Update on Lickity. :(

[Leighanne]

Well I got some plexiglass for a dollar for the uth. I also got a timer. It is a True Value timer. Has 8 plug ins four timed. I had figured I could make it work until I got a uth. I wasted 20.00 dollars to find out none of this is going to work!!! Hes still opaque but I tried to give him a bath. He was a bit fussy. I hadn't heard it before but during the bath he started wheezing. I called Pet Co a few times and Cat you were right. They are imported. I forgot to ask that important question. He comes from Gourmet Rodents in Florida which get their Reptiles imported. They also said theres a 15 day thing where I can bring him back and get my 50.00 back and thats what I'm doing. What a waste of money. I hope everybodys happy. Chris I did sell ONE...back. There, its done. I still beg to differ that my other babies have good homes. I'm NOT doing this again. Screw Pet Stores, screw dirty breeders. It even feels like screw the animals. This poor creature might DIE and theres nothing I can do about it. I wish I was a millionare. I had some kind of a dream to be some kind of a Snake specialits to but why would I want to do that and watch all the beautiful wilds get imported for us(including me) to be GREEDY! Thats it I'm done. Peace to you all for now. As for nice people Thanks for trying to help, but theres no help for some of these poor creatures. I really hope theres a beautiful heaven out there or something for SO many lost creatures. They deserve it.

 

[Leighanne]

I meant until I got a Thermostat.

 

[bear]

well that is a pretty bad first experience... you just need to know where to go, look at the kingsnake classifieds and you will find some pretty good deals for quality animals. before you buy come here and ask if anyones heard of the person your buying from, we'll let you know if they're good or not. no matter where you go in life you will find bad people, theres no way around it. dont lose faith in the whole hobby because of petco, there are many quality people in the biz, its just a matter of finding them. i hope you dont give up because of this bad experience. just educate yourself on the species you intend to aquire and you'll be fine and many people on fauna, including me, are more than willing to help with any questions you have allong the way.

 

[Pink Lady Exotics]

Kristin, that's why we mentioned that you should have the enclosure set up and ready before you bring a new snake home. "I hope everybody's happy" -- why would we be happy that your experience didn't go well?

His wheezing was caused by the bath, it just meant he got some water in his nose. I've had to put a few of mine in the tub on occasion and if they dunk their head, they wheeze too. It goes away. Why did you get plexiglass for the UTH, what were you going to do with it? Timers don't work for regulating heat sources, but dimmer switches do. I prefer actual thermostats though as they're more reliable.

Don't let this experience discourage you. Use the knowledge you've learned to get a cage set up how it should be, and then get a captive born baby from a reputable person. I don't know what you meant by "screw dirty breeders" but I guarantee you that MOST breeders are very reputable and will be more than willing to help you and sell you a healthy, eating, captive born baby. Don't give up.

 

[Mooing Tricycle]

im not saying any of this to be mean, to start this off, BUT i do want to make sure you understand.

Snakes are not a Cheap startup pet. in no way. The first thing you should be doing when getting a snake is spending the money on the appropriate enclosure and required heating elements, and other proper accessories.

A glass or Similar terrarium would be better off than a Rubbermaid in all actuality, Check out Vision Cages or Boaphile Plastics to name a few of the NICER setups you can buy. a cheaper tank that ive been using with success is the "Visionarium" tanks, youd have to get a smallish sized heating pad but theyre great 20 gallon sized tanks. and they stack!
Even a 20 gallon reptile tank that petco carries would be much better off for you. these now come with a Sliding top feature. Do not go with anything less than a 20 or 40 gallon tank though. if you go with a 20 gallon, you will have to upgrade when the snake gets larger.

Im sorry youve had a bad experience so far, I would also suggest looking up as MUCH information as you can before you decide to get your next one. and, when that time comes, purchase one from a breeder right here on fauna.

