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 #2051146


Lins51387
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 Snake slithered under newspaper.

I’ve had this snake for 3 days, so obviously we haven’t familiarized that much yet. I just changed his bedding from sand to newspaper, and she’s crawled under the newspaper. Will she every come out? Will she ever know how to come out? I can’t touch her yet or she’ll attack me, which will freak me out
08/04/09  10:54pm

 #2051177


Kingman
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   Message To: Lins51387   In reference to Message Id: 2051146


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

King snakes love to burrow, so it’s normal. When they’re getting ready to shed, you may not see them for days. My king just emerged from his humid hide after 8 days, and shed immediately. I was starting to wonder if he died in there. He likes to come put mostly in the evenings to run around his cage and look for a way out. They’re little escape artists, so watch out for that.
Don’t worry, once your little one gets acclimated to its surroundings and is feeling a little more comfortable, she’ll come out when she’s ready to explore. She’ll also start hunting around when she gets hungry.
Good luck, and have fun getting to know each other.



08/04/09  11:59pm

 #2051179


Lins51387
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   Message To: Kingman   In reference to Message Id: 2051177


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

Thanks, but the thing is that she’s burrowed under her hut-like rock. I’m afraid that she might not be able to get out of that. Should I move the rock until she comes out?
08/05/09  12:13am

 #2051320


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: Lins51387   In reference to Message Id: 2051179


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

If she burrowed under it successfully she will be able to burrow out again. Don’t move the rock hut. Let her have a sense of security. Put yourself in her place. You are in a small glass room with no way out and only one really good place to hide from giants who may eat you.

If you can give her aspen bedding, or coconut fiber bedding to burrow in she will be a happy snake.
08/05/09  09:44am

 #2051352


Lins51387
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 2051320


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

Nevermind. I was smart and curled the newspaper up, she crawled into her water bowl for a soak, then I put her log and hut back in with a smoothed out newspaper. She crawled onto the log to watch me for a while then went into her hut. She’s now curled up in a spot under the log
08/05/09  10:24am

 #2051355


Lins51387
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 2051320


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

The pet shop owners insisted that I use sand, so I doubt that they have and of that stuff you posted. Could I maybe use shredded newspaper? She could burrow under that too, can’t she?

Also, should I put a small article of my clothing in her cage/tank (it’s wooden with a glass front and medium screen sides, so I don’t know whether to call it a cage or tank >.<)? Should I put in a sock? Probably not, because she’d then get a good smell of my foot stink
08/05/09  10:28am

 #2051765


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: Lins51387   In reference to Message Id: 2051355


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

Shredded paper would be far superior to sand. Try to use paper without a lot of ink. I don’t know what types of products are available in China, but China has Wal-Mart stores and some Wal-Marts carry aspen bedding.

A glove would be preferable to a sock. She might even enjoy crawling into it.
08/05/09  10:43pm

 #2051789


Lins51387
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 2051765


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

Then I probably can’t use newspaper.

How about I put a piece of newspaper on the bottom of the cage, then use shredded tissue? I’d ask my mom for the Aspen but I can already hear what my mom will say. "Aspen? What is Aspen?" "It’s a kind of bedding for snakes. I should get some so..." "Oh, just use the sand!" "But mom! It’ll damage her skin!" "I don’t think so! The pet shop owner specifically said that sank is ok!" "Mom, would you listen to pet shop owners or millions of people all around the world??? *Glares*" "No store here will have Apsen or whatever it’s called." "*Gives her a look* Mom!" "What?" "You’re doing it again! Thinking you know everything then you get everything wrong." "Sophie, there will be no Aspen here in China! Trust me."

And that’s exactly what she will say. I’m so sure after nearly 13 years of her as my mother (I’m almost 13 years old) So can I just use shredded tissue/toilet paper?



08/05/09  11:25pm

 #2051902


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: Lins51387   In reference to Message Id: 2051789


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

Shredded paper towels would be better than toilet paper. Another option is sphagnum moss, which can be had at garden centers. Once again, I am flying blind here as I don’t know much of anything about shopping in China! LOL!
08/06/09  09:07am

 #2052341


Lins51387
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 2051902


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

My dad knows a Wal-Mart, but he doesn’t think that there will be any Aspen Bedding there

I have no idea if there are and Garden Centers here either

This is nearly hopeless. Maybe I’ll just ask my dad if he can order it...
08/06/09  08:49pm

 #2052730


Peter54
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   Message To: Lins51387   In reference to Message Id: 2052341


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

Go to a garden shop and buy some peat moss and mix it up with a little sand, perfect bedding for a little kingsnake.
08/07/09  02:41pm

 #2052871


Geezle
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   Message To: Lins51387   In reference to Message Id: 2052341


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

Don’t give up yet! Unless you check you’ll never know for sure. Aspen bedding is often sold for rodents (hampsters, gerbils and such) so there’s a good chance you can find some at wal-mart or a pet store.

If not, you should be able to find sphagnum (peat) moss in some place that has a garden center.

Check around any local pet stores. Assuming you’re in a larger city, if you do your homework I’m quite sure you’ll find what you need. If you can find a place that carries exotic animals (lizards, snakes, herps in general) you should be able to find the appropriate supplies to go along with them.

Where did you get this king snake? They may have told you to keep it on sand, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have other substrates available. Pet store employees aren’t always up on their husbandry for all species, so their recommendations should always be taken with a grain of salt.

I hope you’re able to find what you need soon, and congrats on the new snake, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it :)
08/07/09  09:23pm

 #2052967


Lins51387
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   Message To: Geezle   In reference to Message Id: 2052871


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

Thanks. Tomorrow I’ll ask my dad if he can bring to to the pet shop (has 5 floors, first is for plants, second is for plants and a little bit of animals, third has plants and some fish. B1 floor has aquatic animals, crickets -ones like 2 inches long, people keep them as pets- and of course, reptiles.) (Oh, and also small mammals like gerbils and mice and rabbits. I’d better hope their bedding isn’t pine and stuff) and look for some bedding
08/08/09  04:52am

 #2056554


Geezle
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   Message To: Lins51387   In reference to Message Id: 2052967


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

So have you had any luck finding a suitable substrate down there?
08/13/09  10:34pm

 #2056657


Lins51387
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   Message To: Geezle   In reference to Message Id: 2056554


 Snake slithered under newspaper.

No. I barely had enough time to talk to him. I’ll call him right now though (school’s about to start, BTW)
08/14/09  02:53am


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