Reptile & Amphibian Forums

1) Do snakes get startled by loud music? I have a really loud alarm that wakes me up every morning and I don't want the snake to get a heart attack.

2) Does it matter if I turn the lights on or off during night/day? Or do I need to cover the terrarium during night?

3) I know this sounds stupid but, do snakes pee? And if so, how do I know where he...went?

Yes, yes and yes......
1)Snakes do not hear as we do but the feel vibrations and become very nervious from undetermined vibrations. Load music is one of the things that would set the snake off.
2)snakes need a day night cycle just like any other animal does. If they are in the light all the time the animal will be stressed out and will not thrive.
3) yes snakes pee. The uriates (hard whitish yellow stuff) is not as obvious as in a Big Boa but you should still be able to see where the go, a white powdery calcium looking substance will be on the substrate and it will smell of urine.
I hope this helps some
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

Hoppy,
I've got a UTH (hooked to a therm) and a infared bulb to keep russia's cage nice and warm (the downstairs in my house gets pretty cold) so I need both heat sources to keep her cage at a good temp...anyhow, her "day and night" cycle is really me turning the lights on downstairs when we get up....and she stays hidden (most) of that time....and at night when the lights go out in the living room shes up and moving around....is this ok???....she seems to be doing well eating and is super active at night and at dusk....and lately shes been coming out in the day to see what is up w/ us LOL.....She sound like shes doing well??...I worry about her being my only snake and all hehe.

Thanks
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KRISTI Mommy 2 Autumn Rose (daughter) 2 1/2 yrs
Reign Michael(son) 6 months
Duncan (Budgie) Passed away 5/11/2004...Love you duncan
Asia (Juvie Leopard Gecko)
Russia ( Baby Albino Cornsnake)
OH, And Ron the geckos #1 FAN!!! (owned by BlizzardGecko)

Hi Kristi,
I would use a ceramic heater or a red bulb for night time heat if you have to keep that much heat going. Normally an under tank heater with a hide box over it will provide a nice warm place for the snake to spend the night when it gets cooler. I personaly believe that day/night cycle time is as mush inportance as cooling and temps when it comes to breeding corns. I never brumate my corns, I just decrease the light hours down to 6-8 during the winter.
I hope this helps
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

I agree with Hoppy, day and night photoperiod seems to be more important than most people let on. I use a $2 timer from Lowe's (or Home Depot, I don't do endorcements) and during the winter, it's about 7 hours of light, summer is closer to 15. Seems to get my snakes in the mood too. The other reasons I use timers is to be exact everyday. One day you might forget, or one day you might forget to turn the lights off, and well, I just don't like to do that. The other reason is....I'm lazy. I have 10 snakes, and it's so easy with timers not having to turn off all the lights. What can i say, I'm a cop, we're nutoriously lazy.

AJ
King Donut Eater
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1.0 Hypo Okeetee - Wesley (Princess Bride)
0.1 Ghost - Sydney (Scream)
2.0 Striped Amel - Jay and Aiden (Kevin Smith movies)
1.0 Snow - Silent Bob (Kevin Smith movies)
0.1 Anery - Columbia (Rocky Horror)
1.0 Creamcicle - Brandon (Mallrats)
0.1 Zig Zag Anery - Pepper (didn't name her)
0.1 Normal - Bindy (Croc. Hunter)
0.1 Motley - Craven (Underworld)