Also, i wanted to ask, why did you get Plexiglass for the UTH? get Glass, UTH's should really not be placed on the plastic like Plexiglass * which can warp and such from the heat* or the rubbermaid *which could melt*
Like i said, its not a hobby in where the word "cheap" Exists. You should get a GOOD thermostat for your heating pad like Helix or Ranco or other such brands. Cutting corners is a bad idea, and can lead to more disaterous results..
more expensive yes, but itll be better for you in the long run.

I hope that when you decide to get another snake, or keep this one ( as ive got a ball python from petco thats doing PERFECTLY well) you learn as much as you can about these great pets! I hope it turns out better for you!

 

[Leighanne]

I donno?

Theres stuff I didn't explain and want to but really hate typing. I've given most of the story, and most of my thoughts. Jen I was going to ask about that because Yes she dunked her head and yeah I guess I got freaked out. Thats when I called the Pet Store about it and thats when I told them they should give the others a humid hide and soak them. They probably won't listen huh. I am thinking about giving her back but really I'm not sure.

See when I bought her I was pretty darn sure I could have a heat source within a week especially seeing as how I bought her on Tuesday and I get paid on Thursday. My main thought when I was thinking about her there was the heat tape. I had looked up supply stuff on Fauna just the other night and saw 7 feet of heat tape for $1.49 or something. I remembered everybody talking about rubbermaids. The only thing I wasn't 100% positive on was if I could stick the heat tape straight on the container. I only ever remember about it being used on rack systems. I remembered that the glass is used to stick to the uth. It separates the heat I believe, soaks it up and even better you don't have to attach it to the tank. Thats ridiculous when Snakes get updated as they get older. So thats what the glass is used for. I figured you knew that. No offense.

When I was at the Hardware Store today I made SURE to ask questions about it. I asked about fiberglass, Plexiglas, single layer (regular) glass and double layered glass. I asked which ones could withstand heat over 90 for long periods of time and he hooked me up with plexi. I checked household Thermostats. You know whats funny. I thought of Thermostats, Rheostats, and Timers. I just wanted to look at them all to learn a little bit more. I know the official stuff used for Reptiles is different but they come from these ideas. I TOTALLY forgot about dimmers though!! Read about them but forgot about them. I bought the timer figuring I could monitor her for quit a few hours with the uth to see how hot this thing gets. Then I figured I could set the timer for....I donno, lets say four hours then shut it off for a half an hour. Trying not to overheat her but actually be able to give her heat at the same time. Don't know if that was a bright idea or not?? Even IF I do give her back I have her now.

So shes been hooked up for 8 hours now and her humidity is almost 90%. Her temps are in the 80 and common sense would tell me the tanks staying at 80 but the spot under her log where the uth is at should be between 90-maybe 100? No I don't have proby Thermometers. I just have the round stick on ones but their not so bad. I bought everything I needed except for heat and I already explained that. Thats just the other thing I understand but then don't about the more expensive, scientific equipment most of you want me to buy. 1. My collection is a lot smaller then most of yours. 2. I don't have a car. So 3. I am at home and monitoring them ALL the time. If everybody really wants to help out then tell me something. The Zoomed Thermostat I believe. Its got the cord connecting between the two boxes and it has dual outlets I think?? I saw the top dial for that and theres only low and high. I think thats crappy. Does anybody use these and know what temperature it kept in the terrarium at low and on high?? Besides that ,can you hook up say a Corn Snake and a Ball Python to the same Thermo then?? I mean not knowing what temps they keep. I mean with some of these household items whats wrong with using them if your home. I could just get a dimmer for awhile. I donno. I don't regret anything I buy because it can always be used.

I do in fact have a "friend" that is a Licensed Electrician I was going to ask about his making a Thermostat next time I see him to. I'm also not sure that this Snake is actually sick. Being logical now, not EVERY animal you get from a Pet Store is sick. There are still captives that get sick. I figured, and hoped just because I was doubtful that the wheezing was the bath. Her skin looks good, no injuries, weird bumps or lumps. No mucus, good looking, opaque eyes, active, alert, around the mouth looked good. She also had a nice looking bulk to her body just like I've seen on here. She lookes healthy. As for parasites wouldn't she be thin if she had them?? No weird or abnormal behaviour either. Exp:Oversoaking in the dish is one. She acts totally normal. I have had my Jakers for a minute and Snakes are Snakes is my motto. Yes I do know there is a difference but you guys know what I'm saying. I just haven't seen any poop yet. No I am not going to feed her through the shed. I didn't do it with Jake. I won't do it with Lickity and I'll probably never do it with any Snake.

The reason I don't like a lot of Breeders is going to sound really odd to you, maybe contradicting? I don't like everybody's value of a morph to be simply honest. Everything I have is a normal, literally everything. I could give her back and take my $50.00 and get more supplies. I talked to a really nice girl my age with a great collection at Pet Supplies Plus awhile ago and she said they had a Boa who was really sick and the manager waited like 5 months to do anything and it was lethargic by then. I sat and talked to her about stuff. So I am worried they will do this to Lickity and she will die. I get attached quickly I guess. I thought about doing it and calling them every other day about her and if they took her or not. I thought maybe somebody great will pick her up not much later and give her a great home but thats out of four Snakes.

I thought about my not being able to take it to a Vet until at least next Spring. I was going to call the Vets about those fecals exams though but they were closed today on Wednesday. One of the FEW Vets in this area died I found out. I believe I remember asking if just fecals could be done without bringing them in for $50.00 per animal and I think they said no which is bull crap. If somebody pulls that on me I'll bring all my fecals in with animals in a deli cup and then tell him to do the darn tests to see if their healthy and if theres nothing wrong forget about the stupid 50.00. Some Vets can be quacks like human Doctors and don't most of them just want their money? Its like the Nurses at the Hospital you call and they can give NO info you just HAVE to come in and next thing you know you just had a bad cold, or the flu or something.

Also as for these internet sites to buy the Reptile Thermostats Ebay really honestly just has nothing. I'm in the $40.00 range not 86 or 97 dollar range, and there were like 4 of them posted. I've tried a lot of other places. Does anybody know of a place that will at least take payments then??? Maybe a $40.00 or $50.00 range payed off withing three weeks or something. Maybe I can even just have it taken out of my account for safety to the people"". Netflix just does that.

I donno, it was an idea, unless that Zoomed one would work? That or just the dimmer for a few months, now thats being logical...at least to me. I have 15 days to be with her and I'm on day 2. I should call the Vet and Pet Co again first. Wait hold on, if that was just from the bath and shes not wheezing and sick why would I want to give her back????? Any suggestions about soaking her without her head getting dunked and especially when she doesn't want to????

Your advice is appreciated. Thank You. P.S. I tend to change subject a lot and I am a bad writer. I tend to stumble over my words to.

 

[Gabriel Burgi]

No offense intended, but if you can't afford the proper equipment, vet bills, etc., then why get another snake? I'm not saying the "proper" equipment all comes from Helix or some other high-end place, but trying to rig up household electrical equipment sounds like more trouble than it's worth.

As for Lickity's head going under water, my BP has done that a few times, and he has wheezed a bit. It only took a couple of hours to go away.

As for the heating problem. In my amateur opinion, if you don't have large rack systems, custom cages, etc., then why not use the simple heat gradient method. We have one ball python; a fully grown male in a 40 gallon glass cage. He has a small UTH under his hide, and a heat lamp above it. When I get up in the morning, I turn on his lamp. About 1-2 hours later, he comes out of his hide and moves to the other (non-heated) side of the cage. When the Air Conditioning in the house kicks on, he moves back into his hide, and so on. Unless you are heating the cage uniformly to the exact temperature the snake wants, why not give him/her a choice of what temperature he/she wants to be at?

