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Making your own snake toys

M

Mudruck

New member
Greetings all!

Looking at some of the other vivs around here... I think my lil girl is lacking some toys!

I'd like some input on making your own things. Ive got a bunch of branches and such from an aspen tree that I cut down last year. Would it be ok to use that to make climbing branches and hides? Reading over what Ive seen from others, would I treat it with a dilute bleach solution and then cut and shape it like I would want it and throw it into a fairly warm oven for a while to kill any insect eggs or ickys that may be on it? What Im looking at doing is a small, hollow 'woodpile' looking hide for her.

If the baking thing is the way to go, what temps and for how long?

Now, Ive read a few threads on making your own rocks and the big question I have is it ok to use colored tile grout on the styrofoam? I wouldnt think that the coloring in the grout would have an adverse effect on her, but I wanted to check with ya'll. Im looking to make some sandstone colored rocks to add to her viv to give her more areas to bask and crawl around on. More then likely would replace her warm side hide with a homemade rock one as well.

Thanks in advance :)
 
Did you say bask?You should have a UTH not a basking lamp.

If you bake you would want to go 300 for 20-25 minutes.
 
Jdog3131 said:
Did you say bask?You should have a UTH not a basking lamp.
Click to expand...

quite of a harsh statement to make there... I use lamps for heating in quite a few of my vivs. And though you have to keep an eye on the temps, and mist now and again when they are going to shed, it's not a bad option at all.

On the coloured tile grout, I don't think that'll be a problem. When I use grout, I usually put the colour in myself, so that I'm sure it's a safe one. I'd say look on the package if there are any harmfull substances in there, but I don't think so...
 
Kali said:
quite of a harsh statement to make there... I use lamps for heating in quite a few of my vivs. And though you have to keep an eye on the temps, and mist now and again when they are going to shed, it's not a bad option at all.
Click to expand...
Sorry I was not trying to be harsh.And I do agree that you can use basking lamps,I'm just saying that a UTH is better in my opinion.

Sorry if I insulted you and others I was just stating my opinion.
 
No problem I wasn't insulted. And I know that lots of people consider UTH's better, but it sounded a bit like that was the only acceptable way and I wanted to share my opinion here too :)
 
Kali said:
No problem I wasn't insulted. And I know that lots of people consider UTH's better, but it sounded a bit like that was the only acceptable way and I wanted to share my opinion here too :)
Click to expand...

Oh gosh no.
Ok thats good
 
Jdog3131 said:
Sorry I was not trying to be harsh.And I do agree that you can use basking lamps,I'm just saying that a UTH is better in my opinion.

Sorry if I insulted you and others I was just stating my opinion.
Click to expand...

No insult taken at all here. :)

She does have a UTH, but I want to give her other things to climb around on and use as hides and such. I used the 'basking' term loosely as she doesn't seem to actually bask, but seems to like to hang out on top of things from time to time. Mainly I think she is trying to figure a way to sneak out of her viv. ;)

Am I strange that I want her to have different textures and material to crawl around on?
 
I think that the snakes like exploring new textures.
Im going to be watching this thread and see what ideas people have.

Bleach or oven will work. There have been past threads on this, you can try a search- personally, I freeze them.

I also get vines from the dollar store. Really the dollar store is a great snake supply place. Water dishes, hides, etc.

I think that the snakes enjoy multiple levels, and I've been thinking about a way to make shelves in the vivs for them.
 
So nice to see what could have turned into something ugly squelched so quickly.

Thanks for the respect and manners, guys. It is very refreshing :)
 
Anyways... When I used branches from outside I stuck them in my unused bathtub. You just fill it up with water to let them soak for about a day then start the bleach process. I don't remember how much bleach but do reasonable. You let sit in bleach for about 2 full days. Come back and wash them off/scrub them off then let them soak in clean water for about 3 days. Make sure to change that water everyday.

Long process but it feels safe once you use them. I would also like to watch this thread and because Naagas mentioned that she thinks snakes like exploring new textures...I might just go build a wood pile or rock pile looking hide and upload the pictures sometime.

Come on people bring out the ideas!
The idea of natural hides are already being imaged in my head :D
 
Though not a "natural" hide idea, I just went to Menards and got some PVC parts (like this one) and then bought a sewer cap to stick on one of the ends.

So far it is an even bigger hit with my snake than the paper towel tube (which is saying a lot :) )
 
My snow is cheep, he never complains about his red plastic cup. I'm thinking of taking a ceramics class for the purpose of sculpting little igloos, hides, and personal water dishes. I may just use the craft clay you bake in the oven if it's safe for the snakes.
 
I dont know about toys but I made some homemade hides for my corn, he seems to really like them too.


007-2.jpg


My viv is set up a little diffrent inside now but im still using these hides to give you an idea.
001-4.jpg


Its set up like this minus the humid hide now and has Aspen bedding instead of the coconut husk stuff.
003-6.jpg


But I made those hides by taking some birch logs and splitting them in half with a splitting maul, then taking a table saw and "eating" away the center part then took a hatchet to clean out the insides. Then flipped them around and took a little bit at a time to make the 2 doors. I then Baked them at 300f For about 2 hours to make sure any bugs or critters living in the wood or bark were dead, how ever it was -25f outside when I did this so the cold most likely killed any thing in there but better safe then sorry.

For his humid hide I took a coffey can (Plastic folgers one) cut a door way into it then because I had no moss put in I used moist cloths and it worked great, he burrowed under them and shed no problem.

I also at one point had some branches in there but he never used them so I took them out.
 
I was very careful how I did it. Took every thing SLOOOOW! Measured 3 times, checked fingers placement 5 times and cut once......did I mention WATCH YOUR FINGERS!
 
......did I mention WATCH YOUR FINGERS![/QUOTE]

I'd hope! I've seen many a mangled woodworker's hand. My husband is a wood turner and he's been saved by the face shield several times. I was in the shop once and he made a not so well thought out cut, the bowl flew off the lathe and shot between us.
My Great-Grandmother chopped off half her thumb with a hatchet too.
I think some trees get angry after they're cut down and try to get back at us.
 
Birch trees! I love birch trees... Al, you make you cry all the time. :p

I'd like to hear back on the ceramics as I paint ceramics (that are already bisk) and wonder if it'd be okay to use it as decoration or hides?
 
update, Those wood hides didn't last long before I started having mold creeping up on them. I have since switched to PVC pipe made ones.
 
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