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p3_arme
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
 Posted - 20/11/2009 : 23:20:35
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Hi I'm new to the forum and new to keeping Snakes.
I've had Calleigh, my California Kingsnake for 3 weeks and am worried about her. She is currently 4ft long ish, and gets fed on Wednesdays, 2 medium mice at present.
However, she is always cold, is this correct for Snakes, or does she need to be warm/ hot. I know she's meant to be more nocturnal than dinurnal. But I'm still worried.
She has a heat pad, and her tank had a background temperature of 28 Degrees C. and spends a lot of time either in her water dish, or the cool end, (same place) or on ornaments.
Any help would be great.
Thanks Emma and Calleigh |
Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often.
I am owned by rescued animals of which I have; 1 King Snake, 2 Rankins, 1 Berber Skink, 2 Leopard Geckos, small Anoles, Geckos, a Tree Frog and lastly 2 Cats. |
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magneticblue
Kingsnake Forum Admin
United Kingdom
1511 Posts |
Posted - 20/11/2009 : 23:47:59
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Snakes can often feel cold to the touch and is not necessarily a problem. You say your background temp is 28C. How are you measuring this, where is the thermometer placed? Also, what are you keeping her in?
Sounds like you have all the correct equipment so there may be no problem at all or you may just need to tweak something. If you can get a pic of Calleigh's enclosure that may also help us to advise you  |
1.1.0 Arizona mountain king (Sylar and Claire)
0.1.0 Blotched king ( Jasmin)
1.1.0 Guyana red-tail boa (Hercules and Athena)
1.0.1 children (Alfie and BUMP)
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p3_arme
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 20/11/2009 : 23:59:55
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It does have a thermostat, which is set to 28c, the probe for the thermostat is sitting on top of the mat. The thermometer is measuring air temperature, which is roughly the center of the tank.
Her tank is a viv. 40ins x 18ins.
No mites that I can see, however she is black and white, but seen nothing moving. She is also not in shed, having done this less than a month ago. She also gets fed on Wednesdays, and she enjoyed 2 boil in the bag medium mice (Don't ask, I don't know why I do that either :) |
Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often.
I am owned by rescued animals of which I have; 1 King Snake, 2 Rankins, 1 Berber Skink, 2 Leopard Geckos, small Anoles, Geckos, a Tree Frog and lastly 2 Cats. |
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Gingerpony
SerpentSeven's Evil Twin
United Kingdom
726 Posts |
Posted - 21/11/2009 : 10:15:48
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if you have one thermometer it should be placed on the substrate above the heatmat that way you're measuring the temps accurately. also 'setting the stat' to 28*C i assume you mean on the dial? in reality the actual warm end temp where the snake is could be way out! set the stat according to the temp the thermometer gives you on top of the substrate, and go for a digital thermometer or greenhouse thermometer as dial ones are notoriously inaccurate.
TBH 28*C is a little chilly, have you read the care sheet on here? |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, Dumerils boas, BCO hybrids, Sinder Hypo boas, Day Geckos
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p3_arme
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 21/11/2009 : 21:44:28
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Thanks for all your suggestions folks.
Last night we raised the tank 1/2 inch above the viv below on polystyrene blocks at either end to give it some insulation from the heat.
This morning the whole problem might have become academic as the heat mat only seems to be partly working with large dead areas, so off the the shops tomorrow for a new system - prob use a heat lamp (with full guard - already have that) as the heat mat is under the vinyl and it's all glued down. |
Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often.
I am owned by rescued animals of which I have; 1 King Snake, 2 Rankins, 1 Berber Skink, 2 Leopard Geckos, small Anoles, Geckos, a Tree Frog and lastly 2 Cats. |
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Help Cold Snake
