Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I've been posting in a few topics and asking what I feel is probably the typical "I'm a newbie and screwed up, what now" questions. So just to help me and everyone else out (including the snake) here is what my current setup is.

Tank: I got a glass 20 long tank with a sliding screen top at the pet store for $54. The name of it was "Critter cage". I liked it because it already came with the screen top, and the top has a place where you can actually apply a small pad lock if you feel the need to. THe thickness of the glass, and the construction led me to belive that this would be a great size for the snake for the first few years. (I believe it was suggested that a 20 long is the absoloute minimum size for an adlut BP)

lighting/heat
I have one light placed directly on the screen top with a 40watt bulb on one end of the tank. It's placed above a section of grapevine, that arches over a rock-look-alike water dish. The light is on a timer and comes on 6am, going off at 11pm.
I also have a UTH (can't remember the manufacturer name) on the other end. It sticks directly to the tank (per instructions and sticky strips already on pad) It doesn't get super hot, warm to the touch, and using an analog thermometer placed on top of the bedding over the UTH, the temp read 89.

accessories.
other than the grapevine (for aiding in shedding per suggestions from websites...as well as decorative purposes) and the water dish, I have about 1/4 " of soft bark bedding. Again, I can't remember the manufacturer name, but its sols as a reptile bedding...supposedly, via claims printed on bag, it's the most popular reptile bedding sold. I'm not backing that claim up...but it is a nice deep red and brown color and looks very pretty. =)

I have a humidity gauge stuck on the back glass on the inside of the tank that has been reading anywhere from 60% up to 70% humidity inside the tank.

Hide box:
My snake is small, only about 2 months old at best, so I used the bottom half of a plastic tera cota pot, and used a dremmel tool to cut out a rounded opening (think Tom and Jerry style mouse hole) for the snake. This is placed over the area of the UTH.

I can upload pictures this evening if someone will instruct me as to how to do so.

So, that being said....what have I done wrong?

Sounds like you have most of the basics. Just watch your snake now and learn to "read" him/her.

Good luck!
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Jay A. Martin

so far sounds good to me, except you should have at least one hide per side not just on the warm side. As far as the substrate, just make sure it's not cedar (and some even say stay away from fir or pine, but that's debated). With a loose substrate like that you'll need to feed outside the tank (in a feeding box) in order to minimize risk of impaction.

To post pics you first need to upload them off your pc onto the internet somewhere. Kingsnake has a free photo gallery you can use (just click on "photo gallery" up top). Then whenever you post a message you can insert multiple images using the "Tools and Toys" option below the message box or just select an image from your photo gallery using the drop down box below the message box.

Can't wait to see pics!

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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Sounds like you’ve done the same thing I did. And it’s not bad just you’ve spent a lot of $$$
And that isn’t bad. But I found the Critter cage was battle to keep the humidity up. And also
I enjoyed it more then the snake did. After sitting waiting for that moment the snake is going
To come out and play. ( might be three days after they feed) and dealing with the bad shed
I went out and got a rubber made set it up they love it. it's small and a good hide (flower pot planter
2 bucks) humidity is great all the time and fond out it was about making the snake Happy and
not sitting watching for her to come out and play. I have 3 happy balls now and plan on breeding
some normal just because I love the guys and I see a chance to work with something I love.
I think you have a good start and this is a great place to learn how to make it better.

as I mentioned in another thread, my problem seems to be heating. As far as humidity goes, I'm at 70%. =)