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juliloulou
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
 Posted - 10/05/2012 : 12:02:39
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Hi All,
This is the first time I've ever posted on a forum but could do with some of your expert knolledge please?
We have had our Corn snake for two years and then last year adopted my beautiful Malachie (12 year old male Royal) he had been rescued from an abusive home where he had been badly burnt and half starved. Anyhow after alot of tlc he recovered fine and he has a brill personality (?) and makes it known when he want leaving alone and when he definately wants to stay and play.
He was a fearce strike feeder when we first got him but i think that was down to sharing a viv with his brother and having to fight for food. Unfortuately his brother wasn't as lucky as Malc :-( but now will eat as and when he feels the need!!
Anyhow (again) we were told he loves to climb so have just invested in an even bigger viv with tree for climbing but I'm strugling to get the temperature right, He doesn't like heat mats as his skin is sensitive but i dont have any luck with bulbs either as they keep blowing because the thermostat keeps turning them on and off, so what I'm after is advice on the correct temp to provide a happy viv - he is either really really cold to the touch or extra extra warm? his thermometer says 75cold and 85 in the hot end.
I'm sure I'm fussing too much as he eats, Poo's, bathes and sheds fine but he is my baby and he has had an unhappy life so far I want to get it right from now on.
Many thanks and any advise greatfully recieved
Juli |
JuLI |
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Kelfezond
The bearded one
United Kingdom
4803 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2012 : 12:09:22
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85f in the hot end is about right, could go up a little but won't hurt if it doesn't. The reason for your bulbs blowing is you're using the wrong type of thermostat, if the bulb is going on and off it is a pulse proportion or a mat-stat thermostat these are made for heat mats or heating that has no light given off, you ideally want a dimming thermostat this will not turn the light off and on but instead dim it to an appropriate amount so the temperature in the viv stays where it is.
As for making his vivarium bigger you should be careful not to increase it too much as a big viv can put a royal off their food, the ideal size for a royal is about 3 or 4ft in length and 2ft in width. Height isn't really needed as royals are ground snakes they spend most of their time avoiding open spaces and avoiding climbing.
However each royal is different so if yours is enjoying climbing and is still eating in his new vivarium he won't mind being in a bigger places.
As for his temperature when you touch him as royals are cold blooded they tend to replicate the temperature of their environment, if this temperature is steady the cold and hot feeling you're getting from his probably just depends if he's been on his hot or cold side recently as well as your own body temperature.
Hope this has been helpful, glad to see somebody younger putting the effort into caring for the snake right!
Goodluck |
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juliloulou
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2012 : 12:35:16
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Many Thanks Kelfezond
Thinking about it I'm sure I am using the heat mat thermostat in the new viv so thats why the bulbs keep blowing! I will get a dimming thermostat asap. His new viv is 3ft tall by 3ft but is always hanging off a branch or tapping on the glass to come out! although when shedding he does favour his hide, his old viv was a 3ft but he was always trying to get to the top on the logs and climbing aound the light cage!
He is funny and the most pampered animal we have ever had!
Thank you again for your help and I am no longer a forum virgin! Yahoooo! |
JuLI |
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JB2012
Hatchling
United Kingdom
77 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2012 : 23:13:23
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Hi Juli, welcome to the forum
It's never nice to hear of an abused snake, but good on you for stepping in!
just out of interest, what bulbs are you using?
oh, and snakey pics are always required... 
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Coming soon... |
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juliloulou
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2012 : 00:14:53
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Hi JB
So far I've gone through two red nocturnal heat lamp bulbs but am currently on a white one which I dont think Malcs is keen on and I think its quite a harsh light so would prefer to go back to a nocturnal bulb. I have just sourced a dimming thermostat from my food supplier which I will collect next week, so hopefully I'll have it sussed by this time next week.
He is very Blue at the mo so dont want to stress him out too much until he starts to see better but he had a bath tonight and was quite happy sitting on my lap for an hour! Considering his past he is such a good natured chap and has even done a show and tell at my sons school! He is getting fussy on eating the last few feeds and is only eating chicks and leaving the rats so I'm sure I will be picking your brains on a different chat too! My Corn has always just taken whats given and isn't nearly as highly strung as Malachie, the joys of Royals eh?
I will up load a piccie when I learn how!! bit of a techno phobe I'm affraid!
Many thanks again
Juli |
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JB2012
Hatchling
United Kingdom
77 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2012 : 13:25:22
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Hi juli
As you've mentioned, Royals don't seem to do well with strong white light. I personally have one viv with an infrared bulb, and two running ceramics. They're all controlled by dimming thermostats, and seem to keep the temperatures nicely. I prefer the IR, as it also acts as an observation light without causing any distress, but currently have two Royals in the bedroom (in quarantine) and unlike them, I can see the IR light
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Coming soon... |
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Tawfik47
Fully Grown Royal
Czech Republic
1584 Posts |
Posted - 15/05/2012 : 11:09:46
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| Hi and welİme to the forum |
1.0.0 Common Boa - Revo CB13
I had a royal python (Blitz) for two years for those who are wondering what I'm doing here with my boa :D |
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Advice please
