| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
johnnymachine
Egg
United Kingdom
79 Posts |
 Posted - 28/01/2012 : 01:11:48
|
As this is my first snake, I've not really known what to expect, so I may well be picking up on tiny, insignificant things, but it would really put my mind to rest just to get you guys' opinions on some things. I've only had him for three weeks or so, some of you guys have been keeping snakes for years!
Julian's a desert kingsnake, does that necessarily mean he might want a higher temp? I'm keeping him at about 30c on the hot side at the moment, although I think my stat's on the blink, it keeps going a little higher I just realised there was nothing wrong with the stat, Julian just likes to bury the sensor, keeping it out of the heat of the lamp. I'll be fixing that to the side of the viv when I get the chance.
Should I turn the bulb off at night? Would an infrared bulb be better for him? He seems to only be really active at night, when I turn out all the lights in my room (although he's gradually becoming more active in the day).
I've been scouring this forum for info, and everyone says that kingsnakes are feisty little blighters, until they calm down and get used to you. Julian isn't exactly feisty, just in a constant houdini mode. While handling him he'll do his best to get away (although he's never even threatened to bite or musk), and if I let him out of my hands, he tries to zoom off. I wouldn't say he's feisty so much as easily scared.
Another thing for behaviour, he's been poking his nose into all the tiny holes and vents in his viv, which is kinda funny, but he's also been rubbing his nose against the sliding glass door, and I'm worried he could hurt himself doing so. Is there a cause and a way to stop him? He also likes to lie vertically against the glass until he gets too high up, and then he sort of flumps back down. He also seems to recoil a lot when I come too close to the door (unfortunate, given that there's about two feet between my bed and his viv.
I think that's it, just a little anxious about nothing, y'know. Imagine how I'll be when he starts shedding ._. |
johnnymachine - LEICESTER, UK
0.0.1 Desert Kingsnake
 |
|
|
Gmac
TKS Grumpy Scots Admin
United Kingdom
754 Posts |
Posted - 28/01/2012 : 16:20:27
|
If you are using a light for heating you are better off using an infra red ir even a ceramic bulb, there is less, none with the ceramic, light and doesnt become an irritant at night when you want it that bit darker. You are best trying to keep the snake on the heat for 24 hours.
For temps treat the snake as a common king where the hot end temps of around 32-33 is fine.
You have a small snake and it will se you as a massive predator for now, this will change with handling and him getting used to you and not seeing you as a threat. And no there is no way to stop them rubbing their noses is just simething they do looking for escape routes. |
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
  |
 |
|
|
johnnymachine
Egg
United Kingdom
79 Posts |
Posted - 30/01/2012 : 01:36:46
|
I ordered an infrared, should be here in a day or two, thanks for the advice :)
And I never even considered myself as a massive predator, but I see why he's so nervous now. Fair play to him.
I made a little pipe system for him to occupy himself with to distract him from looking for escape routes :D
Thanks again for the help. |
johnnymachine - LEICESTER, UK
0.0.1 Desert Kingsnake
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Noob worries
