| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| jenjuly82 |
Posted - 10/10/2012 : 12:29:02
we have 3 lovely royals at home
molly cb2011 currently weighing in at 160g doing well eats well currently had a bad shed but seems to be getting back on track.
rainbow (told a girl)not sure of age but about 4 ft long we have owned since aug 2012 currently weighing in at 1869g.
petals (told a girl) not sure of age but also about 4ft long but smaller head size to rainbow (came with rainbow) aug 2012 currently weighing in at 2209g after eating 2 weaner rats the day b4.
the larger snakes have been together for a long time before we owned them - rainbow weighed more when they first arrived but has now not eaten for 6-8 weeks and is dropping weight which you can see visually this is becoming a concern for us as the other one seems to be doing fine.
im trying to post of there viv so i can get people opinion (but finding it hard to upload one)
i have read all peoples advice on encouraging them to feed but nothing seems to be working. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| jackiee |
Posted - 20/10/2012 : 16:20:37
definitely seperate them, i think thats your main problem as snakes are solitary animals. |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 15/10/2012 : 19:34:26
I don't think that the heaters wattage is the issue, it should be more than capable of heating up a spot you can call the hot spot (Baobab's advice about only increasing gradually to avoid the safety trip is a great one). Due to the height and design of the vivarium you wont have a hot side and an ambient side like the standard less height more width vivarium. The snakes are giving you a clear indication of where the hottest place that they can get to is. You can consider that the hot spot, you aim to get that spot to 32-33oC/90-92oF, the rest you can call ambient which should be anywhere from 24oC to about 27oC dependant on the temperature of the room and the amount of ventilation.
Its a lovely vivarium, and you have the rare visible variation of the Royal Python, a lot of them hide away. I wouldn't be overly worried too much about the not eating situation just yet (mine has eaten once in the past 4 months), Royal's go long periods without eating anyway without any side effects, the important thing is to get the temperatures right, you have everything available to do it it just takes a bit of tweaking to get it there but once it is you'll barely need to do anything. The only purchase I would make is another hide, my big lad fills an XL Exo Terra hide, 2 snakes would be just slightly too much of a squeeze.
You'll also get the separate them call from time to time, I personally am not a fan of keeping them together BUT if it works for you and they are healty etc then really I can't say anything about it and if they were previously housed together then it shouldn't be the cause for concern although while its not quite warm enough they will be competing for the best spot but snakes compete in a subtle way. |
| jenjuly82 |
Posted - 15/10/2012 : 18:49:54
Thanks I have contacted the manufacturing company of the AHS and he told me the wattage is to low I should have a 500w in that size tank so will be investing in one in the near future |
| Dixon |
Posted - 14/10/2012 : 11:54:03
I use an AHS heater and the instructions say it should be placed on a side wall approx. 4cms above the substrate. I think the problem you are having is the wattage is too low and the heater being placed so high in the viv means the hot air doesn't circulate as well as it should. I have a 4' by 2' viv and a 500watt AHS and it copes no problem. If you want haven't got a copy of the AHS set up instructions I can scan mine and email them to you. |
| jenjuly82 |
Posted - 13/10/2012 : 17:28:20
I have taken all the ceramic set up back to the shop and got a refund - went to my reliable reptile shop who I often visit for some advice, he suggested a infra red 100 watt bulb and reset the AHS which I've done and the temp has risen and the snakes seem to like the change of bulb as they basking underneath which they hardly did before - fingers crossed they both feed well tomorrow and I'll be a happy mummy |
| Baobab |
Posted - 13/10/2012 : 17:25:48
Not sure if you can get replacement parts for the AHS. the following gives the user instructions and contact detail to ask the manufacturer about the plates.
