Its none of his business, I was talking to Jyson, yet Im thankful you had an answer to my questions. But I really dont need advice on how to ask a question. I think thats a bit rude. If I was to go from topic to topic and watch people who get a bit off topic and tell them about themselves, Ide get attacked by so many people. If you dont believe me, I can show u. I mean common hyjacking a thread? What next I’ll be accused of holding the forum hostige? lol Anyway to that person that was being rediculously rude(not Crisco) as for the sarcastic remark about me doing research before I took him in, he is better off with me, if you walked into that store(petco) they didnt know a thing, I asked where the reptile tanks where, they showed me a fish aquarium, and will all the fish stuff inside, water filter, those little blue rocks, ect... They didnt know when he had eaten, and they were scared to pick him up. Thank GOD he had only been there about a week or so and the only reason I knew that was because I was there about a lil over a week before that buying dog food for my mother inlaw...and there were no BPs.So please know the whole story before you make a judgement. You didnt even bother to ask, you just made an assumption and went with it regardless of who you hurt in the process... Think before you respond please...


tehehheee hyjackin a thread........tehehehee





10/01/08  05:32pm
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