Re: new rat snake owner please help (long)

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Posted by Jean Lobel on December 08, 1999 at 09:46:00:

In Reply to: new rat snake owner please help (long) posted by aj on December 07, 1999 at 22:09:28:

: I just recieved my first rat snake as an early xmas present and have a few questions;
: 1) Ever since I brought him home he has spent most of the time between the top of the terrarium and the lid, is this normal, or could it have something to do with the substrate,
: 2) I purchased a heater rock, a heating pad, and a heat lamp, which is the best for maintaining the proper temperature of the tank and what should the temperature of the tank be at night,
: and lastly how many pinkies does a young rat snake eat when feeding? thanks.

What kind of a rat snake?If the people on the forum are to help you they need to know as each snake is habitat specific,with some needs basic.I put mine on newspaper with a water bowl kept changed and cleaned as you would do for a parrot as well as a heat pad kept on low under one end. But, I picked up my snake wild,and adult,on my place(abt 6').My snake likes newspaper(warm,easy to remove fecal material & check it)but, I don't know about small young snakes(humidity & shed cycles).If you can avoid problems early in the game so you don't have to medicate that is a goal.My opinion(and this is only a PERSONAL opinion)is that adult-weight established snakes(verified healthy)are best not only for beginners,but any new species as vet support of problems can present difficulties.
I spent a number of years in the bird trade.People who don't make use of foreign trade channels frequently sold young captive bred birds to unprepared beginners.There is no question in my mind that the reptile trade is moving in the same direction the bird trade moved.
You can probably establish this snake with the help of experienced people on the forum,if they will come forward with posts.

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: : I just recieved my first rat snake as an early xmas present and have a few questions; : : 1) Ever since I brought him home he has spent most of the time between the top of the terrarium and the lid, is this normal, or could it have something to do with the substrate, : : 2) I purchased a heater rock, a heating pad, and a heat lamp, which is the best for maintaining the proper temperature of the tank and what should the temperature of the tank be at night, : : and lastly how many pinkies does a young rat snake eat when feeding? thanks. : What kind of a rat snake?If the people on the forum are to help you they need to know as each snake is habitat specific,with some needs basic.I put mine on newspaper with a water bowl kept changed and cleaned as you would do for a parrot as well as a heat pad kept on low under one end. But, I picked up my snake wild,and adult,on my place(abt 6').My snake likes newspaper(warm,easy to remove fecal material & check it)but, I don't know about small young snakes(humidity & shed cycles).If you can avoid problems early in the game so you don't have to medicate that is a goal.My opinion(and this is only a PERSONAL opinion)is that adult-weight established snakes(verified healthy)are best not only for beginners,but any new species as vet support of problems can present difficulties. : I spent a number of years in the bird trade.People who don't make use of foreign trade channels frequently sold young captive bred birds to unprepared beginners.There is no question in my mind that the reptile trade is moving in the same direction the bird trade moved. : You can probably establish this snake with the help of experienced people on the forum,if they will come forward with posts.

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