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 #1847115


Pueblan Jr
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 Cleaning a Pueblan’s tank

What is the best cleaner to use on a Pueblan’s 20 gallon long tank. I am using aspen shavings. The snake is 5 months old and is eating a F/T pinkie every 4-5 days, so poop is small. The tank stays 75-84 degrees most of the time. Temp is almost 100 in the hot zone at night with the red 75 watt heat lamp on after he’s fed, but still low 80’s in the cool end. He has a small water bowl that might hold half a cup. Humidity is about 45%.

How often should I clean the tank and with what? Do any of the about factors effect how often I should clean? Should I change any of the above...like temps?
08/30/08  03:25pm

 #1847151


BrettA
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   Message To: Pueblan Jr   In reference to Message Id: 1847115


 Cleaning a Pueblan’s tank

Hi. You and I are rougly in the exact same situation, snakewise and experience wise. I was told in another forum that once a month for cleaning shavings is way more than enough. And was advised just to remove any poop or dirty shavings when you notice them.

Was told that if the tank was generall clean and dry, simply using water and mild dishwashing soap was good to wipe out the tank. Took me about five minutes the one time I’ve done it so far.

How do you keep your humidity at 45%? Mine climbs to around 80 or 90% every day. Of course, the humidity in our homes may be different. I’m in the northeast, and it’s been quite a hot and humid summer... so my ambient humidity is probably around 70-80% a lot of the time.

You temps seem in line with what I’ve been told. Just learning myself... unless your nights get really, really cold, I’d bet you could do away with the night light. A hide over the under-tank heater (if you have one) should be plenty.
08/30/08  04:17pm

 #1847348


Pueblan Jr
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   Message To: BrettA   In reference to Message Id: 1847151


 Cleaning a Pueblan’s tank

We live in southern Illinois and it is hot and humid here too. The snake is in my son’s room on the southwest wall so it gets sun from sun up until just past mid-day.

The biology I work with told me early today that he uses a thick brine to clean his tanks, but has used white vinegar. Brine sounds like a mess to me. My son just finished sifting the aspen outdoors looking for poo. We are going to complete rinse out the tank and start fresh. Next time we’ll do what you suggested.

Keep in touch.
08/30/08  08:49pm

 #1847643


BrettA
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   Message To: Pueblan Jr   In reference to Message Id: 1847348


 Cleaning a Pueblan’s tank

I don’t get it. My tank cover has several screens built in to it, and at 80 to 85 degrees you would think that the humidity would stay low.

The advice I’ve gotten online is to keep a water dish in the tank large enough for the snake to get his whole body into. So I have a 7" saucer about 1/2" deep with water. It has to be this that keeps the humidity up. I’m not sure how to maintain that much water in that small a space and keep humidity low.

I am wondering as I type this if that bath is only necessary when the snake shows signs of shedding. Perhaps a very small water dish is sufficient most of the time.

Any thoughts on that?
08/31/08  08:40am

 #1848362


Pueblan Jr
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   Message To: BrettA   In reference to Message Id: 1847643


 Cleaning a Pueblan’s tank

We got a critter bowl that holds only about 2 oz of water and we keep it about half full all the time...but we only have 48-49% humdity in that southern room. I’ve drilled a hole in a cool whip bowl then melted the edges of the hole to "round it off". I put a damp paper towel in the bowl with the lid on. He hasn’t ventured in on his own yet, but we just took the lid off and put him in. He went about a 1/4 out of the bowl and decided to stop when his tail was on the damp towel. He has been shedding for over a week now. He just can’t get the last 2-3 inches off....maybe the damp hide will help.

You might want to run a fan in your snake room. I think that’s why we are having trouble keeping humidty up. My son’s room has ceiling fan that is on about 16 hours a day. We keep the central air set on 78-80 so ceiling fans make the house more liveable. Since putting in the damp hide, the humidity has increased from 44 to 49.
08/31/08  11:23pm

 #1849819


Snakeobsession
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   Message To: Pueblan Jr   In reference to Message Id: 1848362


 Cleaning a Pueblan’s tank

when i clean my pueblans tank i use hot water and a little bit of vinegar i also clean her tank once a month and use fir bark shavings!
09/02/08  07:48pm


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