hatchie tub set up query

[dunmovin]

Hi again All ......Ok now no rolling of the eyes please lol I'm new to this & just getting set up ready for my Stimmie hatchling.
I have the 7L tub , I will be purchasing the heat mat soon (either a 5w or 7w). where is it best to have the air holes in the tub ...tops or bottom of the container ? ....all around the tub or just in certain areas ?
Also I have been looking at Disinfectants , is the F10 the one to use when cleaning ? I would like to clean out the container & water dish before using it .
Thanks again guys , you have all been great so far & helping me get organised

Cheers Jackie

[peterjohnson64]

Hi Jackie, no rolling eyes. Thats what this forum is about.

There is probably no real issue where you have your air holes. You will get circulation any way. But, if you want to look at the theory remember that hot air rises. Therefore, if you put holes in the top of the tup directly above the heat mat then air will rise up and out of the tub at that point. Then if you put air holes low on the opposite end air should be drawn in that end as it replaces the hot air being expelled through thte top at the other end and therefore giving you air flow through the tub. Again I stress, that is merely the theory and as long as you ahve sufficient holes you have sufficient air flow.

As for disinfectant, F10 is great. But remember that F10 is mainly used where there are a number of animals in your collection and is good for killing viruses that can be moeved from one animal to another. If you only have one snake then there is little chance of it catching a virus (like OPMV) from another snake. Of course, if you go and visit another collection and handle animals there then it is possible that YOU could transfer a virus so you need to be vigilent in that regard. I.e. - if you visit another collection and handle other aniamls make sure that you dont go near yoru snake again that day at least until you have showered and changed your clothes.

I would still suggest using the F10 but you also need to understand the other wayts that disease cna be trasnfered.

Do you have a hide for your snake? you can use little cardboard boxes quite succesfully but make sure you give your snake at least one, and preferably two hides.

Cheers

Pete

[dickyknee]

Just joking
I normally put air holes around the whole tub on the top , and a few extra at one end .
F10 seems to be the best stuff for cleaning , i have not used it yet , but will be ordering some soon , for now i use vinegar .
I use 2L tubs for hatchling stimmies / macs ..."sistema" brand form woolies , they are great , the lids lock down really well .

[natrix]

Originally Posted by dunmovin

Hi again All ......Ok now no rolling of the eyes please lol I'm new to this & just getting set up ready for my Stimmie hatchling.
I have the 7L tub , I will be purchasing the heat mat soon (either a 5w or 7w). where is it best to have the air holes in the tub ...tops or bottom of the container ? ....all around the tub or just in certain areas ?
Also I have been looking at Disinfectants , is the F10 the one to use when cleaning ? I would like to clean out the container & water dish before using it .
Thanks again guys , you have all been great so far & helping me get organised

Cheers Jackie

I put the holes around the upper part of the tubs walls , using a soldering iron is best , just heat it
up & push it through the tub (Using a drill will probably crack it ) put several holes along each wall.
F10's a good product , but mild disinfectant works well too & then sun dry the tub , same with dish.

[dunmovin]

Thanks guys for the input & my tub is the Sistema klip it , these are fantastic secure lids. So maybe the F10 is a bit off an overkill for just one snake , seems that I might just use ordinary houshold disinfectant & sunshine.
Can you use rock hides or many people have just suggested light globe boxes .

Cheers Jackie

[dickyknee]

You can use anything you like for a hide , i use toilet rolls for little guys and scrunch one end up so its nice and dark in there for them ....
put a few in there for it too .

[natrix]

yes , rock hides are fine . It should be a fairly 'snug' fit in the hide though ,so the snake feels safer.

[peterjohnson64]

Jackie, the idea of a hide for a snake is that it must make it feel very secure. To do that the snake must fit tightly into the hide. I would think that a light globe box would be too big for a baby stimsons so you should look for something smaller. You can even squash down a toilet roll holder and make it fairly flat. Just so long as the snake has a snug fit inside.

One thing to remember about snakes is that they are not people. They are agrophobic and dont like open spaces. They are much more comfortable in a tight little spot. That way they feel more secure against predators. I try to explain it like this. If T- Rex's still roamed earth how comfortable would you feel in an open meadow at the edge of a forest with T Rex's in it? You would also want to stay in a tight secure spot that you knew your predators couldn't get to you in. Do the same for your snake.

[dunmovin]

Originally Posted by peterjohnson64

Jackie, the idea of a hide for a snake is that it must make it feel very secure. To do that the snake must fit tightly into the hide. I would think that a light globe box would be too big for a baby stimsons so you should look for something smaller. You can even squash down a toilet roll holder and make it fairly flat. Just so long as the snake has a snug fit inside.

One thing to remember about snakes is that they are not people. They are agrophobic and dont like open spaces. They are much more comfortable in a tight little spot. That way they feel more secure against predators. I try to explain it like this. If T- Rex's still roamed earth how comfortable would you feel in an open meadow at the edge of a forest with T Rex's in it? You would also want to stay in a tight secure spot that you knew your predators couldn't get to you in. Do the same for your snake.

Cheers .....Yep that all makes sense , I remember as a kid being so scared of something that I really dont remember , but I do remember squeezing myself into the smallest space I could find & then I felt secure ...............mind you I couldn't breath too well hahaha but I felt safe .

[trader]

preferably use empty rolls from 'unscented' toilet paper.

[motman440]

Originally Posted by dunmovin

Thanks guys for the input & my tub is the Sistema klip it , these are fantastic secure lids. So maybe the F10 is a bit off an overkill for just one snake , seems that I might just use ordinary houshold disinfectant & sunshine.
Can you use rock hides or many people have just suggested light globe boxes .

Cheers Jackie

I would steer clear of ordinary household disinfectants as alot of them contain iodine and aldehyde and ammonium which is detremental to a snakes health. F10 is only $35 for 200 mL and you mix it in the ratio of 250 to 1
so for a litre you would use 4mL
so you end up getting 62 litres of the stuff for only $35
it will last you for years and incase you decide to expand your collection. youll already have the best product for the job.
it can also be used in a nebuliser type setup at half the strength again in such cases as RI.
AND you can pick it up in macksville.

[yommy]

use a soldering iron to do your air holes gives you a better finish and drilling can crack the plastics.
I use the same containers for all my hatchies from morelia to antersia and they work at treat as you can see, though i now include perches (dowl) for coastals or climbing species.

Repti-keen from the herpshop is a good cleaning agent though F10 range kill almost all harmful thing just mix it right and don't make it to strong..