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PackerManDan
Snake Mite
4 Posts |
 Posted - 21/01/2011 : 04:19:48
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Long story short, I just got a Gray-banded Kingsnake today from someone that had to give it away. My only previous experience with snakes was years ago I owned a Ball Python for a few months.
I have a few questions and I'm hoping you guys can help out:
1) As far as feeding mice goes. The woman I got the snake from told me to take the snake out of the cage and put it in a big paper bag to feed it (so it doesn't associate it's cage with food). But all the videos I'm seeing online are showing people feeding their snakes in the cage. Which is right? And if I do feed it in a bag when is it okay for me to pick the snake up to put it back in it's cage?
2) How often should I be feeding it? The woman said it's about 1 year old and I looked online and seems I should be feeding it one "fuzzy" or "hopper" mouse every week.
3) What is the best heating element to use? The tank the woman gave me has a heating light that is fixed inside the cage on the top. Is this okay or should I just buy a heating pad to go under the cage?
4) What is the ideal temperature to run on the HOT side and COOL side during the day? And do I turn the heating light off at night and just let the cage cool down to room temperature?
5) How should I set the cage up? Right now there is a water dish on the cool side of the cage and Aspen substrate and a big thick wood log in the middle of the cage. Is this acceptable or should I do something else?
Sorry for all the questions... |
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LRV2307
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 21/01/2011 : 07:31:47
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hi packermandan
first thing i would do, is read the caresheet on this site, its a great help,
feeding? i feed my king and corn snake every 5-7 days......they just gone onto fuzzies every 7 days
if she fed the snake in a paperbag outside the viv, then try that, but i use an old icecream tub. once the meal has gone halfway down the body, should be fine to pick him up and move him back to the viv
heating your better off with a heating mat, with a thermostat......temps are on the caresheet of this site
i have lots of hides and toilet roll tubes for snakies to hide and climb through
water is better on the cool side.
what kind of 'cage' is he in? if its a faun, then the heating mat should be outside it, if its a viv, should be inside with thermostat
lets have a look at some picies of your set up and the snakie lol
this forum is a great help, and so is the caresheet hun |
0.1.0 snow corn - morgana
0.1.0 cali banded king - boudica
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Gmac
TKS Grumpy Scots Admin
United Kingdom
754 Posts |
Posted - 21/01/2011 : 12:20:21
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Hi and welcome,
1. It is upto you how you want to feed the king, Although i would suggest using a rub if you are p[lanning on feeding out of the viv, and not a bag as suggested. Before lifting him back into the viv after feeding wait about 15 minutes or so to let him settle agaion then gently lift him back into his viv.
2. I would feed your king every 7 days.
3. If you already have a light in the viv just go with that, but make sure it is statted. For a light you will need a dimmer stat.
4. Temperatures should be about 29 -32deg C day and night so leave the light on permanantly, you can get coloured bulbs that wont be as glaring as a white bulb.
5. Your cage sounds fine but maybe add a bit of greenery and a hide in both the cool and warm ends |
9.6 Corns, 1.0 Bci, 2.1 Royals, 1.1 king snakes, 0.0.1 milksnake, 1.1 black rat snakes, 1.2 Beardies, 1.0 shovelface
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Just got a Gray-Banded Kingsnake...questions
