Posted by:
colchicine
at Mon Jun 2 14:03:38 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by colchicine ]
It's great to know that someone appreciates it!
I have never witnessed, nor have I ever understood, the advice against using large containers. I am afraid that a lot of what we think we know about reptilian behavior is seriously flawed from our anthropomorphic perspective. Although I will not go as far as saying that sweater boxes are cruel, for the typical pet owner, we should definitely aspire to much better things. Whether or not the periods of fasting that is routinely seen in hognoses is natural, I really think that the lack of proper temperature gradients and insufficient heat are to blame for some of the problems. Along the same lines, I have included my thoughts about the benefits of full spectrum lighting.
I look forward to seeing pictures and hearing about how your large tank has worked out.
___________________
Full Spectrum Lighting.
By far, the most undervalued component of captive husbandry, and it is true for hognoses as well. In general, snakes do not need a source of UVB lighting that is necessary for the synthesis of vitamin D3 in the skin, which in turn is necessary for metabolizing calcium. Instead, they get all of their vitamin D from the livers of the whole prey they regularly consume.
However, there is another component of the ultraviolet spectrum that may play important roles in the health and behavior of captive snakes, especially in an exclusively diurnal snake like a hognose. UVA is supposedly beneficial for the coloring and behavior of captive herps.
I had the fortunate experience of working with a veterinarian who was not only herp savvy, but was very much an enthusiast at one time. He continually emphasized the need for ultraviolet lighting for an entire herp collection. He claimed he had a finicky milksnake 20 years ago before they were popular in the pet trade. It would consistently refuse to eat without the benefit of ultraviolet, full spectrum lighting. In a few instances, it would actually spit out a half consumed mouse if the lights were turned off! This only illustrates the point that ultraviolet lighting for captive snakes maybe underutilized and may significantly benefit some of those problem feeders.
I am not recommending dropping $80 on a mercury vapor bulb, I think things can be done much more economically. While you're out buying an incandescent bulb and fixture to switch over on your hognose, it wouldn't hurt to invest in one of the cheap "full spectrum" incandescent sold at pet stores. Advertising they are full spectrum is a total lie, as it is physically impossible for an incandescent to produce UVB light. However, they do produce plenty of UVA, and they do it rather cheaply. Perhaps you have some florescent light fixtures (which really aren't good for much compared to mercury vapor bulbs) for others in your collection that you can cycle over to the hognoses once they have "expired" after six months or so.
Everything you need to know about UV lighting.
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/guidetolighting.htm
Other helpful links
http://www.reptilesdownunder.com/reptile/enclosure/uvlighting.php
http://www.anapsid.org/uvtable.html
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Virginia Herping
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VaHS
Virginia Herpetological Society online store
http://www.cafepress.com/vaherpsociety
"The irrational fear of snakes is the only excuse a grown man has... to act like a complete sissy" - Colchicine
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RE: Cage too small? - colchicine, Mon Jun 2 14:03:38 2008
