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dalesanders28
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
27 Posts |
 Posted - 14/02/2012 : 20:09:10
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Hi.
i am very pleased i have just got my first snake and its a Royal Python.
i have been a fan for so long.
i would really apprechate some advice please.
i have a male royal python aged about 4 months.
He is in a 1.5ft x 1.5ft and 1.5ft deep approx wooden with glass doors viv.
i have a 7w heat mat on the outside back of the viv.
inside the viv he has little wooden sqaure chips (not sure what they are called) as substrate, a little hide, 2 artificial plants hanging from the top, a twig, also a clay water bowl in far corner from the heat.
my major concern is the temperature and humidity as measureing it on a gauge dial i took from my dragons viv. the temp is reading 80f and the humidity is reading 80%. im a little concerned with how high the humidity is.
i first thought that because i had the royals viv on top of my drgaon viv because the heat was coming throu the wood as it does get quite warm but tried moving it and still reads the same humidity.
please can people help as dont know if im doing my royal more harm than good.
cheers
look forward to your reponses.
many thanks
Dale |
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 14/02/2012 : 20:39:25
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Hi and welcome.
I always quote this thread to people with setup questions, as it's got so much info and discussion -
http://www.theroyalpython.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5183
Plus the caresheet on the 'home' section of this forum is another good read.
Your setup, for a young royal python, is getting there. Although an overhead heat bulb, guarded and fitted with a thermostat, is better and safer for an older snake, a heatmat is fine for a small royal, but it should be on the floor inside the viv, and must be fitted with a thermostat. Remove any sticky tape or residue if it's been taped. Just lay it flat on the floor (you can attach the stat probe to the mat flex with a cable tie so that the probe lies on the mat) and don't stick it down (you'll need to clean under it; another disadvantage of mats as the snake gets bigger) and spread a very thin layer of substrate over it. Your substrate sounds to be beech chippings by the way.
Your ideal temperatures are 32c in the warm end; 26c in the cool end, and a thermostat helps you maintain these. Once you've got your temps steady, you'll probably find that the humidity takes care of itself.
A royal appreciates two hides, one in the cool end and one in the hot end. These needn't be anything fancy, especially as he'll probably make a mess in them. I've used loo roll and kitchen roll inners, food boxes (no sticky tape) and so on for my younger snakes, and bought more durable hides for the adults.
Hope this helps and congrats on getting him. |
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Edited by - n/a on 14/02/2012 20:40:49 |
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dalesanders28
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
27 Posts |
Posted - 14/02/2012 : 20:48:04
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thankyou so much for your response.
i think im beginning to understand.
because my viv is so small at present its hard to maintain a cold end and a hot end. how can this be achieved in smaller vivs?
is beach chippings ideal for the royal or would you recommnend something else?
cheers |
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 14/02/2012 : 21:05:17
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Hi, beech chippings are fine. But make sure he doesn't swallow any with his food. Substrates are down to personal preference I think.
It is a small enclosure, but fine for a small royal - once you get the hot end temp sorted then, like the humidity, I think you'll find that cool end takes care of itself. I don't worry too much myself as long as the hot end's right, as the cool end will vary a little depending on the room temperature - in a room with no heating at night it will be cooler for instance, but your royal will decide where he's comfortable.
All the best with him. |
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set up advise and Humidity
