First Rat!

[Lankyrob]

Originally Posted by icole

The lump is half as long as the snake. And it looks quite stretched out.

Lol, thats a standard size feeding lump in our house

[alexknott]

I thought it was a little big as well, I'm going a little smaller next time

[alexknott]

Originally Posted by alexknott

I thought it was a little big as well, I'm going a little smaller next time

I will also add that its just under a week since i fed her and she's already had A movement and the rats unnoticeable

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by alexknott

I also change the carpet once a month, i do everything i can to care for my animals

Research wasn't one of them I see.

[alexknott]

Why don't you do some actual biological research and youll see that the only way for bacteria to grow in repti-carpet is if there are very high levels of moisture that stand for more than 6 weeks. i change mine every 4, and the only other way bacteria can grow in them is if the carpet comes in direct contact with other forms of bacteria not normal for the snake/reptile. I've researched and cared for snakes my whole life. I've had an axanthic bp, yellowbelly bp, i rescued a wild bp, an albino speckled king, a normal bp raised to adult, my female normal bp now, a female california king raised from a hatchling to about 5 feet, a wild caught speckled king, and 6 great plains rat snakes. and my 13 foot burmese

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by alexknott

Why don't you do some actual biological research and youll see that the only way for bacteria to grow in repti-carpet is if there are very high levels of moisture that stand for more than 6 weeks. i change mine every 4, and the only other way bacteria can grow in them is if the carpet comes in direct contact with other forms of bacteria not normal for the snake/reptile. I've researched and cared for snakes my whole life. I've had an axanthic bp, yellowbelly bp, i rescued a wild bp, an albino speckled king, a normal bp raised to adult, my female normal bp now, a female california king raised from a hatchling to about 5 feet, a wild caught speckled king, and 6 great plains rat snakes. and my 13 foot burmese

Tell that to mould. We also have a ridiculous higher temperature which increases incubation for some bacteria and such. Did you research that too?

That's nice of your collection. Doesn't mean you know anything though.

FYI, I've got 47 adult females alone this season + everything else I've ever worked with.

[Snakeman8]

alexknot is right, bacteria forms when thier are very high levels of moisture, heat helps the snake digest, not grow bacteria in a low moisture level viviarium.
beautiful snake, by the way.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Snakeman8

alexknot is right, bacteria forms when thier are very high levels of moisture, heat helps the snake digest, not grow bacteria in a low moisture level viviarium.
beautiful snake, by the way.

You somehow don't think our high humidity enclosures harbour bacteria quicker than normal?

Let's also look at the fact he doesn't change his carpet for FOUR weeks. That's potentially 4 poops left in there. Even if he spots cleans then by removing the largest amount you now just left fecal matter and the bacteria associated with that within the enclosure.

Yes that's all healthy.

I change my bedding in my tubs every week. My babies get paper towel changes every 5 days.

[alexknott]

Thank you, and just to point out bacteria in their fecal matter is normal bacteria to the reptile. 6 weeks for the start of bacterial growth its based on a constant 90 degree and 50% humidity as a general study.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by alexknott

Thank you, and just to point out bacteria in their fecal matter is normal bacteria to the reptile. 6 weeks for the start of bacterial growth its based on a constant 90 degree and 50% humidity as a general study.

Shoot me links so I can humbly apologize.

Also take a poop in your bed. Don't change it or anything. Just keep acting normal for a month. See if anything happens.

[Lankyrob]

Originally Posted by alexknott

Thank you, and just to point out bacteria in their fecal matter is normal bacteria to the reptile. 6 weeks for the start of bacterial growth its based on a constant 90 degree and 50% humidity as a general study.

You only keep your BP at 50%? it should be a lot higher and if it was you would probably get mould a lot quicker.

As an example, in my GTP viv (near same temps as a BP) with 80% humidity a piece of untreated wood went mouldy in THREE DAYS. This wood was bleached and totally clean before it went it there.

[alexknott]

I keep mine at 60-65%, the study was done on an artificial turf Very similar to the repti carpet. That's why i change mine every 4 weeks, i believe i stated that i used to use the mulch bark, i still would if i could afford it. I joined the forum to share what i know and to learn what others know. If i had the links I'd send them to you. I'm just simply trying to share with you that you can use the repti carpet with no health issues if you change it every 4 weeks.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by alexknott

I keep mine at 60-65%, the study was done on an artificial turf Very similar to the repti carpet. That's why i change mine every 4 weeks, i believe i stated that i used to use the mulch bark, i still would if i could afford it. I joined the forum to share what i know and to learn what others know. If i had the links I'd send them to you. I'm just simply trying to share with you that you can use the repti carpet with no health issues if you change it every 4 weeks.

Without proof I like to believe you're wrong.

Too broke to afford substrate? Holy. It's like 30 bucks for a years supply.

[alexknott]

I was recently laid off and i have 2 kids to take care of

[Wyldrose]

Newspaper is free/cheep and you can change it every week. I recently switched most of my snakes to newspaper and love it. It's so much easier to clean them all, no worries about bacteria and of course way cheeper then carpet, mulch and chips.