Hi New to all this was just wanting to know about cleaning the enclosure. I have a fish tank set yp with with fake lawn at the bottom. How often and how should I clean it? Also if anyone can give any tips on getting a snake not to bite would be great to. Thanks in advance.
Enclosure Help
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when it gets dirty? lol.. i suggest spot cleaning whenever he defecates, and maybe a full clean once every 2 weeks? obviously depends on how much mess they're making!
as for biting.. hate to sound obvious.. but tried a stick?
hey mate, welcome
you should clean it when ever it needs it i.e. whenever there is poo about, but once a week is a good bet.
to clean the turf, simply remove it and wash it in the sink, then leave it to dry in the sun before putting it back. you can use newspaper as a substitute substrate while the turf is drying.
As for the biting, just letting your snake get used to you with handling will suffice, but some snakes simply dont like to be handled, and will strike anyway, just learn the signs.
Some of the more experienced herpers on this site may be able to help on that one, but i really doubt there is anything else you can do.
you should clean it when ever it needs it i.e. whenever there is poo about, but once a week is a good bet.
to clean the turf, simply remove it and wash it in the sink, then leave it to dry in the sun before putting it back. you can use newspaper as a substitute substrate while the turf is drying.
As for the biting, just letting your snake get used to you with handling will suffice, but some snakes simply dont like to be handled, and will strike anyway, just learn the signs.
Some of the more experienced herpers on this site may be able to help on that one, but i really doubt there is anything else you can do.
Yeah he seams to only be bitty around when he getts hungry. I tend to just leave him alone. Just abit worried that when he grows up. Would rather try do somthing now if possible to avooid having to loose more blood later on.
lol, sorry.. I implied getting the snake out with a stick.. awful joke
as stitched said, you kind of have to learn how to read the snakes body language, eventually they will get used to you, but just imagine if you were that big, with some huge hands coming down on you, lol
p.s it will be easier to handle a snake from side on, as they may feel more threatened from hands reaching down, as you would have to in a fish tank, so maybe get the snake out first (with something), before trying to handle it
hope this info helps!
as stitched said, you kind of have to learn how to read the snakes body language, eventually they will get used to you, but just imagine if you were that big, with some huge hands coming down on you, lol
p.s it will be easier to handle a snake from side on, as they may feel more threatened from hands reaching down, as you would have to in a fish tank, so maybe get the snake out first (with something), before trying to handle it
hope this info helps!
how old is the snake and what species?
I have some experience, by no means an expert, but generally speaking hatchies are a bit more snappy, they tend to get calmer as they get older and used to being handled.
With my snakes, i tend to put my hand in the enclosure, and let them come to me, once they have had a look and a lick, they are usually fine with me picking them up.
I have some experience, by no means an expert, but generally speaking hatchies are a bit more snappy, they tend to get calmer as they get older and used to being handled.
With my snakes, i tend to put my hand in the enclosure, and let them come to me, once they have had a look and a lick, they are usually fine with me picking them up.
If you have had him/her for a little while, and they have an established feeding pattern, it is a good time to start..
I have a small diamond python, that I take out onto a clotheshorse (one of those cheap white ones, like $5 at kmart?) and feed her on there, just to avoid any mistakes that I might make (as she is a verrrry opportunistic feeder) -- also looks very cool
Or you could try something like, feeding her from one side of the tank only, and handling her from the other side.. snakes are pretty intelligent, and for the most part; when it comes to food, they are easy to train!
I have a small diamond python, that I take out onto a clotheshorse (one of those cheap white ones, like $5 at kmart?) and feed her on there, just to avoid any mistakes that I might make (as she is a verrrry opportunistic feeder) -- also looks very cool
Or you could try something like, feeding her from one side of the tank only, and handling her from the other side.. snakes are pretty intelligent, and for the most part; when it comes to food, they are easy to train!
Ok cool I will try that (the closhorse thing) I will just have to let him bit me as he seems to be snappyer before I feed him. Just a thought I just had, could it be that I am not feeding enough? I feed him every 7 days?
does the meal make a decent size lump in the stomach once swallowed? if so, that sounds decent enough to me, but it depends on what you're after - snakes grow more, the more you feed them.. personally, i dont agree with the beefing up method.. as I don't think its natural, but its up to you really; if you're just after a pet, I would continue on with what you're doing until he/she gets bigger
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