Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First - isn't there some way to have a database of info here? You know, like in the Yahoo!Groups, where there is a DB of info that all newbies should have? That would be helpful. I will try to ask questions we should all know the answer to, but I don't see them asked often. Maybe I'm the stupid one here, but I'll take the responsibility for making you groan in horror at the remedial level of the information I seek.

I know a UTH is Under Tank Heater. However, what do you recommend as the best while being affordable? Before you answer, I currently use a human heating pad under my tank (estimated to be 25-30 gallon, measuring 12x24 inches or so), and I have a table runner between the heating pad and tank for aesthetics. I have the heat pad on high, and the floor of my tank feels warm to the touch. I use newspaper for substrate, and a lamp is turned on from 7am to bedtime, usually 9-10pm. When the lamp is on, the stick-on thermometer reads about 88 degrees or so. However, I know she is a little cool at night. I think she gets down to 78 or so. I'm not happy with this at all.

I have had the tank set in a window that goes to our sunroom, so she could have natural light with her lamp, and a scenery plastic cover on the back of the tank. Since the sunroom is no longer warm like it was, I am moving her tonight to the greatroom, not against an outside wall. This is my first winter with her, and want to do her right!

I have read about heat tape.... but how does this work? what does it look like? where can I get it? can you adjust it like you would a heating pad? how wide is it? What is the average cost that I will be dealing with?

Also, I am working on breeding mice for her meals. I really prefer them, as rats totally gross me out. totally. I have been feeding live, but have considered looking into buying frozen rats for her. I have been reading on this board about thawing by leaving them in the ziplock bags, and the hot water method. However, I have the following questions regarding my girl's menu:

how do the frozen rats come packaged? My better half said he does not want them in our family freezer, and I tried to reassure him that no one would know what they are, but he was as grossed out by the idea of frozen rats with our steaks and pot pies as I was at the concept of breeding the damn things.

My famale mouse is currently getting fatter by the day. I can't touch her, and she burrows down with her food and hides all the time. On her wheel, she simply walks, as if it's her burden and duty to do so. How long is the average mouse pregnancy, and how many should I expect from her?

When do I remove her hubby, so she does not eat her young? I think I will just feed him to the snake (we are currently in shed, and still have blue eyes-day 4, I think- so it will have to wait), and I don't want to set up another tank for him to be in all by himself. The 10 gallon with the 2 of them stinks enough, even with fresh bedding.

I really don't want to spend any more money than I must on my girl, but I need her to be happy and healthy, also. (It's hard to tell the kids we are having ramen noodles for dinner *again* so the snake can have a new heater...) My better half has had snakes before, but didn't research how to care for them. He used newspaper, fed live, and had a lamp on them, and they did great. grew to good size, were social, and were never harmed by their mouse menu. But now, in the age of the internet and spare time at work, I intend to do more. He tells me I'm crazy, that the girl is fine, but I'm just not satisfied.

Once I have the funds available, I will be getting a dumeril boa next.... ah, addiction. fun, isn't it?

thanks for your time.

Muggle
Material Witness

I raise both for my snakes as I find they occassionally prefer one or the other. I have to say hands down the Rats are better to raise!!! They smell less, eat their young less, bite you less, and eat less expensive food.

BTW you don't need to remove the male. In fact, if you are going to keep mice then let a couple of the female babies grow up and stay in there. You need more than one female to keep the male satisfied.

Well, I'll do my best to answer what I will from your questions in point form.
1. Hotspot, 90-94 not 88. Increase it.
2. 72-76 is alright for nighttime temps.
3. Balls don't need to be near a window for light. They're not plants. Anywhere in the room is fine.
4. Mice SUCK, plain and simple. Rats are nutritionally complete, and just because you don't like them, not a good reason to deprive your ball of a complete diet.
5. Newspaper is a wonderful substrate, I use it for all my balls.
6. Please please please before you get another snake, do a little more research then you did with this one. "The Ball Python Manual" is an excellent book for beginner information.

Good luck.

1. Hotspot, 90-94 not 88. Increase it.
-- I asked about heat tape, specifically. what can you tell me about this?

3. Balls don't need to be near a window for light. They're not plants. Anywhere in the room is fine.
-- I knew she didn't NEED light, but I thought it would be nice to have some natural light. I would like it if I was her. just trying to be a good mom.

4. Mice SUCK, plain and simple. Rats are nutritionally complete, and just because you don't like them, not a good reason to deprive your ball of a complete diet.
-- I have heard of many people feeding just mice, and their snakes being healthy. I don't think I'm depriving her.

6. Please please please before you get another snake, do a little more research then you did with this one. "The Ball Python Manual" is an excellent book for beginner information.
-- As I said, I have done a lot of learning and reading, and I intend to keep learning. Learning is a process that NEVER stops. Even experienced herpers have admitted to learning something on this board. I know I got my girl when I was rather uneducated about her needs, but I wasn't clueless.

I appreciate everyone's input here. Your answers and suggestions have been very helpful!

Thanks,
Muggle
Material Witness

Muggle, ok here are my responses. to your comments.

1. Heat tape works. www.beanfarm.com. Use it well.
3. Don't anthropomorphize. Your snake doesn't "want' light.
4. Mice are NOT nutritionally complete. You advice was bad.

Good luck.

First off, I don't know alot about bull pythons yet so will leave others with more knowledge handle your questions about the snake. However I do know a fair bit about mice.

Mouse (and rat) gestation is 21 days.
Average litter is between 8-10 Some have less, others more.
Mice can become pregnant within hours after giving birth so your male will do his duty probably before you realise the female had her litter.

The male mouse is the one that smells. He produces a strong musky urine for scent marking and loves to smell that all around his home. Because of this, no matter how often you clean the cage, the first thing he is going to do when you put him back in, is put his smell on everything.

For the health of your female mouse, you should not breed her litter after litter. It is best to let her have a few weeks to regain weight between each litter. Unfortunately to do this, you will have to keep the male separate.

Once mice reach 4-5 weeks old, sons are able to procreate and should be separated from their mother and sister. At 5 or 6 weeks, the babes can be separated from their mother.

Ideally, for a good regular source of food for a snake, you should have two males and 3 females, this way while one or two are taking a break from breeding, the other mouse is pregnant. WIth two males, you can alternate which one does the servicing and you can keep daughters from the other male's litter to mate with the non related one.

Mice don't eat their babies, it's typically a rare thing that happens, usualy due to over crowding or stress. The father can stay with the mother after she gives birth, assuming you want her to get pregnant again.

Rats, from what I know about them, need pretty much the same care as mice but due to their larger adult size, require more room as well and more food. However they also have larger litter sizes, and are bigger.

Frozen mice/rats are more convenient as you can store them in the freezer for months, don't smell (unless the power fails), are easier to keep, dont' require any food, water or space (except maybe a cubic foot in the freezer). You can box the frozen mice/rats so they are separate from your pop pies, pigs and cows.