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Cutterbuck
Snake Mite

7 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  20:59:21  Show Profile
Hi.

After a few years of being surrogate dad to a lovely little hognose, (Buffy is his name), I have "inherited" a 9 year old Royal called "Spot".

Now, Royal's are a lot more complicated that Hoggies, all buffy wants is a hide, a nice log to skulk under, bowl of fresh water and plenty of substrate to scootle about under.

Spot, well spot is a bit more of a learning curve. So may I pick your brains?

He arrived with a huge viv, a good 4' x 18" x 18". I have a feeling this is too much for the little chap. The viv has seem better days and Spot really deserves a new home. What size should I be shopping for? Is a 3' unit more suited to him?

Heating in the viv is concerning. The viv came with a ceramic bulb well shielded with a cage as well as a heat mat installed within the cage. Now I didn't like the look of the mat so that is currently turned off and Just the Ceramic is running. Hot side we are at 30c cold side we are at 21c or so....

aha tea is served... I shall return with more q's in a bit.


Edited by - Cutterbuck on 09/02/2009 21:18:13

lee2308
Royal Python Moderator

United Kingdom
2597 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  21:27:14  Show Profile  Click to see lee2308's MSN Messenger address
hi and welcome to the forum,a 3' could be more suited to a royal.If you go on lengh x width = lengh of snake.Yocould also turn the stat up a bit so it 33c.

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matty18714
Royal Python Moderator

United Kingdom
2016 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  21:28:00  Show Profile
Hi and welcome to the forum

I would go for a 3' viv and keep the ceramic (ditch the mat). Adult royals are fairly heavily bodied so are more likly to be burnt by mats. The temps are ok, but if you can get the hot side up by 2*C ish it would be good. Is the ceramic on a stat?

Any pictures of him?

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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin

United Kingdom
11327 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  21:32:14  Show Profile  Click to see Blackecho's MSN Messenger address  Send Blackecho a Yahoo! Message
Yep, hot ends I keep at 30-32C, cool end at 22-25C.



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Royalty
Snake Mite

United Kingdom
29 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  21:34:25  Show Profile
Hi there.

I haven't got a royal yet but will be having one next month. And although i've done my reaserch on them, it may be best to get somebody else's confirmation on this...

SIZE:
I have read in dozens of places that the perfect size for a fully-grown royal is 36LX16WX18H - that's in inches.

Here is a perfect one:
http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/reptile-supplies/vivariums-416/vivariums-572/prorep-fp36-vivarium-medium--39186.html

That is a perfect size - big enough for them to move around in but small enough for them to feel secure enough. In the wild, you'll find them in the smallest of holes in the gorund, curled up in the tightest of positions!


HEAT
If you don't like the look of the heat mat, i'd say it's best to get another one - heat maths are probley better - i've read in places that all snakes - not only royals - like to lie ''on'' hot spots - not have the heat radiating onto them - i dunno.

Somebody else should be able to confirm this.
Any more concerns?

Josh - AKA:
ROYALTY - The Herp King
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Gingerpony
Royal Python Moderator

United Kingdom
2663 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  21:37:47  Show Profile  Click to see Gingerpony's MSN Messenger address
quote:
Originally posted by lee2308

If you go on lengh x width = lengh of snake

nooooo, it's length of viv + depth = maximum length of snake!
how big is your Royal? a 36" by 18" viv would be suitable for a Royal up to 4'6" (36" + 18" =54" or 4'6")

Dumerils boas, BCO hybrids, Sinder Hypo boas, cornsnakes, ratsnakes, Day Geckos
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wolfspirit
Old Royal - I Post too much!

United Kingdom
5741 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  21:41:25  Show Profile
Hi welcome to the forum, and go with ceramics, i like them much better than a heat lamp and a mat...



"No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from
now and make a brand new ending."
-- Source Unknown





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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin

United Kingdom
11327 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  22:00:55  Show Profile  Click to see Blackecho's MSN Messenger address  Send Blackecho a Yahoo! Message
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VIVEXOTIC-VX36-36-VIVARIUM-4-DIFF-COLOURS-AVAILABLE_W0QQitemZ220354618137QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects?hash=item220354618137&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1700|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

These are the ones I use. I use the Infrared heat bulbs myself.



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Cutterbuck
Snake Mite

7 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  22:31:05  Show Profile
My god, fast replies.

Yep the ceramic is on a stat. Beginning to suspect I have a dodgy therm. As a few hours ago I mounted a new rotary dial type then about 3" high on the cold side and that is showing a constant 30c. While the column style old therm propped up below the ceramic is showing 28c or so.

(heh, just realised I am being watched as I type this)

I'll pick up some batteries for this digital probe tomorrow.


