| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| marc_sg |
Posted - 06/02/2012 : 22:01:02
as i have said in a no. of my posts, i am getting my first royal in a couple of months and have a few questions.
with the set up can i use the same as my corns. i am current using a 22w heat mat stated with a habistat thermostat. branch coming out from all angles for climbing. and woodchips for substrate.
or would i be better with a ceramic heat lamp instead of the mat. i ask this because my mate was told to use a ceramic lamp i was told mat.
i was also told no branches but i like to make them decorative. preferences or adbice please. i would be very gratefull.
heres how i want to make mine look. this is my corn snake viv
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| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| markmifsud |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 08:52:18
As others have already said, logs and climbing equipment are fine, mine make use of them all the time. |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 00:38:24
quote:
Originally posted by BurnedAtTheStake
stench of baked wee when the little gits do it all over the mat
That is the best reason for switching to ceiling based heating ever, my corn developed this habit and now its ceramic heating in the viv I barely ever smell the poop, I just know when to check for it and even where, he goes in the same corner. |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 00:21:59
Yup - love the corn viv and Bob's viv too - I like branches/foliage and quite apart from the potential problems of keeping royals on heatmats, I do prefer an overhead heat source because then there is no stench of baked wee when the little gits do it all over the mat ...
As they get older, they don't climb so much, but a third dimension and extra level looks good and provides cover and 'atmosphere' - I reckon they appreciate it even if they don't use it.
I use screw eyes from B&Q to secure branches, foliage, and even bulb guards - quicker to unfasten/redo when changing bulb. |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 06/02/2012 : 23:23:16
Nothing wrong with logs in vivs even for Royals. They might not use it but they have the option to if they are there, I keep my Royal's branch low to the ground though, Just because he is shy and more likely to hide under it than climb over it but it still serves a purpose.
My corn has a lot of climbing opportunities and is always up in the hide built into the top corner of the viv, I actually dont like to see a viv with nothing to climb, may as well keep them in a drawer if your not going to fill up some of the height. |
| marc_sg |
Posted - 06/02/2012 : 22:25:09
the branches i felt really impressed with. it felt like i really made something nice now just gotta make it all over again. have fun if u attempt it. just another tip counter sink the screws the filler and paint the outside and you'll even wonder youself how their held up lol |
| blackskull |
Posted - 06/02/2012 : 22:21:43
i wouldn't call mine branches, they are java wood logs but they have branches coming off the main part, if that makes sense, even my 4ft male climbs all over his.
if you go down the ceramic route but still want a light in the viv for day night cycle you can use house hold energy saving bulbs, guarded, connected to a timer. its what i do in all my vivs |
| ajokocha |
Posted - 06/02/2012 : 22:18:24
Ok mate cheers. I'll get on the case lol |
| marc_sg |
Posted - 06/02/2012 : 22:16:11
quote:
Originally posted by blackskull
personally if you are putting it in a viv i would go for ceramic or ir (i use ceramic) as you would need to change it from a heat mat as they are not good for heavy bodied snakes due to the risk of thermal blocking
nothing wrong with some logs or branches, i have logs in my royal vivs and they use them
thanks for that. i got told they'd never use the branches. lol well i guess i better start making my new viv lol thanks again |
| marc_sg |
Posted - 06/02/2012 : 22:13:59
thank you. yeah the branches have 4 inch screws going through the sides. if you copy pilot hole the wood first with a 2mm wooden drill bit before screwing the screw. i split the wood first rime round so i had to take it all apart again because i split the floor. and i also got them from my local woodland. preheated the oven 5 mins at 160°C wrapped them in tin foil and baked them for half hour. the used reptile disinfectant it cost me in total about £8 doing it my way. if i bought the branches from a shop i would have been looking at about £50. sorry to go on but thats what i took to get them in lol |
| blackskull |
Posted - 06/02/2012 : 22:07:42
personally if you are putting it in a viv i would go for ceramic or ir (i use ceramic) as you would need to change it from a heat mat as they are not good for heavy bodied snakes due to the risk of thermal blocking
nothing wrong with some logs or branches, i have logs in my royal vivs and they use them |
| ajokocha |
Posted - 06/02/2012 : 22:04:47
Nice set up mate. Can't really help you out as I've only just started out. Just wondered about those branches, are the screwed in? |
