enclosure heating help

[Bel03]

Is it all glass?

A bit of common sense would have had you realise that her enclosure was only glass fronted

Look I've got nothing to say to you.. You have had a snake for less than three months. You haven't even had it for a full set of seasons yet. You posted on the 12 july 2011 that you were getting your first snake.. see link >>>>http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/introductions-56/just-wanted-say-hi-165874/
You have no advice for noobs, so stop wasting peoples time.

I'm noob too..

See i 2 can point out certain bits to make you look like an idiot! As for this obsession you have with pointing out that what i suggested isnt what a good pet owner would do........i have seen MANY 'long timers' suggest the same thing MANY times! Obviously you wouldnt do this with a heat lamp running, but MOST people do know this. (as Verity stated she does) I still stand by what I said, as all that really was anyway was an example on how i got a similiar enclosure to work for me when it is cooler. NO its not a long time fix, but it isnt always THAT cold where we are either. What Verity decides to do with her enclosure is her business, i'm not saying she cant alter it, i just made a suggestion.......SUE ME!

 

[Snowman]

None of that makes me look like an idiot, though it makes me question your own stability. :shock:
Everyone can read the thread and make up their own mind. As I said earlier, I only wanted to help the OP get stable temps.

 

[Bluetongue1]

The forgoing is what occurs when someone makes a negative comment about another poster rather than just their post. It opens the door for replying in kind and so often results in a session of tit-for-tat, as people feel compelled to defend themselves. Fortunately it did not degenerate into particularly nasty name calling. If comments are restricted to what is posted then this seldom, if ever, will happen.
Bel andSnowman, you are both very positive contributors. I hope you can simply agree to disagree, put today’s output behind you and move on. It isn’t worth becoming antagonists over.

Blue

 

[Snowman]

I agree 100% with you Blue

 

[mysnakesau]

Originally Posted by Snowman

A bit of common sense would have had you realise that her enclosure was only glass fronted

Where did Snowman write this? I can't find it. Excuse my stupidity for not realising her enclosure was only glass fronted. Couldn't see it in the photos, and she didn't mention, so I didn't think of realising it would be,

 

[starr9]

Well after many hrs in at Bunnings, I found the wood for the top to be very over priced so I got a tile from the landscaping section that will work g8 for my new hide with heating under it!! As for the top I have asked both Dad and Brother inlaw to find me something asap!! Fingers x-d ill have it over the weekend!

I will be doing some modifications to this enclosure till i can get a better one but i do want to say a big thank you to everyone who gave me advice!!! It made going to the shops so much better because I knew what i wanted/needed and even tho they didn't have it I feel much better about how to fix this problem!!!

Thank you for your time, input and support.

 

[Snowman]

Where did Snowman write this? I can't find it. Excuse my stupidity for not realising her enclosure was only glass fronted. Couldn't see it in the photos, and she didn't mention, so I didn't think of realising it would be,

Yeah I thought Bel said she couldn't cut a vent in the back. Sorry

 

[Bluetongue1]

Hi Starr,

I am going to refer back to mysnakesau post (#3). I get the distinct feeling that the snake may not be ready for a larger enclosure and would do better in a click clack. The fact that it is moving around from end to end is normally a good sign, indicating that it is actively thermoregulating. However, that it is doing so and at the same time is off its food, when it has previously been feeding, is indicative that something is amiss. Its “exploring” behaviour sounds more like it is looking for an escape route because it not comfortable with its surrounds. My suggestion would be to try and borrow a click clack from someone and see if that makes a difference in feeding.

You have forked out good money for the enclosure. There is no need to throw it away. It can be altered to make it suitable. I am happy to PM you a few ideas or to post them here, whichever you prefer. You are already 2/3 of the way headed in that direction due to the good advice of others.

You asked about suitable temperature ranges for your Stimmie. Those mentioned by Bel for her Bredli would be excellent for your Stimmie.

Blue

 

[starr9]

Thankx Blue!!!
So do you think I should try her in a click clack full time or just for feeding?! Im happy to have a go at trying to make one! should be good 4 a laugh!! hehehe! Or should I try putting some more hides in and see how she go's?! I just made another one for her up the hot end. I looked into shelving as well to put up all the way along the back wall so she could sit up there. Thank god my Grandma went through a "plastic plant" faze so she has just given me some I can use somewhere, somehow in her "room"!
Ill aim 4 the temps Bel said for her Bredli!

She was eating well before I got her but has not had a feed with me yet. I know its only been 2 1/2 weeks since I got her but I think its the temps that putting her off or the size of her room as you said. She did try and have a go at me last night when I tryed to feed her but I put this down to been scared perhaps?!?!

I dont mind if you have any more info to put it on here! May help others who read this!!!!

Thank you!!!

 

[Snowman]

I heat my pythons up to 18 months or even two years (depending on size of the snake) in click clacks with heat 24/7. Good advice from Blue above. Your stimi may also have gone off it's food due to the very cold nights you mentioned it has had recently.

Of course you would need a heat cord or heat mat for a click clack.

 

[starr9]

I heat my pythons up to 18 months or even two years (depending on size of the snake) in click clacks with heat 24/7. Good advice from Blue above. Your stimi may also have gone off it's food due to the very cold nights you mentioned it has had recently.

I thought the temp drop might be why she was off her food as I was trying to feed her at night both times as I read this was the best time for Stimmies to eat (correct me if im wrong tho please!). Ya!!! Im learning and my "gut" is getting better at getting on track with what may be the problem!!!! WIN!! This is g8 info!! thankx guys!!!!!

