Housing
Rearranging the Furniture
I wasn’t happy with the setup of Victoria’s vivarium.
First, I wasn’t convinced that the 11watt heater mat
was large enough for the tank size (an 11” square
heater under a 24” square tank). The heater seemed to
be on almost all the time and, unless the lamp was on
as well, it couldn’t maintain an adequate
temperature. So, I rearranged the tank today,
replacing the 11w mat with a larger, 20w one. That
seems much better. There’s still plenty of space for
Victoria to escape the heat, if she wants to, but now
the mat is able to maintain temperature when I put
the lamp off.
While I was at it, I also put in a larger branch, with several off-shoots. This is about 5” wide at the base, with the offshoots between 2” and 4” diameter. I have wrapped some artificial vines around it and it looks quite effective. i know that Royals are not often found off the ground, but it has also given her a much wider range of ground level hides as well. All in all, a good improvement.
As if to celebrate, some 12 hours or so after the rearrangement she struck at a mouse as soon as it was offered. i bought some smaller mice to try her with, since she had refused the last two medium mice offered. I’ll thaw another one tomorrow and try her again tomorrow night.
I haven’t weighed her tonight, but while she was out of her viv during the rearrangement, I measured her length. i had previously estimated it at 20-24”. I turns out that she’s a healthy 39”!
It must be time to find her a mate.
I also called in at Norwich Reptiles today, hoping to pick up a couple of beardies and a couple of Emperor Scorpions. Out of luck on both!. They are growing on some Captive Bred beardies, but they aren’t quite ready yet. Another week should see them ready. They’re also down to their last Emporer - expecting more in next Wednesday. They did have an absolutely gorgeous Cayman Island Iguana there though. A fantastic beast that I fell in love with, but at £1,500 I’m not so sure that I could have convinced Margaret that it really needed a new home with us!
Anyway, it seems I just happened to call in a few days too soon! I had the viva set up ready for them as well. Ah, well. Maybe better luck next time.
While I was at it, I also put in a larger branch, with several off-shoots. This is about 5” wide at the base, with the offshoots between 2” and 4” diameter. I have wrapped some artificial vines around it and it looks quite effective. i know that Royals are not often found off the ground, but it has also given her a much wider range of ground level hides as well. All in all, a good improvement.
As if to celebrate, some 12 hours or so after the rearrangement she struck at a mouse as soon as it was offered. i bought some smaller mice to try her with, since she had refused the last two medium mice offered. I’ll thaw another one tomorrow and try her again tomorrow night.
I haven’t weighed her tonight, but while she was out of her viv during the rearrangement, I measured her length. i had previously estimated it at 20-24”. I turns out that she’s a healthy 39”!
It must be time to find her a mate.
I also called in at Norwich Reptiles today, hoping to pick up a couple of beardies and a couple of Emperor Scorpions. Out of luck on both!. They are growing on some Captive Bred beardies, but they aren’t quite ready yet. Another week should see them ready. They’re also down to their last Emporer - expecting more in next Wednesday. They did have an absolutely gorgeous Cayman Island Iguana there though. A fantastic beast that I fell in love with, but at £1,500 I’m not so sure that I could have convinced Margaret that it really needed a new home with us!
Anyway, it seems I just happened to call in a few days too soon! I had the viva set up ready for them as well. Ah, well. Maybe better luck next time.
0
Comments
Second Feeding Attempt
Over the weekend some additional hide materials were
added to the Royal Python’s viv. These took the form
of rough split logs. the log was retrieved from a
tree trimmed by the council - I baked the logs for 5
hours in the oven to kill off any mould or pests
first, then removed all the bark and loose material
before splitting the logs to form a new hide. This
because she has taken to hiding behind the backdrop
to the viv and I am concerned that she will be
getting chilled behind there - it is away from all
the heat and insulated from the tank by the foam
thickness of the backdrop. She seems much happier in
the main area of the tank now.
Tried her with a second mouse last night. As soon as I lifted the mouse in to the viv, she struck at it, but unfortunately missed! She caught both the mouse and my thumb (drew just a little spot of blood!) this made me jump and her as well. I think this put her off because, although she looked over the mouse for a good few minutes, she was very wary and didn’t take it. It was still there this morning, so I had to remove it again. Disappointing, but still not a major worry. She is taking an interest in the food, so I am not deeply concerned yet.
Tried her with a second mouse last night. As soon as I lifted the mouse in to the viv, she struck at it, but unfortunately missed! She caught both the mouse and my thumb (drew just a little spot of blood!) this made me jump and her as well. I think this put her off because, although she looked over the mouse for a good few minutes, she was very wary and didn’t take it. It was still there this morning, so I had to remove it again. Disappointing, but still not a major worry. She is taking an interest in the food, so I am not deeply concerned yet.
Settling In
Well the Royal Python seems to be settling in well.
what follows is a few lines on how she is housed.
Read More...
Read More...
