Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi guys, i plan on buying a baby Blood at the whiteplains show coming up in a few weeks and have a few last minute questions...

i have a cage setup with the correct temp, humidity levels and heat gradients, but dont really trust the little stick on thermometers and wonder if i should look into getting an electronic thermo/humidity gauge? got any recomendations?

The cage is a 24"x18" lizard lounge and im using an infrared heat emitter right now, should i switch to using under-tank heat tape?

also, i havent seen anyone mention feeding the python in another container other then its cage... wouldnt this help it become tame faster? thanks for taking the time to answer..... ernie

Ernie,

Youll probably want to get some sort of digital thermometer and humidity guage, if you have one of the little stick on trex things just throw it away.. they suck. I got mine from Wal-Mart for like $15 and its got dual temp and humidity monitors on it... seems to work pretty well, you can also get something a little nicer from somewhere like big apple herps (www.bigappleherp.com) and something to monitor you heat source to shut off wouldnt be a bad idea either. There are some available from the forementioned website as well. Be careful buying stuff at shows! I dont know what breeders will be at your show mentioned but make sure you buy a healthy animal!
-----
"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

hey dude...i suggest going to like frank's nursery on central ave or kmart & grab a mercury thermometer. the one i bought has a humidity gauge in it & it was like 5 dollars. use that to check the temps daily until the show. when you get there i suggest you buy the mini temp gun...you'll find it at the "pro products" table. those are the guys with the mist systems etc. now the temp gun is like 40 dollars & I am telling you it will not be spent in vain. I was very reluctant myself but after buying one I can not image being happy without it. it allows you to scan anything in the blink of an eye & get accurate readings.now as far as who you are buying from. I myself just got into bloods. I was going to buy from a few people but I went with Ian Gniazdowski of "Outback Reptiles". I bought a blood for $75 at the Jan 11th show& so far have been very happy. I don't know him personally or anything about him but I would purchase from him again, in fact I maybe be grabbing borneo next at this show from him myself. So for the cheapest blood but still a quality animal I would recommend him. there's also N.E.R.D. but I'm sure you are awar of their great reputation. Ian's tables are usually the black displays cases with the glass top with white labels giving species & price.
Hope I helped & if you need any other info let me know

later

awsome, i never realized those thermo's were so cheap nowadays. i will probably spend the extra buck and get one from NERD because i like the reputation and stuff.... but what about feeding? do you just feed yours in its cage or do you have a seperate container? doesnt matter?

Ive done both.. it doesnt really seem to matter but if you have a reluctant feeder it probably be easier to feed in container so they feel safer and arent stressed from recent handling. In my experience it seems to help if you feed them in the same type of container if you move, once they recognize the texture of it they seem to perk right up and know whats going on.
-----
"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior