stimmson and humidity

[westerner]

Hi ya's

My son has just gotten a young stimmson .....such a cutie...but there are a couple of questions I have...one is the day time temperature in our house is much colder than the night time temperature..this is due to hardly anyone but myself being here so heaters are turned off until late arvo...His python is in a small click clack measuring about 300 x 200 x 100 high...with a 15 wt heat cord underneath...it was actually getting quite hot so I lifted the click clack up a little with some lego blocks...at night i put two under each corner and during the day i use one and a half lego blocks...I have a thermometer in there that reads anywhere between 29 and 32 degrees.... the room in which the click clack is kept is reasonable dark....will this affect the snake at all....We have a new enclosure being made but it is rather large and it will be along time before it moves in there...probably just get a larger click clack first for it to move into in a few months...also I notice in the cooler end of the click clack there is humidity forming....is this good or bad for the python..I have read that some humidity is good for when they slough...but how much is good....?.. It had its first feed on two very small fuzzies...on Sunday......how long is it before the fuzzies are expelled and should it poop before I feed it again next Sunday.....

Hope everyone has a great day

A Newby

[Anthony88]

Hmm, i wouldv'e thought there would be humidity at the warmer end, is the water source above the heat cord? There should be no humidity showing in the form of fog or residue in the click clack, this could cause lung problems, hypothermia. Just move the water source to the cooler end if it is above the heat source. Your temperature gradient also doesn't seem very large, it should be anywhere from 20-30 (floor air temperature.) 33-36 basking area. 29-32 degrees is hardly a temp gradient at all, I also believe this could be the cause of the excess humidity in your sons click clac, the heat source should cover only about 33%(one-third) of the bottom of the click clack.Try using a thermostat if you don't have one yet. As for the darkness in the room i personally believe that providing a proper photoperiod for your snake will help its wellbeing and allow it to go through its normal hormonal cycles and what not. Hope this helps...

[westerner]

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for your response... the water is at the cooler end of the click clack....the 29 to 32degress is at the hotter end of the click clack....and the moisture is at the cool end...I was thinking maybe I just need to place more ventilation in the click clack....at present I have about 50 holes in the top and holes on only one side ....was thinking of placing more at the cooler end in the side....thanks also regarding the lighting...

A Newby

[Serpant_Lady]

You woul get condensation on the cooler side because at the warm water vapor move to the cooler sde ti ould lose energy and condense out, when on the warmer side it would be able to stay as vapor. I would be conerned abou vapor as stimmies come from a dry region and o are probably not that tolorant of humidity
I bumped the humidity up for my stimmie coz she ws about to shed and when I decided it wa too humid I jut used a tisue to wipe the water away.
orry about spelling - my girl is hanging on prtty tight to my left 3 middle fingers I love her to pieces - sooo cute - post some pics please

[MrBredli]

Sounds like the tub needs more ventilation. Also get yourself a thermostat so you can ensure the temp never goes above 32 degrees (place the probe on the floor of the tub right above the heat cord).

[westerner]

Thanks for your replies Serpant and Mr Bredli,

i went and bought another click clack today ...one that is about 100 mm higher and a little longer....am hoping it will work a little better and the old one can be used for feeding...the condensation kept building up in the smaller one and no soon had I wiped it out it would re appear...I was told that with a 15wt heat cord I didnt need to get a thermostat as the temperatures wouldnt rise about 32...although mine have gone to 33 ...I was going to wait to get one when we finished the enclosure ..but I t hink sooner than later ....the new click clack has lots of holes on top ...and atleast five in each corner mid way on the cold end....I went for a longer click clack so as to make the gradient better...I dont think the stimmy will stress ....the guy/gal seems pretty content having not had it a week yet...it has discovered it can hide under the newspaper...but it often out takin a wander....and uses the hides ....

I use a thermometer on top of the heat cord ..it lays flat in the enclosure and has a remote read out that i keep on the dining table so I can check it as I walk past...bit like a baby monitor...I would like to get two of these when I get the enclosure so I can keep one on the base of the hot end ..and place one up on the wall to get an overall reading of the temp...they work well ..I just hope national geographic still sell them...

As for pics....I did take some the other day....but with 4 teenage...ummmm ..not sure what to call em at this moment.....darlings..grinz hard...Im unable to locate the cable for use between camera and computer....will keep hunting..

Thanks

A Newby