Reptile & Amphibian Forums

You had wanted to see photos of my Black Rat Snake and my 60-gallon woodland vivarium with rock ledge & wood pile (and so much more!)

Here is my first attempt to post using a Flicker account.

You should see a photo of my snake, or vivarium, or both. I may need to practice before I understand how linking a URL from Flickr works.
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The word "enrichment" comes to mind when I look at the photo of the tank. It may be a bit difficult to clean though it certainly is a kind setup for that handsome snake!
Mike.

When I had a hatchling kingsnake in there, it was a MAJOR hassle to take out all 24 objects (I know), find him, then replace all objects. It could take as long as 30 minutes, depending on how difficult he was to find. He had extensive burrows in the Care Fresh bedding (my preferred).

Not so now!

My Black Rat Snake generally hides in the den in the rear, right area. I need only take out about 3 objects to get her, and the items are easily replaced later.

Cleanup is usually confined to a small spot that I clean and replace with new bedding. The entire vivarium is rarely affected by poop or spills.

She often poops when she's out exercising, so there isn't even that problem much of the time. I'm amazed at how much easier an adult is to care for, and her in particular.

Now if only I can find Rat Snake fans here in the Portland/Vancouver area. It gets lonely at times in the land of the Long Gloom.
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Does she explore the tank often? The male I have is on the go more then any other snake I have. I'm going to get out and look for a good piece of drift wood along the beach this early winter for my B-rats new tank. I figure that something that has been saturated in salt water is less likely to hold mites or the like. As I've done in the past I also plan to pour plenty of boiling water over the wood hopefully sterilizing it somewhat before using it. One other idea I had for a natural climbing "branch" is to use a large elks antler shed that I got off of e-bay. They are cheap enough and plentiful.
Yeh its too bad I don't live near you, we could mate my male to your girl and give you a clutch of eggs next spring.
Mike.

I'm somewhat concerned. It's been over 3 weeks now since she's been in her new home, and I rarely see her out of her den!

When being handled, she's a charm. I exercise her both inside & outside, and have no problem picking up. She's not once musked nor bitten.

My experience has been that males are more active than females, and that females are more likely to hide.

I'm hoping that she gets over it soon and that I see her out more often. It's a shame to have such a beautiful vivarium with so little activity.

Yes, it would be fun to breed her with your male. If ever in Portland/Vancouver area...

What is the temp in its tank? Below 70 and she's bound to slow up preparing for brumation. Keep her in the low to mid 70's and she'll be active.
Mike.

She not only has an overhead, broad-spectrum basking light, she has an under-tank heater.

Although MY temperatures are in the low 60s (my landlord, don't ask), her biome is typically at least 74 degrees.

It's been almost a month since she's been home and she still hides in her den almost all the time. I've yet to see her exploring her biome.

Not a good sign.

When I exercise her, however, she is quite active, exploring my closet, my bed room and hallway.

I an open screened tank alot of heat that the undertank and heat lamps is lost. She may be staying in her hide because it holds heat there. Try covering 80% of the top with a towel to hold the heat in, (but not over the heat lamp). Doing that has workked very well for me with bearded dragons that would otherwise just stay directly under thier heatlamp.
THe other thing to consider is that it is the fall and you can't fool them they know when to slow down and hibernate.
If her weight is up I wouldn't be too concerned.
Mike.