Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First I would like to say Hi again. SO far I have only been reading and following some posts in this forum. I am an avid keeper of many different snakes but pythons have been my main stay for a long time. However, after this weekend I will be finally be in the club

I am going to get my eastern indigo pair from Steve Binnig this weekend (one black and one red phase). They have eaten a bunch of times and shed. I am a bit nervous and excited at the same time. I am worried my snake room may be too warm during the summer. I also house all my pythons in there too. AC is a possible addition next year to keep the temps down.

Right now the rack I will keep the hatchlings in is heated from the back and the temps in the front half are 78/80 (cooler in winter months) and I can make the back temps as hot as needed via thermostat. The rack is dedicated to drys at the molment and will most likely stay that way. I also have two baby black tail cribos on their way from another local friend.

Was also wondering if paper towel substrate, water bowl and hide box will be sufficient? I saw the comments about never leaving the water go dry and its etched into my brain from now on!

Sorry for all the questions. Any suggestions, comments or pointers would be greatly appreciated!
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Reptile-Pit.com

1.1 Woma Pythons
2.1 Olive Pythons
1.1 Granite Burmese Pythons
1.0 Indian Python
1.1 Eastern Indigos (waiting for hatchlings)
0.1 Ball Python (donation / rehab snake)
0.1 Amazon Tree Boa
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake

Welcome to Dry-Land TT

Although I'm sure there's other good ways do deal with hatchlings, I keep them in "Critter Carrier" type cages with paper towel substrate, big water dish and hide.

Good luck with the new kids.

Doug T

>>First I would like to say Hi again. SO far I have only been reading and following some posts in this forum. I am an avid keeper of many different snakes but pythons have been my main stay for a long time. However, after this weekend I will be finally be in the club
>>
>>I am going to get my eastern indigo pair from Steve Binnig this weekend (one black and one red phase). They have eaten a bunch of times and shed. I am a bit nervous and excited at the same time. I am worried my snake room may be too warm during the summer. I also house all my pythons in there too. AC is a possible addition next year to keep the temps down.
>>
>>Right now the rack I will keep the hatchlings in is heated from the back and the temps in the front half are 78/80 (cooler in winter months) and I can make the back temps as hot as needed via thermostat. The rack is dedicated to drys at the molment and will most likely stay that way. I also have two baby black tail cribos on their way from another local friend.
>>
>>Was also wondering if paper towel substrate, water bowl and hide box will be sufficient? I saw the comments about never leaving the water go dry and its etched into my brain from now on!
>>
>>Sorry for all the questions. Any suggestions, comments or pointers would be greatly appreciated!
>>-----
>>Reptile-Pit.com
>>
>>1.1 Woma Pythons
>>2.1 Olive Pythons
>>1.1 Granite Burmese Pythons
>>1.0 Indian Python
>>1.1 Eastern Indigos (waiting for hatchlings)
>>0.1 Ball Python (donation / rehab snake)
>>0.1 Amazon Tree Boa
>>0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake

Racks work just fine for hatchlings. I keep mine in a rack system in Sterilite shoeboxes. Hatchlings do much better in small enclosures anyway. If your rack is heated from the back, you might consider lowering the temps just a little if possible. If they are at 80 in front, then I would guess 90 or maybe more in back. If you can get the front down to 76 to 78 and the back around 85 or so, that would be about perfect. Indigos don't tolerate heat very well. As a matter of fact, this time of year I don't use the heat strips in my rack at all. I keep the temperature at a fairly constant 78 to 80 degrees and they love it.

They will outgrow the rack fairly quickly, though. You will find that you are moving them to bigger cages about every 6 months or so. My adults live in cages 6 ft x 2 ft. Adults like to bask, also. I don't know that it's essential, but they do enjoy it. I just use 60 watt incandescent gro-light bulbs.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson