???

[Drperetz]

Is tree bark a good substrate for a ball python, does it create respertorial problems?
Can reptiles catch a flu or a cold from a human?
I am a paranoid person.

[mykee]

Not paranoid, just cautious. Cold/flu, no. If I'm not mistaken, birds are the only animals (aside from primates) that can catch a cold or give a cold from humans. Correct me if I'm wrong. As for tree bark, I'm assuming you mean cypress mulch, coconut bark or repti-bark and such products, I've never heard of a snake catching a respiratory infection from any of those. Respiratory infections are caused from low temps, and overly humid environments (human error). If you spray the bark too much to keep humidity up, then I suppose your snake could get an R.I., but it wouldn't be the substrates fault....

[Drperetz]

#$%%, i Got my bp 3 days ago and i did spray the substrate more then 1nce a day but in 3 days not much would happen right?
I just wanted to keep the humidity level high enough. And since i am using a 75watt black night bulb i dont think the 20 gallon tank heats up. Plus my temporary thermomiter and humidity indicator are the once u grue to the walls, but to be more correct i put them on the substrate. This is of course just for now till i get heat pads and a thermostat.
Please any sugestions, feel free to correct me.

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Dont worry about spraying too much. Just once a day should be fine. Unless you want a nice display cage, keep it in a rubbermaid. Also, big no-no here:

NEVER PUT ANY TAPE, GLUE, OR OTHER STICKY THING IN A HERP CAGE!!!!!!!!

That is very important.

Go to walmart, or zellers or whatever and get a human heat pad. Probably $20. Turn the heat pad to low and adjust the light height to calibrate temperature in the cage. Make sure the hotspot is good with the heat pad and then use the light to control ambient temperature. To control hot spot temp under heat pad, play around with the settings on it, and put things between the heat pad and tank to change small degrees at a time. Hope this helps and try to get your thermostat and humidity guage and thermometer soon!

C.

[Manitoban Herps]

I used it before, it's the same as bark mulch I think, any who it keeps the humditiy up but each time I use it and it gets warm bugs and mites chatch and harm the snakes :(

[Drperetz]

this good info. thanx alot guys. i guess if i have any trouble i ocme here and have my questions answered.
marry cristmas, and a happy new year.

[mykee]

Aim for 60%.

[hhw]

If you're using an aquarium, you should cover most of the top with something to help keep humidity in. Plexiglass is very effective for this. This will also help keep in heat, which would hopefully allow you to get rid of the night bulb, which is a huge dehydrating factor especially in conjunction with an aquarium.

You'd be best off using a rubbermaid or sterilite container however. They're very cheap, and all you need to do is drill or solder some holes into it, something easy enough for even someone who knows absolutely nothing about tools and handiwork like me. They retain heat and humidity MUCH better, and are MUCH easier to maintain.

[Drperetz]

The tank is staying cause i spent too much money on it and it looks cool, the light is gonna go with a heat pad soon and the tank will be misted every 2 days. i think this will create a perfect invironment

[mykee]

Dr; remember, it's all about the animal and achieving the perfect living conditions. That should never take a backseat to how "cool" your set-up looks. I started out with a few aquariums but in my living conditions, it was next to impossible to maintain proper husbandry and my snakes suffered. Cool or not, I had to build a set-up that worked best for them. I hope that if it happens that you are unable to achieve the proper environment, that you will do what's best for the snake. Good luck.

[Jeff_Favelle]

The tank is staying cause i spent too much money on it and it looks cool,

Poor snake.

[spidergecko]

I have to admit, even with the expensive new tanks I've bought for my animals, I still find myself using Rubbermaids for some. The expensive tank means nothing when you have to spend 10x as much on vet bills and dead animals.

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
Poor snake.

Yeah.............

[Drperetz]

I understand what i have to do, but rubs got no space in them
?
Also can any1 show me some imagesof how their rubs look?

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Rubbermaids have plenty of space in them...........why wouldnt they??? Unless you are buying the wrong size.

Go to a department store and find they storage section or ask for rubbermaid containers, there should be something you can get thats the right size for a BP. A sweater box container would work, but something about 30" long x 16" wide x 6" high would be good.

C.

[Jeff_Favelle]

What Chris said...