ruraldean
Old and Getting Older
Hi
Okay, this is the set up so far, and your comments would be appreciated:
Ruby appears to be about 8 moths old, measures just over 18" and weighs 20 grammes. She's temporarily housed in a 12" x 8" Geo, in aspen with a water bowl and small hide. Heat is provided over half the floor area by means of an externally placed heat mat (UTH). The ambient temperature is a steady 70-72
degrees and the heat mat provides warmer, comfortable but unmeasured spot heat. Ruby feeds on 2 pinkies every 4-5 days, dumps within 2 days, and drinks filtered tap water which is changed daily.
Some of you may remember that I have to wait until September for a full viv setup, because Ruby (or someone like her) was to be a birthday present, and that's when it is.
I've therefore done a bit of research and decided to go for a 30" x 15" x 15" viv from 888reptiles.com over here in England. They've been spot on for Matt (Rusty Springfield) and his sister, a boa owner. Ruby will continue with aspen as she likes tunnelling and it seems to be the substrate of choice on this site. I understand that 30" isn't as good as 36" but I have a plan - to upgrade later and claim I need a new snake for the now empty viv! :dgrin: (Okay, it's because I've only got room for a 30" at the moment, although that will change.)
Everything in my mind is clear (unless anyone tells me different) except the mode of heating. The forum seems to be split, and I've seen other forums leaning one way or the other, so I'll outline my thoughts:
Heat mat: will provide belly heat, but might be prone to shorting and cooking the snake, or burning the snake as she burrows down and settles directly on it. Burning solution: cover with a sheet of glass, cardboard or ceramic tile. Problem - potential heat dissapation.
Ceramic heater: provides ambient heat and basking heat. Does not burn snake providing it's protected. This is what family members use. Problem - corn snakes don't bask.
I think I favour the ceramic heat lamp as overall I consider it safer and I can provide a temperature gradient easily. Also, if snakes sleep during the day then perhaps they seek out the cooler, sheltered spots to do it - hence their love of the hide, often on the cool side (from reading the posts here). a radient heat source will provide heat to the substrate suface, and providing Ruby has concealment (trailing plants etc) I think she may make use of it during digestion and for thermoregulation.
This is the last link in my preparation (I do like to prepare) so can someone answer the following 3 questions with one word each to give me some guidence?
1. Is Ruby's current set-up okay for now?
2. Is her future set up okay (once heating is sorted)
3. Mat or Ceramic - in one word?
If I'm on the right track then I have this site to thank for it. If not, I've read all the idiot's posts! :awcrap:
Thanks.
Paul
Okay, this is the set up so far, and your comments would be appreciated:
Ruby appears to be about 8 moths old, measures just over 18" and weighs 20 grammes. She's temporarily housed in a 12" x 8" Geo, in aspen with a water bowl and small hide. Heat is provided over half the floor area by means of an externally placed heat mat (UTH). The ambient temperature is a steady 70-72
degrees and the heat mat provides warmer, comfortable but unmeasured spot heat. Ruby feeds on 2 pinkies every 4-5 days, dumps within 2 days, and drinks filtered tap water which is changed daily.
Some of you may remember that I have to wait until September for a full viv setup, because Ruby (or someone like her) was to be a birthday present, and that's when it is.
I've therefore done a bit of research and decided to go for a 30" x 15" x 15" viv from 888reptiles.com over here in England. They've been spot on for Matt (Rusty Springfield) and his sister, a boa owner. Ruby will continue with aspen as she likes tunnelling and it seems to be the substrate of choice on this site. I understand that 30" isn't as good as 36" but I have a plan - to upgrade later and claim I need a new snake for the now empty viv! :dgrin: (Okay, it's because I've only got room for a 30" at the moment, although that will change.)
Everything in my mind is clear (unless anyone tells me different) except the mode of heating. The forum seems to be split, and I've seen other forums leaning one way or the other, so I'll outline my thoughts:
Heat mat: will provide belly heat, but might be prone to shorting and cooking the snake, or burning the snake as she burrows down and settles directly on it. Burning solution: cover with a sheet of glass, cardboard or ceramic tile. Problem - potential heat dissapation.
Ceramic heater: provides ambient heat and basking heat. Does not burn snake providing it's protected. This is what family members use. Problem - corn snakes don't bask.
I think I favour the ceramic heat lamp as overall I consider it safer and I can provide a temperature gradient easily. Also, if snakes sleep during the day then perhaps they seek out the cooler, sheltered spots to do it - hence their love of the hide, often on the cool side (from reading the posts here). a radient heat source will provide heat to the substrate suface, and providing Ruby has concealment (trailing plants etc) I think she may make use of it during digestion and for thermoregulation.
This is the last link in my preparation (I do like to prepare) so can someone answer the following 3 questions with one word each to give me some guidence?
1. Is Ruby's current set-up okay for now?
2. Is her future set up okay (once heating is sorted)
3. Mat or Ceramic - in one word?
If I'm on the right track then I have this site to thank for it. If not, I've read all the idiot's posts! :awcrap:
Thanks.
Paul
