Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, so I discovered last night that Eddie has started hanging out in the rock/drainage layer I have in his terrarium. There's a plastic screen between the dirt and the rocks, so he must've slipped around it to get down there. It worries me because for one, I'm not sure he can get any fresh air down there and for two, it's the drainage layer... it's full of water, mostly.

I'm thinking of buying another tank, setting it up for him, and just letting this one stay natural and let the plants grow in it for a couple months. In a few months when he's bigger and probably can't get back down there, I could put him back in it. I love having him in the natural terrarium because he obviously enjoys it, but I don't think he can get back out from the drainage layer.

What do you guys think? Should I set up another tank for him with aspen, hides, heat, water, etc, or should I just let this go and let him find his own way back out of the rocks?

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Holly

0.1 Lavender California Kingsnake (Lizzie Borden) (missing )
1.0 Florida Kingsnake (Eddie Gein)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Charley Manson)
1.0 Orange Marmalade Cat (Oliver)
1.0 Black Cat (Shadowfax)
1.0 Egyptian Arabian (Bagan)
1.0 Tennessee Walking Horse (Durango)

2.0 Toddlers (Justice & Trevor)

I haven't moved him into a new tank yet, I'd really like to hear what you guys think. Will he be fine just hanging out in the drainage layer or should I put him in another tank until he's a little big bigger and can't fit down there?
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Holly

0.1 Lavender California Kingsnake (Lizzie Borden) (missing )
1.0 Florida Kingsnake (Eddie Gein)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Charley Manson)
1.0 Orange Marmalade Cat (Oliver)
1.0 Black Cat (Shadowfax)
1.0 Egyptian Arabian (Bagan)
1.0 Tennessee Walking Horse (Durango)

2.0 Toddlers (Justice & Trevor)

I don't really see it doing much harm if he's down there temporarily, but I wouldn't want him hanging out there too often. Also, I wouldn't want to have to keep "chasing" after him every time I wanted to get him out.
He'll very likely be able to get back out on his own, but the question is, does he WANT to?,....that looks like a perfect snake "hideaway" similar to what he'd be hiding in out in nature.

I personally, have WAY too many snakes to set them up like that, and really prefer the ease of pulling out bins with just Aspen, water bowl, and hides. It's really a judgement call for you to decide.

If it's like you say, and it's damp with water, soil, and roots where he's at, there's a possibility that if he "hangs out" there too often, he could possibly develop a fungus underneath the scales, which is't a good thing at ALL.

With this said, you weigh the situation, but I don't think I'd be okay with letting him go under there all the time.

best regards, ~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I highly agree with the Doug-Man!!!!!
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Genesis 1:1

Billy,.....you're QUITE the intelligent man, I must say!

anyone who agrees with ME, can't be ALL bad!...LOL!

later dude!

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

HA HA HA!!!!!!!! Too funny bro!!
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Genesis 1:1

"there's a possibility that if he "hangs out" there too often, he could possibly develop a fungus underneath the scales, which is't a good thing at ALL. "

Yeah, that's one of my concerns, any health problems he could develop from being under there too much/too often. I think I might move him into the other tank tomorrow, but I'm going to try feeding him tonight, see if he comes out for his pinky. This is the same snake, of course, who regurgitated last week, so I haven't tried to feed him yet. Tomorrow will be one week since he regurged.

If he doesn't come out for his meal tonight or tomorrow, I will definitely be moving him into a more simple tank until he's a little bit bigger. I made the natural terrarium because I love plants and it's a bit of an educational tool for my kids. That, and obviously, Eddie seems to enjoy it. There's not a whole lot of space around the rocks at the bottom, so if I kept him out of it until he sheds a few more times and gets a little big bigger, I doubt he'd be able to fit down there and I could add more rocks to fill up the little bit of space that is down there.

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Holly

0.1 Lavender California Kingsnake (Lizzie Borden) (missing )
1.0 Florida Kingsnake (Eddie Gein)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Charley Manson)
1.0 Orange Marmalade Cat (Oliver)
1.0 Black Cat (Shadowfax)
1.0 Egyptian Arabian (Bagan)
1.0 Tennessee Walking Horse (Durango)

2.0 Toddlers (Justice & Trevor)

n/p
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Holly

0.1 Lavender California Kingsnake (Lizzie Borden) (missing )
1.0 Florida Kingsnake (Eddie Gein)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Charley Manson)
1.0 Orange Marmalade Cat (Oliver)
1.0 Black Cat (Shadowfax)
1.0 Egyptian Arabian (Bagan)
1.0 Tennessee Walking Horse (Durango)

2.0 Toddlers (Justice & Trevor)

I am going to say this is what they do, they are fossorial, they burrow. but in all fairness, it is a captive animal. If you do not feel comfortable with this situation, change it. I wouldn't switch tanks. Is there any way you can improve on the screen? Sounds to me that he either likes it down there or is just exploring his realm fully. Maybe he wants a really tight moist and dark hide.
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Todd Hughes

I used to have the same "problem" when I used reptile carpet. But I just figured they were looking for cooler temps or something along those lines. Since you say its mostly water in the drainage area, I'd guess he's looking for more humidity or moisture. As long as he can't injure himself getting back and forth from top to bottom, I wouldn't worry about it.

One of mine under his carpet.......

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Ace

Well, he made the decision for me last night. He actually got stuck between the glass and the plastic screen. I think the weight of the substrate and hide were just too much. I pulled everything away from that side and got him out, then put him in his new temporary cage. It has aspen, two hides, water dish, and a UTH on a thermostat. He ate a pinky for me last night, since I'm still taking it slow after his regurg. So far, he's been in his hot hide all day. I'll move him back into the natural terrarium in a couple months or so when he's a bit bigger. I don't think he'll be able to get back down into the drainage layer after a couple months of eating fuzzies and hoppers.
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Holly

0.1 Lavender California Kingsnake (Lizzie Borden) (missing )
1.0 Florida Kingsnake (Eddie Gein)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Charley Manson)
1.0 Orange Marmalade Cat (Oliver)
1.0 Black Cat (Shadowfax)
1.0 Egyptian Arabian (Bagan)
1.0 Tennessee Walking Horse (Durango)

2.0 Toddlers (Justice & Trevor)