Please help the newbee

[double0dappa]

Hey guys I'm new to this whole experience and i was highly recommended to you guys by a friend. I'm about to buy a coastal carpet python (hey it was cheap and i like snakes) I have this mental picture of how i want my enclosure to look but i want some opinions on whether it can be done. Firstly I've bought a big 2m high by 800 square enclosure I need to know if sand (reptile or red sand) is fine to put on the bottom around some rocks and water bowl? How many lights do you think are needed? and is a heat mat needed at all? Thats enough for now, Thanx in advance

 

[sarah_m]

Wouldnt recomend sand in python enclosure, they can accidently swallow it and cause gut impaction. Most people use news paper because it is cheap and easy to clean but if you prefer something more natural looking you can get recycled paper pellets from pet shop.

I use Oz-Pet pet litter, does not clump, smell etc. I am very happy with it and have never had a problem with him swallowing it.

What size coastal are you getting? Cage size sounds ok for an adult, but if you are getting a hatchling you will need to put it in a click clack at first as so much space can freak a little guy out.

I dont keep carpet pythons but i have found ceramic heaters better than the globes as they last alot longer.
Also if you dont have it already i would recomend that you read Keeping and Breeding Australian Pythons by Mike Swan and/or Keeping Carpet Pythons by Simon Kortlang & Darren Green.

All the best with your snake.

 

[double0dappa]

Thanks Sarah, much appreciated

 

[arbok]

if your looking for a more natural feel you could try aspen bedding, its easy to clean etc and you can make a nice jungly looking setting with it!

 

[double0dappa]

I have a click clack but how long can you keep him in there, and what do i need in there, I was just thinking something to hide in, water and heat but what sort of heat would you recommend? would a heat mat melt plastic?

 

[sweetangel]

you can keep it in the click clack for about a year or a bit less. maybe more aroun 8 months depend how fast it grows. in there you will need a water bowl, hides at the cool and hot end. paper towl is good base substrate. and of course the heat mat with thermostat.

buy a dimming thermostat if ur considering using globes later as that way you will only need to buy one and it will last forever.
u can also use that fake grass which looks quite real. reptile bark is also a possibility but they can also ingest that if fed on the ground.
enclosure sounds pretty decent size.

as for lighting i would have a basking globe for during the day and an infra red/ ceramic one for night.
heat mat is not necessary in the big enclosure although you could put it under a hide to warm it.

make sure u have a heat gradient so one end is hot and the other is cool. in an upright one will be harder so if yu put the heat up the top the bottom should stay cool

 

[double0dappa]

Thanx sweetangel just a few questions, what is a dimming thermostat and roughly how much do you think all of this would cost

 

[sweetangel]

u can get them from URS

http://www.ultimatereptiles.com.au/...art&page=shop.browse&category_id=12&Itemid=35

but you can get them for $150 from another website.... i just bought some but i cant remeber where from.... not on my computer right now.... i will put up the other site cos its the only one still at $150, they are about $180 from most other places but very much worth it

 

[trader]

Thanx sweetangel just a few questions, what is a dimming thermostat and roughly how much do you think all of this would cost

check out the HerpShop products! You will see what is available and the prices. Can't go wrong ordering from Brian Barnett!

 

[sweetangel]

this is very true i just like that brand although i havent used habistat.

 

[double0dappa]

Thank you so much guys i had a look at the habistat dimming thermostats, there is a day end night one but the night eye thing has to be bought seperatly and its already 150, will the normal dimming one do. I dont really mind buying the more expensive one but is it neccessary.

 

[Emmalicious]

NOO don't put sand in the enclosure it can cause compaction! also.... if you are getting a hatchie I really recommend you don't get a large enclosure snakes don't like huge spaces it can stress them. I had my coastal in a click clack for ages it was fine, with a heat mat and a thermostat. didn't need to buy anything exspensive till my boy got bigger!

 

[amazonian]

Compaction is just 1 possible health risk with sand. But here is 2 more:

1. When a Python defecates its bowels are extended outside the snakes body, once finished its retracted back inside along with course abrasive grit sand particles that can cause an infection in the cloaca. Even if infection is avoided it is still painfull & stressful for the animal to have this foreign matter internally.

2. Sand gets stuck in the Pythons heat sensing pits. In order for the snake to remove it it rubs its face along the flooring making the problem worse. Even if it dosn't use the flooring but uses perches, glass or timber it is still stressful for the snake and can cause further damage due to the amount of rubbing (scale loss & wounds) .

 

[double0dappa]

thanks again, so the thermostat? can anyone answer about the day and night or normal dimming thermostat please

 

[double0dappa]

plus how big should the water bowl be

 

[Emmalicious]

The water bowl should be able to fit the snake in it but not to deep or big! don't want a snake to accidently drown!