What wat heat cord do you think please?!?!?!

Shes about 60cm long and at her thickest part 4cm high (was going to say as thick as my thumb but you cant see that!!! haha!)

 

[Snowman]

[SUB][/SUB]If you get a decent sized tub like a stairmaid brand in the larger size. A 15 watt heat cord is all you need. Three or four runs across one end will be fine. Spaced about 2cm apart. When heating from the bottom with a cord you are measuring the floor temp. Not the temp of the air. So place a thermometer probe on the floor where the heat cord is running.
People often heat 1/3 of the tub floor, so more loops of cord is fine. As long as there is enough room for your python to bask on it will be fine.

 

[starr9]

If you get a decent sized tub like a stairmaid brand in the larger size. A 15 watt heat cord is all you need. Three or four runs across one end will be fine. Spaced about 2cm apart. When heating from the bottom with a cord you are measuring the floor temp. Not the temp of the air. So place a thermometer probe on the floor where the heat cord is running.

Cool! ill get all that sat! I just got a landscaping tile from bunnings, you know the ones with that black plastic stuff underneath that you use to click the next tile to?! Hope you understand what im trying to say! But i can run the heat cord under and around that and put the click clack on top of it so one end will be hot the other cool!!!

I should then put the click clack inside the big enclosure hey?! That way she gets use to both, is this right, then i can open the click clack and she can go in and out of it if she wants 2.

 

[Snowman]

Sounds good. You could get a 25w cord if you want to be on the safe side. The more wattage means more length.

 

[starr9]

Sounds good. You could get a 25w cord if you want to be on the safe side. The more wattage means more length.

oh ok! I was trying to work that out when i was looking at them 2day! Cool ok thank you!!

Wow what a day! iv learnt so much!!!! Thank you!!!

This may be a silly q's but should I try feeding her during the day when its warm or just try her at night again in a week?!?!

 

[mysnakesau]

Don't forget airholes in your click clack tub. A soldering iron is the best for holes, it melts the plastic, much better for unhandy ppl like me who like to crack containers when I try drilling holes.

Be aware of how big the holes are. I am not sure how big/wide your fella is so just take caution. Practice making holes on a throw away plastic container before attacking your snake's home, so you can be more confident of getting it right. Stimmies and those little guys are professional escape artists and will squeeze out of nice sized holes.

 

[starr9]

Don't forget airholes in your click clack tub. A soldering iron is the best for holes, it melts the plastic, much better for unhandy ppl like me who like to crack containers when I try drilling holes.

Be aware of how big the holes are. I am not sure how big/wide your fella is so just take caution. Practice making holes on a throw away plastic container before attacking your snake's home, so you can be more confident of getting it right. Stimmies and those little guys are professional escape artists and will squeeze out of nice sized holes.

Will do! I was just looking in the DIY section here on how to make a click clack! looks like it will be fun! She did come in a small one from Snake ranch but that was 4 her trip so could i try feeding her in that one?!? Ill be making a new one but i just thought of this then!!(im having a blond day!)

Thank you Kathy!

 

[Just_Plain_Nuts]

Hi Starr9 you could just try to put in a shelf or a log to allow the snake to get to within the right distance of your light to maintain a temp in the low 30's. I would give you the exact distance required but we use a different light to your 60 w infra red. You'd probably be looking around 20cm from your light then leave it an hour and check the temp ON the shelf. To make it more energy efficient and stable I would also recommend covering most of the mesh and just leaving a hole 10cm larger in radius than your heatlamp around the lamp for fire safety and venting. Personally not a big fan of click clacks, just give it a few hiding places to give it security. If you have any specific setup questions feel free to pm me.

 

[starr9]

Hi Starr9 you could just try to put in a shelf or a log to allow the snake to get to within the right distance of your light to maintain a temp in the low 30's. I would give you the exact distance required but we use a different light to your 60 w infra red. You'd probably be looking around 20cm from your light then leave it an hour and check the temp ON the shelf. To make it more energy efficient and stable I would also recommend covering most of the mesh and just leaving a hole 10cm larger in radius than your heatlamp around the lamp for fire safety and venting. Personally not a big fan of click clacks, just give it a few hiding places to give it security. If you have any specific setup questions feel free to pm me.

Ok thank you!! I was looking at saving and getting one of yours as my next enclosure!!! hahaha! I think ill try feeding her in the click clack but letting her roam her enclosure if she wants that way it is a combo of all the info everyone has given me. and then if this doesn't work ill try a different combo till I get whats right for her! She is going to teach me a lot i think!! hahahah!!!

 

[Snowman]

Ok thank you!! I was looking at saving and getting one of yours as my next enclosure!!! hahaha! I think ill try feeding her in the click clack but letting her roam her enclosure if she wants that way it is a combo of all the info everyone has given me. and then if this doesn't work ill try a different combo till I get whats right for her! She is going to teach me a lot i think!! hahahah!!!

It's not so much the feeding in the click clack, that wont make any difference. What people are saying is if the python is stressed it will go off it's food. The theory is that small snakes are less stressed in smaller environments. So animals living in small click clacks will often eat better than a stressed animal in a massive enclosure. I think Just plain nuts is correct though. As long as there are enough hides and the snake can get warm enough then the size of the enclosure isn't too big a deal. When you think about them in the wild, there are a lot of predators willing to eat a small snake. So they find a nice cosey spot to live in and come out looking for a meal and heat then retreat back to the safety of their hide.