Gabe

 

[Cat_72]

So shes been hooked up for 8 hours now and her humidity is almost 90%. Her temps are in the 80 and common sense would tell me the tanks staying at 80 but the spot under her log where the uth is at should be between 90-maybe 100? No I don't have proby Thermometers. I just have the round stick on ones but their not so bad. I bought everything I needed except for heat and I already explained that.

Yes, those round thermometers ARE that bad. And you need to place the thermometer exactly where the snake will be laying, not stuck to the side...your snake isn't going to be spending much time stuck to the side of the container. The temp directly on top of the UTH can be DRASTICALLY higher. Guessing the temps between 90-100 is not good enough.

The wheezing COULD have been caused by the bath, but there's always a chance it wasn't. Hopefully, it was nothing more than the water, but I would still watch her VERY carefully.

 

[Pink Lady Exotics]

If you can't afford the proper equipment, then don't get a snake. If couldn't afford dog food, would you get a dog? It's the same thing. Whether you have 20 snakes or 1 snake, you need to buy every single bit of equipment needed in order to provide proper care.

Those dial thermometers are always wrong. They measure the temperature of the AIR and GLASS...not the temperature of the substrate which is where your snake lays. You should NEVER guess what the temperature your snake feels is because 100 degrees is way too hot. It should be 80-82 on the cool side, 90-92 on the warm side underneath her hide. Get a digital thermometer with a probe so you can accurately measure temps. This one is from Lowe's, it is $13 so you can definitely afford it. It has a probe that measures the warm side, the unit itself measures the cool side and the humidity:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=21243-1308-00887GT&lpage=none

The Zoo Med thermostat will work, I used one on my 40g tank when I had tanks. It isn't just high and low, you adjust the dial little bits at a time to achieve the right temperature. Mine was always set just past the middle area. I recommend getting a more reliable one like a Ranco though, it's $74:

http://www.mgreptiles.com/Ranco.html

You didn't need the plexiglass, a UTH will not melt the rubbermaid plastic or get too hot on the tank glass if you have it regulated by a thermostat like you should have all along.

You need to read these:

http://ballpython.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3023

http://ballpython.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3359

Mooing Tricycle, I disagree with you. Rubbermaids are much better than glass tanks IMO because they maintain heat and humidity better. I never use anything else.

Gabe, do you have your UTH and your heat lamp on a thermostat?

 

[Gabriel Burgi]

Gabe, do you have your UTH and your heat lamp on a thermostat?

Nope, and I don't plan to. The heating pad is a small one, and the lamp is a 75 watt. With our thermostat in the house set at 74 degrees, his cage temps are perfect. His large tank allows for a nice gradient between heated and not heated ends. In the 3 years he's been in this setup, he's never had any health problems, and perfect one-piece sheds every time. Sometimes less is more.

If I were to breed BP's, I would definitely go with a rubbermaid setup, but with one snake, the cleaning is easy enough. Back when I was younger and had about 60 or so snakes, the rubbermaids were the way to go. I also never had any problems with them melting, and cleaning was a snap.

Gabe

 

[Rakshasanyc]

Mooing Tricycle, I disagree with you. Rubbermaids are much better than glass tanks IMO because they maintain heat and humidity better. I never use anything else.

When we got our ratsnake Chibi, we put her in a Rubbermaid for her 90 day quarantine. She was happy as a little pink and yellow clam.

We then moved her to a shiny new ($200+ with shipping) 3' x 2' x 1' Boaphile cage. She spiralled into a depression, refused to eat, and started striking wildly at everything that got near her cage.

We finally moved Chibi back into her Rubbermaid and her disposition and appetite improved immediately. (After shelling out for an unncessary cage, my disposition left a little something to be desired...).

Now I need to find a good snake for a 3' cage...

 

[Pink Lady Exotics]

Those dimensions sound perfect for an adult ball python. As long as you have tons of hides in there and the proper temps/humidity, I think a BP would do well in a Boaphile of that size.