Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two new mandarin babies. I have read that you don't need extra heat for them to digest. Is this true? Inside there wet hide it is 68 to 70. Outside it is (House temp) 72 to 74. Is this enough heat for them?

DAVY

It would really be better for the moss to be damp rather than "wet", but yeah, Mandarin's do better in cooler, more humid environment than many other colubrids. HOWEVER...allowing for a small warmer area (say 80 or so) on one far end ONLY for them to thermoregulate as they see fit is always an optimum situation. The more choices they have at their disposal, the better in my opinion. As long as the heat source DOES NOT dry the air and lower the humidity. An under tank source would be best placed under just a small portion of one far end of it's enclosure. They are very secretive by nature so bright heat lamps wouldn't be good.

Also, in their cooler environment, they do best if not given huge meals that would be more easily digested in the cooler temps.

I owned an adult wild-caught import for many years a long time ago, and I found that the snake ALWAYS preferred smaller helpless prey rodents as opposed to larger ones that could walk around and defend themdelves. In about 12 years, this snake only killed and constricted ONE small adult mouse. All other meals were helpless rat pups or large mouse fuzzies left in a pile in the corner of the tank. Only when it was dark with nobody around would he forage and eat the entire pile alive.

No doubt a captive hatchling would learn to accept it's prey differently, but slightly smaller prey offerings are more natural, and a bit less often is more normal in a cooler environment as well because their metabolism isn't as high as a snake kept in the 80's would be.

Good luck with your Mandarin's, those are some very cool snakes!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thank man, that helps a lot.

DAVY

That's interesting, Doug...you described to a "T" how I keep and feed my rubber boa.
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Carl

The low 70's is a great cool side temp but I've found that they do much better if they have a small under the tank heat source on one end. I don't keep the heat source as far under their cage as with other species but just under a couple inches of the very end. Obviously it's easier to do when using a heat pad or heat cable that you don't have to attach or stick to the bottom of the cage. I don't make the warm spot as warm as with other colubrids because it can make it hard to keep the cool side cool enough. If you keep their enclosures as low as you can to the floor it makes it easier to maintain the cool side temps while having a warm spot. You will need to have the heat source on a thermostat or rheostat or it will be too hot. In smaller enclosures I generally keep the warm spot at about 80 (on the veeeeeery end of one side)but in larger (longer)enclosures I will keep it a little warmer because your still able to maintain the low temps on the cool side.

A moist hide is good but it's best if you can keep the whole cage more humid than you need for most colubrids. I've found that using cypress mulch works best for me personally. It holds moisture better than most other types of bedding. If you have the mulch a couple inches deep and you make a large area of one corner of the cool side fairly damp it will keep the cage more humid over all and they can move away or towards the damp corner depending on how much humidity or moisture they want at the time. I keep a good secure hide on the cool and warm side as they are a shy species. If they want to be in a different temp or moisture range than where one of the hides are at they can go under the mulch while still hiding and feeling secure.
I also use a large water bowl with mandarins.

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Randy Whittington

Thanks for the info. Just worried about keeping there temp right.

DAVY

If you have any other specific questions feel free to e-mail me.
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Randy Whittington

Post some pics of the new babies if you can. Show em off dude!
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Randy Whittington

I thing they are so cool looking.

DAVY

They are so tiny.

Great looking pair Davy. Congrats!
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Randy Whittington

........very nice looking pair..

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com