First time snake owner, looking for help!

[millertime89]

hello Kylie, I'm Kyle, nice to make your acquaintance.

as far as thermostats go shop around for a better price on one of these and order online. I got two for about 50 bucks after shipping, but I don't know if the place I ordered from will ship up north.
Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden

I also recommend a uth for easiest heat source, just place it on the ground under the tank with the thermostat probe in between and set it to about 85 and see where that leaves you and adjust accordingly.

[Maclyal]

Originally Posted by millertime89

hello Kylie, I'm Kyle, nice to make your acquaintance.

as far as thermostats go shop around for a better price on one of these and order online. I got two for about 50 bucks after shipping, but I don't know if the place I ordered from will ship up north.
Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden

I also recommend a uth for easiest heat source, just place it on the ground under the tank with the thermostat probe in between and set it to about 85 and see where that leaves you and adjust accordingly.

Don't know if you have them in Canada, but Hydroponic stores carry thermostats for heat mats they use for seedlings.
sounds silly but the one I got is digital & cost less than the mechanical ones. working great on my incubator.

[Kylie]

She hissed at me once when i was taking her out of her tank, and once when i first got her and was just randomly holding her, i think that's the only 2 times she hissed at me, but she hissed at my mom and friend alot more in a short period. That probably means that she didnt feel to comfortable? I have a cat and she likes to sit up at the tank and stare, sometimes pill lightly paw at the tank, will this stress bella out? When i get my new used tank, what should i use to clean it out? or disinfect it per say. Any certain type or brand of thermostat and uth i should use? can i stick with my lamp? or would that be a bad choice? Anything elce i should order online? is ebay a bad site to get some things off?

[Kayla90]

Originally Posted by Kylie

She hissed at me once when i was taking her out of her tank, and once when i first got her and was just randomly holding her, i think that's the only 2 times she hissed at me, but she hissed at my mom and friend alot more in a short period. That probably means that she didnt feel to comfortable? I have a cat and she likes to sit up at the tank and stare, sometimes pill lightly paw at the tank, will this stress bella out? When i get my new used tank, what should i use to clean it out? or disinfect it per say. Any certain type or brand of thermostat and uth i should use? can i stick with my lamp? or would that be a bad choice? Anything elce i should order online? is ebay a bad site to get some things off?

Yea, that sounds defensive. She should stop for the most part once she gets more comfortable around you. Less scared. Handling her will help that, but just remember to give her those days off before, during and after feeding day.

[Kylie]

You guys are so much help! Thanks again, and im sorry for all the questions LOL...

I found it odd, the people i bought her off fed her the day before i came, and i new before that you shouldn't hold them during and after feeding time, and i had mentioned to the old owners when she had picked Bella up and handed her to me and they told me " no you can hold her whenever".

She spends alot of time in her rock, When do snakes sleep? are they nocturnal?
No we dont have one of those stores and i went to the pet shop today and they do not have much, so id have to go into "edmonton" or order it online. I live in a small town.

I am trying to make a list of things i need to order, so far i have;

-Thermostat or heat probe?
-UTH heat source
- Bigger tank ( friends giving me)
- 2 rocks, bigger then i have now
-bigger water dish.

Am i missing anything?

[Maclyal]

the thermostat has a probe on it that is attached to it.
you put the probe next to your heat sorce & it makes the thermostat regulate the heat.

works like a waterbed heater & thermostat.

[Kylie]

Oh ok, and i can use it even if i have to stick with the light too? if i cant find a matt?

[Kylie]

Is this a good UTH mat to use for bella?
Zoo Med Reptile Under Tank Heater RH-6 Heat Pad Mat 50-60 UTH | eBay

[Kylie]

Oh never mind, i just relized its for a bigger tank! crap! i dont know if ill be able to find one that was the only one their selling on ebay for some off reason!

[alessia55]

Looks like you're on the right track Kylie

[youngster]

Zoo Med UTH under tank reptile heaters (u pick size) | eBay

[Kylie]

Thanks!!! for some reason i couldn't find that! Im worried about her burning herself if i get a mat, Shes been using a lamp all her life, would it be terrible if i just stuck with the lamp, and got a thermostat to monitor the heat?

So now that i changed the bulb in her lamp i think shes to cold? she hasnt left her rock since i changed it...the temp strip says its, 77 on the warm side.... should i go get a different bulb?

[Kayla90]

It would be better if you got a thermostat and a mat.. that way the thermostat can monitor the heat from the pad.

And you attach the mat to the under side of the glass.. I only have one snake that isn't in my rack system, and he has a mat and I've never had an issue with it, as long as you have stuff on top of it for him to lie on.

[Kylie]

I dont understand the thermostat thing, im sure i would once i get it into my home, call me stupid haha how does it monitor the heat? like what does it do? does it connect to the mat? this is what i was thinking about getting if i can order off amazon.

Amazon.com Shopping Cart

[Kayla90]

Yes.. it plugs into the wall, then the mat plugs into the thermostat, the probe is put in direct contact with the mat, and it will control the temp. You program the thermostat to be the temperature you need it to be.