Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here are some of my favorite asians in their basic set ups.

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Randy Whittington

Nice looking snakes Randy, I really like those prasinus,

Nate

I love the bush rats too. As I've said before Randy, you have great taste in snakes. Maybe one day I will get there. Not in a rush though.
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Matt Kauffman

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Randy Whittington

As always Randy, First class stuff.... without a doubt....
Could you explain the husbandry strategy (Multiple hides (wet/dry?, warm/cool, multi-subsrate, etc)?
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Regards, Bill McGighan

Thanks a lot Bill.
I give them about 2 inches of aspen on one half of their enclosure and about 2 inches of cypress mulch on the other half with at least a hide on each side. I make the substrate deep because they can easily make burrows and runs under the substrate. They can go from the drier aspen to the moist cypress without ever having to expose themselves if they don't want to.
While I sometimes still use moist spagnum moss hides in shoe box size containers for babies, I try to avoid that when possible because it seems they would move from dry to moist areas less often because of trying to avoid showing themselves, especially when in shed. Also I found the larger area of cypress holds moisture longer than hides of spagnum moss do and they are not forced to sit in poop as they can be when they go in the smaller moist hides. Having the deepers sections of each substrate makes it possible for them to move from one to the other without ever having to come out in the open if they choose not to.
When not in brumation and depending of the time of year I give the species pictured a temp range of about 69 to 78 and in the summer a range of about 73 to 80.
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Randy Whittington

That's really interesting Randy. I may have to give that a try with my coxi when they get a bit older. I do find that they spend a lot of time in the spagnum hides, especially when in shed. Mine are most active in the early morning hours. They don't seem to mind showing themselves at that time, but the rest of the time they stay hidden or when they do move it's very quickly and I don't see it. I use cypress only, but I don't moisten it. It is kind of moist as it is.

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Matt Kauffman

Hey Randy - Nice snakes, and interesting to see your setups too. Do you use the same type setup for your Beauty Snakes?

-Toby
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Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

Toby, I keep some of my taeniura that way and some on newspaper in large tubs. I use very large water bowls or litter pans with water and limited air movement to keep up the humidity levels.
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Randy Whittington

>>Toby, I keep some of my taeniura that way and some on newspaper in large tubs. I use very large water bowls or litter pans with water and limited air movement to keep up the humidity levels.
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>>Randy Whittington

Thanks for the info, Randy. I have used cypress mulch and aspen together, in a similar way before, myself - but have not tried it with the Beauties yet. I have not had any issues with them, that I am aware of, using a plain aspen substrate. However, I do use moist (sphagnum) hides and gallon-sized water jugs, which they can soak in, and I also mist occasionally to keep the humidity at or above 60%.

-Toby
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Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

Hey Randy,
Doesn't the aspen rot quickly when it's damp? I haven't found a perfect substrate yet to keep humidity up. Aspen rots and cypress mulch is dirty and getting hard to find. Sphagnum dries fast and doesn't absorb feces, etc., well. I've also found that damp aspen draws gnats, or whatever they are, in my snake room.
Your thoughts, anyone?
Thanks,
Steve B.

I don't moisten the aspen side of the containers, only the cypress sides. There are a couple brands of cypress mulch that are fairly clean that are made to use as bedding, not the brands processed for mulching in gardens.
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Randy Whittington

Randy,

You are at it AGAIN man! Do you know how much I've spent on Reptiles this past month? LOL

Matthew

Not enough! lol

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Randy Whittington

I will resist! Well, a little. Maybe not at all. Help my wallet has anorexia! Its too thin now...

Matthew