Tank set up help please

[Sherman]

Hello everyone,

I just got my first snake, a juvenile cape york carpet python, and I'm looking for some help in regards to setting up his tank.
I have him in a hand-me-down glass terrarium that is 1.5X1.5X2ft high, with breeders choice litter pellets on the bottom, a 60watt globe for heat.
Down near his log hide the temp is about 26C, and on a basking spot (a fake rock attatched to the wall about 2/3 way up) it gets to about 34C. I still need to get a branch to put in but as it's been wet lately I haven't been able to. I'm thinking of putting another hide in, too.

My questions are:

Are those temperatures ok?

Is the tank too big for him to feel secure? He's about 18inches long but still looks like a little pencil

My humidity level says around 30%. I think this is too low so I put a large flat container of water right under the lamp. What is a good level for a juvenile python?

I know glass is not ideal but I'll just use it until he needs to upsize, then I'll get something better.

Any help greatly appreciated!

 

[bigjoediver]

Can he get to the basking shelf? A couple of pieces of wooden dowel wedged from corner to corner is a cheap alternative to a branch until you have a chance to find the right piece. Has you light got a cage around it? If you are worried about stressing him out in that size enclosure tape some nice background paper on three sides of you glass tank to make it seem smaller and less areas of movement, outside of tank only as tape and snakes don't mix, or make or purchase a fake rock background for inside the enclosure. Check out some of the enclosure threads on here and especially in the DIY section.

Joe

 

[Max101]

34 seems abut to high I would probably go with a top of 30

 

[Trimeresurus]

Your temps are fine.

 

[Sherman]

Thanks for the info guys

Joe, yes he can get up to the basking shelf. Thanks for telling me about the doweltoo! Such a good and cheap idea.
I have a fake rock background in there that my sister used, and I might cover up some of the sides like you suggested.
He's just eaten a pinky rat (first meal I've ever given him) and he went straight for it so I'm guessing he must be feeling rather ok with everything to have a feed.

What about the humidity level though? Is 30% too low? What could I do to raise it? He's going to shed any day now so I would like to make that easier for him

 

[Snowman]

Your temps are fine.

Agreed.

 

[Trimeresurus]

30% humidity is ok for a carpet, just give him a good spray each day when he's coming up for a shed.

 

[Sherman]

Thanks heaps! Really appreciate

So spray him directly with the water or mist the cage?

 

[andynic07]

30% humidity is ok for a carpet, just give him a good spray each day when he's coming up for a shed.

I find that if plenty of fresh water is available that my snakes shed fine all the time. My humidity may be a little higher in Queensland than you have down there in Victoria though.

 

[Sherman]

It's pretty cold down here now! Quite bitter at night. And using the heater is drying out the air as well.
I will probably change from the litter pellets to a different substrate, maybe one that doesn't suck moisture.

 

[Trimeresurus]

I find that if plenty of fresh water is available that my snakes shed fine all the time. My humidity may be a little higher in Queensland than you have down there in Victoria though.

You are right, internal hydration does wonders for snakes. My tanks all sit at about 60% humidity without spraying

Thanks heaps! Really appreciate

So spray him directly with the water or mist the cage?

Both, and as Andynic said, plenty of fresh water always help. I usually spray my snakes from the point just after they go from milky back to normal.

 

[Sherman]

So just an update, I got up this morning and saw he had shed halfway down. The skin was rolled up like a sock around the middle of him, so I misted the tank, covered the sides and turned off the light (he seems to only want to come out of his hide when it's dark) went to the gym for an hour and when I came back there was a perfect shed skin in his water dish so happy he's now shed successfully, eaten successful and looks beautiful. Thanks again for helping me, everyone! I will get some pics of him today