www.microclimate.co.uk/ahs_user_guide.pdf
|
| badwool |
Posted - 13/10/2012 : 14:49:51
maybe try seperating them until the non feeder is feeding again. |
| jenjuly82 |
Posted - 13/10/2012 : 13:29:58
Thank you I will try the above ^^^^
Can you buy/replace the ceramic plate for a higher wattage but keep the same housing for the AHS |
| Baobab |
Posted - 13/10/2012 : 12:25:57
Your AHS should be enough to heat that viv on its own. It should be mounted about 4 inches off the floor and the sensor at a similar height in the middle of the viv, along the back wall. They are great heaters but can be a bit twitchy to set up. You ned to slowly increase the temperature pot until the led stops flashing and stays on steady. Then wait until it starts to flash then increase it again until its steady. Keep repeating until it reaches the desired temp. What can happen with these heaters if it tries to bring the temp up too fast is that the thermal safety trip on the housing will trip off the heater and by the time it resets you have lost all the previously gained heat and are back to square one. |
| jenjuly82 |
Posted - 13/10/2012 : 12:12:33
The heater is 150 watt! I'm not sure how old the heater thing is and do you have to change the plate thing inside??? It's set to the max out put of 35'c
I've brought a digital thermometer and reading is 81.7 That's with the heater on and bulb on from 8am |
| boomslang |
Posted - 13/10/2012 : 00:42:52
What wattage is that heater btw? As i can't see it only getting to 80f with a bulb and the heater.
You only took the temps with the stick on thermometer right?The viv is only 2 foot long,with the heater and 150 watt bulb.It should get to temp.Just the 150/200 watt ceramic should get you the temps on the basking spot/area. |
| jenjuly82 |
Posted - 12/10/2012 : 20:50:56
quote:
Originally posted by markmifsud
I have 4 foot x 2 foot vivs, so a similar volume to yours, and I use a 250w ceramic. hot end 90f (I check with a laser gun) and I do drop the temps at night, well I dont, my stat drops 8f from 930pm until 8am
oh so a 100w ceramic isnt really going produce enough heat then  |
| markmifsud |
Posted - 12/10/2012 : 20:44:28
I have 4 foot x 2 foot vivs, so a similar volume to yours, and I use a 250w ceramic. hot end 90f (I check with a laser gun) and I do drop the temps at night, well I dont, my stat drops 8f from 930pm until 8am |
| jenjuly82 |
Posted - 12/10/2012 : 20:08:31
quote:
Originally posted by HaydenK
i personally think that space is a little big.. you may be able to get loads of fake plants for more cover ;)
im trying to get the temp sorted and the biggest snake eating again then i'll re-decorate lol  |
| HaydenK |
Posted - 12/10/2012 : 20:03:44
i personally think that space is a little big.. you may be able to get loads of fake plants for more cover ;) |
| jenjuly82 |
Posted - 12/10/2012 : 19:47:50
This is how things are at the moment - this is how the tank come set up from the previous owner so we just carried in using it the same way |
| jenjuly82 |
Posted - 12/10/2012 : 19:32:23
right ive been and brought a digital thermometer and ive placed the sensor in the area they send most of there time (is that right or do i place it in the centre of the viv on the back wall) on the top shelf its reading 81.3'f to 81.9'f thats with the microclimate advanced heating system on and the 60w bulb on.
ive brought a 100w ceramic bulb & a ceramic lamp fixture, and a on/off thermostat and a heater guard!
obviously i swap the ceramic bits for the original lighting equipment, but do i still need the advanced heating system thing in the viv?
and do i place the ceramic fixing to the same place the original light fixing was? |
| hodgie |
Posted - 12/10/2012 : 18:50:09
You need to keep the temps the same 24/7, there`s no need to lower the temps in the night time unless you want to breed.
What wieght are the rats that you are using? |
| jenjuly82 |
Posted - 10/10/2012 : 19:33:13
I've calculated -
Length 2ft 11''
Height 4ft
Width 1ft 6'' |
| boomslang |
Posted - 10/10/2012 : 19:09:00
How big is the viv?3 foot by 4 foot high?
The heater is mounted to the side,So it's heating the whole top part.You could mount it to the top of the roof,Have the heat going down onto the top shelf.
Also get a digital thermometer,Then take a reading from where they sit.That stick on thing is pants.
if it's still not getting to temp,get another bulb you won't need that microclimate heater then. |
