New Snake Owner, Questions! - Page 2

virtuousvixen · 05-14-14, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharthun

Yeah you buy your kids expensive toys and they don't play with em!

So true. The cat is the same. buy her an enclosed bed to hide in, yet she prefers a cardboard box. The things we do

Pirarucu · 04-23-14, 09:54 AM

1)As MDT said, substrate is not a huge issue. I personally would stick with the jungle mix, I am not a big fan of aspen. It's too dry and dusty, and tends to mold if it gets wet.
2)The best way to determine gender is probing, but as said, it needs to be done by someone who has experience, you can seriously harm the snake if it is done wrong.
3)Doesn't matter. I tend to have mine in the middle or on the warm side.
4)Once a week is a good schedule, how big is he and how big are the prey items you are giving him?
5)There are few snakes that need pinks from the start, I would expect him to be plenty capable of taking fuzzies or maybe small hoppers. Again, just depends on size.
6)Yes, that is normal.

I would definitely introduce more cover to the cage, it doesn't have to be premade hides either. Leaf litter or sheets of moss can be used as hides too. Anything he can hide under and remain unseen. Cork bark flats set into the soil a little bit make excellent hides.
Definitely get a temperature gun and a humidity gauge in order to keep an eye on the conditions in the cage.

vypr · 04-23-14, 01:11 PM

I found some small boxes around the house and put them inside the tank, HE LOVES THEM! LOL!

Here are the images, first one is of the whole tank, second is which hiding spot he choose.
imgur (.) com/jZmicKV,5vC6cR3

(since I am new I couldn't post a URL? So just add that dot and http)

Also it seems he is ALWAYS on the cool side, I really want to get a thermostat, hopefully it's not too hot on the warm side.

EDIT: When do I get full permissions on the forums, these limits are annoying.

sharthun · 04-23-14, 01:46 PM

Sign up for a photobucket account if you don't already have one. Upload pics there and then copy and paste links to your shots. You should be able to post links,pics after 5 posts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vypr

I found some small boxes around the house and put them inside the tank, HE LOVES THEM! LOL!

Here are the images, first one is of the whole tank, second is which hiding spot he choose.
imgur (.) com/jZmicKV,5vC6cR3

(since I am new I couldn't post a URL? So just add that dot and http)

Also it seems he is ALWAYS on the cool side, I really want to get a thermostat, hopefully it's not too hot on the warm side.

EDIT: When do I get full permissions on the forums, these limits are annoying.

sharthun · 04-23-14, 01:53 PM

Oh, and you can add some cheap silk or plastic plants for more cover.

vypr · 04-23-14, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by virtuousvixen

My King loves toilet rolls. Sometimes i think more than his hides

OMG! LOL! That is funny, I'll put some in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharthun

Oh, and you can add some cheap silk or plastic plants for more cover.

Yea, I am wanting to get some fake plants.
Looks a lot nicer also.

Pirarucu · 04-24-14, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vypr

Yea, I am wanting to get some fake plants.
Looks a lot nicer also.

With a young milksnake, you could probably use some live plants as long as you remember to water them.

CosmicOwl · 05-05-14, 01:21 AM

As was mentioned, toilet paper/paper towel rolls are good additions. Just throw some in there, or half bury them under the substrate. Either way, snakes love them. Something this works.

**Tsubaki** · 04-24-14, 05:23 AM

Lots of snakes love those, good for quarantine as well. I always use cardboard boxes, cardboard transport tubes as quarantine hides.. And toss them out when they get dirty.

vypr · 05-04-14, 10:29 PM

I didn't want to create a new thread for this, but I was curious on what is the best way to get him used to me holding my milk snake.
He is ~7 months (not even sure) and ive had him for couple weeks now.

I try to get him used to me, but he just runs away when I try to handle him.
Whenever I manage to catch him I try to be gentle, but he just mov everywhere.
Should I keep trying or wait until he is older?

**EL Ziggy** · 05-04-14, 10:48 PM

Patience vypr

Your snake will come around, just give it time. He`s just getting settled in to his new environment. He'll realize you aren't a threat soon enough. I would keep the handling to a minimum until he's eaten for you a few times. Maybe once or twice a week for 5-10 minutes at a time but not within 48 hours after he's eaten. You can increase the handling as he gets more comfortable with you. Best wishes.

vypr · 05-04-14, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Patience vypr

Your snake will come around, just give it time. He`s just getting settled in to his new environment. He'll realize you aren't a threat soon enough. I would keep the handling to a minimum until he's eaten for you a few times. Maybe once or twice a week for 5-10 minutes at a time but not within 48 hours after he's eaten. You can increase the handling as he gets more comfortable with you. Best wishes.

Thanks, I've been holding him for ~1-5 minutes every ~3 days.
I just wanted to make sure he tries to get used to me.

I'll continue waiting, just making sure I am doing everything right.

KarenL · 05-14-14, 12:19 PM

Hi Vypr, welcome and congrats on your new baby! Have you named him/her yet?

I'm new to snake keeping too so there isn't much to add to the great advice you've already been given, except that from your photo I would say that the water dish looks to be on the small side. Ideally it should be large enough for your snake to soak in if he/she wants to cool off or moisten the skin prior to shedding. Again, it doesn't need to be an expensive fake rock dish, just any shallow bowl that is heavy enough that it won't get tipped over.

KarenL · 05-14-14, 12:20 PM

Oops, when I wrote my post your photo wasn't showing! I see you have already got a larger water dish!

vypr · 05-21-14, 02:12 AM

I have a ton of new stuff for the terrarium, including a 36x18x18 Exo Terra terrarium I am getting tomorrow.
I'll update later, I am really wanting to make a vivarium but it seems too complicated.

Also guys I've been noticing my surface temperature with my current bulb setup is the following on the "hot spots":
~80f Day > 100W Daylight Bulb
~75f Night > 60W Infrared Bulb

My terrarium height is 18 inches, so should I be using a 150W Day and a 150W Night?