Newbie Help

[Trax81]

Hi All,
I'm relatively new to this and was thinking of getting a snake preferably a jungle python (love the colours). Was looking to buy a hatchling and possibly build an enclosure for it when it needs one. At the moment I have a 2ft fish tank that i was thinking of using for it, still have to get a hood and mesh top for it. I used to keep a couple of bearded dragons about 5-6 years ago so still have a 2 ft UV flouro and a couple of ceramic heat elements, i think 150 watt from memory. Can I use these and run them of a thermostat? As for the snake itself I'd like to get one that will keep its colour for as long as possible and has a good sort of temperament, I do expect to be bitten a few times before it gets used to being handled though. I am on the northside of Brisbane and was hoping someone could recommend a breeder in the SE QLD area.

Just wanted to get some advice/feedback on this.

Thanks in advance,
Trent
Sorry for the long post, just want to get things right and not rush into things.

 

[Jarden]

Fish tanks are not usually the ideal tanks to use for snakes but can be used if you get the temps all right You wont need a UV globe with snakes ceramic heat elements are fine with a thermo Jungles color tends to fade out as they get older and some of them are quite snappy but you can get nice calm ones too

 

[bpb02]

Wouldn't that be nice finding a nice calm one I failed in that mission

 

[carmen]

i'm new to this so cant really comment on the set up or snake option only that glass wont hold heat well. As for a breeder, maybe have a chat to Brent
http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/member/brent-847

I got my childreni from him and he is a world of info and is close to you.

 

[Fantazmic]

Hi
You havent said where you are located. If you are in melbourne an excellent breeder is James "snakeitup" We bought our jungle from him and she is sooo calm. Try to go somewhere that will let you see Mum and Dad so you can see their temperaments and try to pick the calmest hatchy. temperament is very unpredictable you really do have to cross your fingers and hope.

I wouldnt recommend a fishtank they lose heat so fast you will end up with your ceramic heaters on all the time trying to maintain the temps. Temperature is everything. Make a click clack there are instructions on the site and they arent expensive just a bit of fiddling around to put together.

As to colour. I have read picking a hatchy that will have good colour is a bit like lucky dip. Some baby snakes look lovely and dont keep their colours as they grow others look ordinary as babies and then colour up nice. We went for the line. I have seen Elvira's (my snakes) mother and she is magnificent. I think Elvira looks like her and so far so good. I am thinking that with the quality pure line I am also buying myself a nice snake that in the future should i want to breed my hope is she will produce nice quality baby snakes.

Good luck and remember pick the snake you like the look of first and cross you fingers and do your best to choose all the rest.
Regards

Elizabeth

 

[Jarden]

Jungle breeders....hmm dont really know of any in brisbane but i know if you want quality talk to colin from here he breeds top jungles and previous buyers say hes great to deal with Just gotta pay the extra for freight. But its worth the quality

 

[bpb02]

David Evans on here breeds jungles he is on the north side of brisbane where are u from

 

[syeph8]

Scleropages on here is a breeder in south of Brisbane and I know he has a few for sale. I'm in the process of trying to do some business with him (depending on availability/willingness of people in brissie dropping them at the airport for me) He seems like an honest guy and has some fantastic looking hatchies and beautiful parents who have retained their colours well.

Sye

 

[Serpentess]

For a jungle I'd say you'd be best to build yourself an enclosure rather than use a tank. Lol, and make sure there are NO gaps (snakes can squeeze through some surprisingly small spaces). Anyway, you'd be able to install all sorts of things like perches and stuff that you wouldn't be able to do in a glass tank (unless you use some sort of glass adhesive, which may end up producing toxic fumes when the area is warmed up). Also another reason to build your own enclosure (or buy a "proper" one) is that fish tank glass has a tendancy to crack under "on and off" warm/cool temps.

As for the ceramic heat elements I'm not too sure how good they are for snakes, I've heard a few have gotten some nasty burns from those things, but they should probably be fine if they're set up properly with a thermostat and all that. Just make sure you feel how hot it is to touch after a couple of hours of on time before you decide if it's good enough for snakey.

On to the UV. Most pythons (that I know of) don't "need" UV light as they are nocturnal creatures, but if you do decide on installing it, make sure you have a fine mesh guard around it and then check that this guard doesn't heat up too much.

I'm no herp expert but some of this information may prove useful to you.

 

[Chris1]

any heat source should have a protective cage around it, if ur just sitting the heat source on a mesh top so the snake cant directly touch it, it will be ok with out a special light cage.