Edited by - Cutterbuck on 09/02/2009 22:36:43
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Gingerpony
Royal Python Moderator

United Kingdom
2663 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  22:37:20  Show Profile  Click to see Gingerpony's MSN Messenger address
definitely more likely to be a dodgy dial thermometer, i got some posh digital thermometers for christmas but used a household/garden one prior to that

Dumerils boas, BCO hybrids, Sinder Hypo boas, cornsnakes, ratsnakes, Day Geckos
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lee2308
Royal Python Moderator

United Kingdom
2597 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  23:34:05  Show Profile  Click to see lee2308's MSN Messenger address
quote:
Originally posted by Gingerpony

quote:
Originally posted by lee2308

If you go on lengh x width = lengh of snake

nooooo, it's length of viv + depth = maximum length of snake!
how big is your Royal? a 36" by 18" viv would be suitable for a Royal up to 4'6" (36" + 18" =54" or 4'6")



Ok ok,i did mean to put a + instead of x but have i got it wrong by saying width,is'nt depth the height of the viv.

Members map-------Want to be on the map?

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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin

United Kingdom
11327 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2009 :  06:43:22  Show Profile  Click to see Blackecho's MSN Messenger address  Send Blackecho a Yahoo! Message
Just to be awkward, some people do use length x depth as a rule of thumb. So a 3' x 2' viv sould be for up to 6'.

Personally I'm with GP and you and prefer length + depth.



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wolfspirit
Old Royal - I Post too much!

United Kingdom
5741 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2009 :  08:09:05  Show Profile
They are nice vivs...did you use aquarium sealant to seal them with?



"No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from
now and make a brand new ending."
-- Source Unknown





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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin

United Kingdom
11327 Posts

Posted - 10/02/2009 :  09:33:55  Show Profile  Click to see Blackecho's MSN Messenger address  Send Blackecho a Yahoo! Message
Yes.



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Kazerella
Royal Python Admin

United Kingdom
1196 Posts

Posted - 11/02/2009 :  17:25:06  Show Profile  Visit Kazerella's Homepage
I want to see pictures of Buffy (and don't let the bad people like GP and BE say that hoggys are ugly. They both need to go to Specksavers )



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Paulusworm
Fully Grown Royal

Azerbaijan
1550 Posts

Posted - 11/02/2009 :  18:19:00  Show Profile  Click to see Paulusworm's MSN Messenger address
Hello and welcome . Looks like everyone's got your questions covered. They're pretty quick on here.

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Cutterbuck
Snake Mite

7 Posts

Posted - 12/02/2009 :  13:36:02  Show Profile
Thanks for all the kind replies, great community you have here.

First and update. Spots viv has turned out to be 5' ruddy foot long and although the temps are good if a little on the the low side at 80f. Spot seems happy enough and seems to be thermo regulating by himself, (one he got over the shock and confusion of being given a new hot end hide, the last one was a huge plant pot). I think the main issue is that the stat probe is mounted at the top of the viv 3/4 of the way to the colder end.

This weekend he gets a new viv and a whole new set up. Then probably early next week we will try him on his first feed in his new home. Thankfully from experiance with the Bufster we know that feeds can be irregular and a chilled attitude with attention to body weight is the best approach.

Right, see spot, see spot slither...



I don't seem to have any pics of Buffy around here. I'll post some later.

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Paulusworm
Fully Grown Royal

Azerbaijan
1550 Posts

Posted - 12/02/2009 :  13:50:34  Show Profile  Click to see Paulusworm's MSN Messenger address
You've suffered those bloody books with your kids too then .

Nice looking little chap you've got there .

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Dazzetski
Yearling

United Kingdom
461 Posts

Posted - 12/02/2009 :  20:46:00  Show Profile  Visit Dazzetski's Homepage  Click to see Dazzetski's MSN Messenger address
Nice baby! sorry if i'm repeating previous advice but here goes...sssssofia's about 2-2.5' her viv's 3' wide, her stats are all at "belly" level, resting on the substrate. at the side walls to get the furthest possible distance between the 2. 2 hides at hot & cold sides so she can thermo-regulate herself. may sound daft but try to think like a snake, ssssssofia wants peace & quiet, if she seems stressed she wants time to chill. she'll eat when all of the above is sorted, don't panic if she doesn't eat as long as she isn't losing weight quickly & the best point is to enjoy your baby's company!!! good luck to both of you!


0.2.0 Cats (Spud & Phoebe) RIP Stevie fat man
1.1.0 Royals (Syd & Sofia)
2.2.3 Corns (Hogan, Shaggy, Sparkle, Tango, Fred, Haribo & Go Faster)
0.0.1 Columbian Rainbow Boa (Escobar)
1.1.0 Variable King Snakes (Lancelot & Guinaverre)
0.0.20 Fish

Edited by - Dazzetski on 12/02/2009 20:47:21
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Samantha
Snake Mite

10 Posts

Posted - 12/02/2009 :  22:59:56  Show Profile
Heya and welcome to the forum, great bunch of people on here who will be happy to answer all your questions as you can see.

Sam x
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dazb
Royal Python Moderator

United Kingdom
2847 Posts

Posted - 13/02/2009 :  17:29:17  Show Profile
hi and welcome...



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