Aussie Pythons and Snakes

Arpy · #1 29-Sep-05, 10:32 AM

I know this subject has been covered before as I have done a search but I couldn't quite find the answer I am looking for.

We have a juvenile Maculosa (actually my 11yo daughter's but I am taking a keen interest!) and we have her in a plastic box, approx 45cm x 20cm. I have set it up with a head cord at one end and want to run it with a thermostat which I have wired up and ready.

My question is where to place the probe. I was planning to set it on the floor of the tank in a little hot glue and get it to regulate the the temperature to around 29c day and night in the middle of the tank, thereby creating a gradient. We are using newspaper as a substrate at the moment which will be over the probe, will this affect it's working?

Also, I have heard that butchers paper can be used as a substrate which will look a little better than newspaper, where can you get Butchers paper?

Thanks

Rick

#2 29-Sep-05, 11:13 AM

I know it probably doesnt answer your question, but have you considered just sitting half the tub on a heat mat without the need for a thermostat?

Arpy · #3 29-Sep-05, 11:29 AM

Actually that is pretty much the set up I have at the moment, with a head cord under one end and it is sitting comfortably in the high 20's.

However having children and their friends around, I would feel more comfortable with a thermostat just in case the tub got slid along a few inches and the whole cord was sitting under it. This happened the other day and the temp got up to 50c in minutes, luckily the snake wasn't in it at the time.

When I get around to building a vivarium it will be less of a problem, but I have the thermostat so may as well us it for peace of mind.

The Rock · #4 29-Sep-05, 12:53 PM

Butchers paper avilable from the butchers.
You only need the very end of the tanks heated, not half, this will create a larger temp gradiant, Plus a light dimmer works far better than a thermostat IMO.

Gilleni · #5 29-Sep-05, 12:58 PM

i was going to say, get it at the butchers but the temptation to be a smartass was to great..

And i thought it was a bit rough, specially to a newbie,

So i thought id let someone else say...

The Rock · #6 29-Sep-05, 12:59 PM

got to be quick around here.!

beknluke · #7 29-Sep-05, 01:09 PM

Hi Arpy
As much as butchers paper would look nicer, I just use newspaper. We always get the local papers in our mailbox so you never have to make any trips to the shops to grab more

Plus, the butchers do buy the paper for themselllves to use and some of them (in my experience) are not too keen on constantly handing it over to you

Good luck
Bex

beknluke · #8 29-Sep-05, 01:12 PM

Oh - and welcome to APS

Arpy · #9 29-Sep-05, 01:39 PM

Butchers paper from the Butchers! Who'd have thought it?

Thanks for the welcome. I had thought about a light dimmer rather than a thermostat, but not until after I had bought and wired up the thermostat, plus I think I like the peace of mind of the thermostat.

She seems pretty comfortable with the tank at the moment, and this morning we found she has shed her skin. She was looking Milky on Monday so we left her alone and she has been in her hide since then. Lifted the hide to take a peek this morning and she had shed, looking great. Now we can get back to the regular handling and trying to reduce the biteyness!!

One more question (although I am sure I will have lots more), we have been trying to keep some humidity by keeping the water bowl over the heat, and it must be fairly humid as we are getting condensation around the cool end of the tank. Do we need to be careful not to get it too humid or damp? The Newspaper was damp this morning but I didn't want to change it straight away as she has just shed. Was planning to do it tonight before we feed her.

beknluke · #10 29-Sep-05, 01:54 PM

Ummm, that is probably a Q best answered by some more experienced snake keepers.
In my containers, the entire lid is covered with holes for ventilation so there's no chance for humidity. I have a nice big water bowl in there so that they can drink and soak as they need it.
I am probably VERY wrong, but I was under the impression that only the GTPs and other tropical rainforest type pythons required humidity?
Good luck
Bex

congo_python · #11 29-Sep-05, 08:36 PM

You don't need much humidity for maccies, they will shed easily with 50% rh, and they don't need humity as high after they have shed. and im with rock on the heated area just at one end of the enclousure, as he will get a better heat gradient (therefore put probe at end of enclousure with heat cord)
Congo

The Rock · #12 29-Sep-05, 10:05 PM

Put water as far away from heat as possible that much humidity will do nothing but cause problems. Just having water bowl in enclosure will create enough. Oh yeah Hi and welcome.

PogonaLady · #13 29-Sep-05, 10:47 PM

Hi and welcome to the site

No doubt you will find it entertaining as much as informative!
If you really wanted the white paper, I know that most newspaper printers sell end of rolls very cheap....ie 30+metres for around $6.00...
Chow for now

herptrader · #14 30-Sep-05, 09:46 AM

Place the probe for the thermostat as close as possible to the heat source. When I build enclosures I typically put the heat source under tiles and the probe immediately under the heat tape.

Another source of butchers paper may be somewhere like office works where it is sold for use as flip charts.

Arpy · #15 30-Sep-05, 11:57 AM

Thanks for all the replies.

If I am placing the probe near to the heat source (and I can place it directly over it as the heat cord is underneath the tub), what temperature should I be setting it to. I understood that I should be aiming to get the middle of the heat gradient to 29c. So do I put a thermometer in the middle of the tank and just adjust the thermostat to get the right setting? Which I am guessing will be in the mid 30's directly over the heat source!