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337smile
Yearling
296 Posts |
 Posted - 26/05/2009 : 11:18:08
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Hello everyone. I have just registered and wanted top sound out my set up for my new baby royal.
He is in a small plastic box thing that the pet shop said was the correct size for while he is young and should last him 3 months. at one end I have his heatmat and hide and at the other his waterbowl and some damp moss. Using orchid bark as bedding.
The temperature is about 29 - 30 degrees at the warm end where the hide is, 27 - 28 in the middle and about 26 at the cool end.
Tried feeding him yesterday but he refused, but is active at night and early morning and sleeps in his hide during day. I am not concerned with his not eating yet as I assume it will take hima week or two to settle. Not handling him until he eats.
How does this sound to everyone? apologies for the huge post, i've never had a young snake and just want to get it right.
Lee  |
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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin
United Kingdom
11327 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 12:10:21
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A hide at both ends so that the snake has a choice is essential.
Is the heatmat controlled by a thermostat as they can overheat which is very dangerous for the snake. A basking spot of 32/33C is probably ideal.
How are you measuring the temperatures, the dial thermometers are not very accurate at all and you can pick up digital ones from ebay for ~£3/£4.
Leave him for a week to settle before offering food and probably don't offer more often than every 5 days as you may stress it out more.
Have you weighed him?
Is he an '09?
Captive Bred or Farmed?
Any photos of the setup? |
 
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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin
United Kingdom
11327 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 12:10:31
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PS. Welcome to the forum  |
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337smile
Yearling
296 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 13:23:59
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Thanks for the advice.
I have put in the second hide at the cooler side, on top of the damp moss. He is captive bred, two weeks old and had two feeds at the reptile shop. Measuring the temperature with a thermostat attached to the heat mat.
I seem to struggle to get the temperature to 30 degrees at the warm end, even though the room is very warm and the heat mat is under that end. seems to hover at 29.
I haven't weighed him, looks very healthy. Occasionally he appears to be breathing quite heavily, but this might just be me being a worrier.
Will post a photo as soon as possible but won't be until next week when I get my camera back from work.
Lee. |
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anatess
Sub Adult
USA
669 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 13:24:29
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Welcome!!!
BE got everything covered...
We want PICTURES!!!
(tongue lolling...) |
        
Snake owner since Oct 2008, so yeah, I'm no expert.
0.1.0 pastel royal
1.0.0 spider royal
0.1.0 albino royal
1.0.0 bumblebee royal
1.0.0 yellowbelly royal
0.0.1 wild-type royal
1.0.0 normal western hognose |
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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin
United Kingdom
11327 Posts |
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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin
United Kingdom
11327 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 13:44:17
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| Something like that above is a good way of measuring temperature, just lay the probe on the substrate. |
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337smile
Yearling
296 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 14:08:44
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I have placed the probe for the thermostat controlled heat mat on the substrate under his hide at the warm end of the tank and set at 30 degrees. that sound ok?
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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin
United Kingdom
11327 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 14:13:46
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I wouldn't trust the dial on the thermostat, but the placement sounds ok  |
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337smile
Yearling
296 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 14:52:51
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| The dial on the thermostat is all I have to work with at the moment. Will head out to reptile shop tomorrow and get a digital one with probe. Can't really wait 7 - 14 days for ebay. |
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wolfspirit
Old Royal - I Post too much!
United Kingdom
5741 Posts |
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MissCat
Fully Grown Royal
1971 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 15:59:57
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| i've had one off him too ;) |
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wolfspirit
Old Royal - I Post too much!
United Kingdom
5741 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 16:01:29
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quote:
Originally posted by MissCat
i've had one off him too ;)
they are not bad are they? |
"No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from
now and make a brand new ending."
-- Source Unknown
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MissCat
Fully Grown Royal
1971 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 16:15:14
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| not bad at all :D |
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MissCat
Fully Grown Royal
1971 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 16:21:20
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oo a brief point to the OP,
though it does depend on the make of stat etc:
i had my corn snakes thermostat set at 31*c, didnt have a thermometer as i was waiting for it to be delivered, but i stole the one from my royal for a few hours and the temp was actually 45*c... so i double checked that with TWO other digital thermometers (nicked from the other snakes lol) and that was right.... it meant that i could alter the stat and get the temp right. |
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337smile
Yearling
296 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 17:41:54
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you checked and it was actually 45??? now i'm really worrying. I suppose if it was that hot he would move to the cool end?
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lee2308
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
2597 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 18:25:49
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| not all the time,snakes dont feel pain like we do and thats how they get burnt,they just dont realise their burning |
Members map-------Want to be on the map?
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MissCat
Fully Grown Royal
1971 Posts |
Posted - 26/05/2009 : 19:59:04
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that's why you should have a bulb guard if the bulb is inside the viv, they can coil around the bulb, so the temp on the substrate, where the probe and thermometer are, may be perfect temp, but the actual bulb temp will be much much higher, they can get some horrific burns that way.
In this case the thermostat i am using is quite an old second hand one, which is why i guess the temp was so off, but these days i will always use a digital thermometer, i threw the dial ones out. and i check the temps every single time i go near the vivs lol. |
Edited by - MissCat on 26/05/2009 19:59:48 |
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337smile
Yearling
296 Posts |
Posted - 28/05/2009 : 19:57:30
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Quick update and advice again please.
went out top aquatic shop today and bought myself a digital thermometer. Expensive I know but I got it quick.
Temperature in hot hide according to thermostat (habistat stat mat) is now 33 degrees, my digital prrobe measured it at 31. Is that ok for the hot end?
Middle of enclosure was about 29 and cold end between 27 and 28.
That sound ok?
Now just need to check humidity.
OOh one more thing. I am struggling to fit in two hides and a water bowl in the small tank he is in. He is very active and trying to escape. Should I get the a slighlty bigger tank to fit in the hides and water bowl comfortably or would he be happpy enough clambering on top of them? The tank is a little bit shorter than his overall length and in terms of width about half his length.
Much appreciated
Lee |
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Gingerpony
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
2663 Posts |
Posted - 28/05/2009 : 20:00:33
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| i've got my royal's water on top of his cool hide - it's flat and the bowls heavy so it sits there nicely and he's not knocked it over yet. before that i compromised with a slightly smaller than i'd like water bowl so everything would fit on the viv floor. |
Dumerils boas, BCO hybrids, Sinder Hypo boas, cornsnakes, ratsnakes, Day Geckos
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337smile
Yearling
296 Posts |
Posted - 29/05/2009 : 05:54:40
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Having measured the temperatures last night with the digital thermometer it seemed the cold end of the tank was too hot. I've had my stupid night storgae heater blasting heat into my small room day and night for the week since I got the snake. Last night because it was too hot for ME and the snake I turned it off.
BIG MISTAKE!
Temperature on heat mat under hot hide 32 degrees
In the middle it was 24!
Cold end 22!
And guess where he was lying. Cold end, very still. Worried I picked him up and he felt cool and didn't care that I was putting my hand in the tank or touching him
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He was extremely active when the heater for room is on. I just don't think the heat-mat is enough for his tank. I'M REALLY UPSET and think i'm going to have to take him back because I can't seem to get it right. I real;ly can't have the heater on full blast in my room all summer.
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