View Full Version : habitat augmentation.
GaiusIuliusTabernarius
07-29-2011, 02:00 PM
Earlier I noticed tiamat trying to climb up the artificial leaves and realized she could probably use a new toy. So I went into the yard and broke off a maple shoot. I then stripped the green bark and inner bark with a knife, before rinsing off and drying the core. I broke it in half and arranged a small canopy topped with leaves in the center. I'm hoping she will have fun climbing on it. and perhaps she'll spend less time hiding under the substrait with the extra cover it provides.
I'd also like to make some fake rocks and a better water dish for her. I've heard that they can be made from a mixture of flour, salt, oil and water, and then backed and spray painted. But I don't have an exact recipe. Do any of you have any suggestions? I'd like something I could mold with my hands, then bake solid.
RedSidedSPR
07-29-2011, 02:09 PM
Maybe something like this?
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/enclosures/8343-homemade-hides.html
Didymus20X6
07-29-2011, 02:11 PM
Someone made a thread about that a while back.
Here's something better: Great Stuff. It's a spray foam that comes in cans, costs about $3 at Lowes, and can be shaped into just about anything. But you have to use the entire can at once, or it goes to waste. Shape it however you want, give it a few days to dry, then give it a good thick coat of textured paint, and voila, artificial rocks!
Another option: flower pots and bricks, available real cheap at Wal-Mart. You can take bricks and break them into pieces for a natural appearance.
infernalis
07-29-2011, 02:27 PM
I just pick up rocks and wash them off. Nearly every one of my snakes cages has real rocks in them.
RedSidedSPR
07-29-2011, 03:40 PM
Me too. My snakes love them.
GaiusIuliusTabernarius
07-29-2011, 05:24 PM
Well I got creative, I made a hide out of an empty paper towel box and a used paper towel roll and some scotch tape. then used the sticks and some of the rocks from my collection to make a tower with the leaves. she seems to like it and it should keep her happy until I make something more permanent, also thanks for the link, that's exactly what I was looking for.
kibakiba
07-29-2011, 05:39 PM
Tape is really bad to use around snakes.
infernalis
07-29-2011, 05:40 PM
Tape is really bad to use around snakes.
It will pull the skin right off the snake.
guidofatherof5
07-29-2011, 05:41 PM
Well I got creative, I made a hide out of an empty paper towel box and a used paper towel roll and some scotch tape.
Any tape in an enclosure is very dangerous.
Snakes have a way of getting caught in it no matter how well you think you have it secured. Humidity and snakes rubbing against it can cause the edge to come loose.
We've had plenty of people come on the forum with stories of snakes caught in tape. Some were wild snakes found and other were captive snakes.
I once used a piece of cardboard to separate out two groups of snake in one aquarium. I though I had everything done right and I still ended up with a stuck snake. The snake survived but that was the end of my tape use.
Just a word to the wise on tape use.;)
d_virginiana
07-29-2011, 06:10 PM
Yup, I've seen plenty of wild ones caught in tape, usually in our church fellowship hall (no one goes in and there's a lot of childrens' art projects). Never a good idea.
GaiusIuliusTabernarius
07-29-2011, 07:38 PM
Oh I considered that, the back of the tape is covered by cardboard, and its on the upper corner of the hide facing down. the intention was for her to go through the tube and hide under the tissue box, I made slits in the top too small for her to fit through but large enough for air to come in and out. However she seems to prefer to just crawl under it... which is fine by me... its only temporary. I'm going to pick up some of that waterproofing agent tomorrow at home depot and see about making her something more sturdy. I have an idea in mind. with any luck my years of screwing around with modeling clay will do me some good.
Also bear in mind I haven't gone 5 minutes without checking on her. I keep worrying that she'll get caught in something... In fact I had a scare this morning since she was half under the box and being quite still, of course as soon as I opened the lid she quickly vanished under it. I guess she likes my cheep adhoc canopy.
Really the only thing that bothers me is that she occasionally nudges against the glass in an attempt to escape. the tank is much larger than her, but its still a very small tank.. I just hope she's not feeling claustrophobic. If its even possible for a snake to have a phobia...
Didymus20X6
07-29-2011, 09:00 PM
Wild snakes don't fully understand the concept of glass. It's natural for them to wonder, "Hey! Why can't I go beyond this point? Is it some sort of invisible barrier?" In time, they learn.
kibakiba
07-29-2011, 09:11 PM
Honestly, even if you think you know that the snake wont get caught in the tape, anything that CAN go wrong, usually will. Is it worth having even 10% of a chance of her getting caught in the tape, and possibly having her scales ripped off, or her tongue ripped out because she was rubbing on the box? Its better to err on the side of caution than to end up with the snake getting hurt in one of the worst ways possible.
GaiusIuliusTabernarius
07-30-2011, 07:24 AM
You have a point, of course as I said its only temporary. I'm going to try my hand at making a permanent one today. I just have to pick up some acrylic at home depot.
ConcinusMan
08-04-2011, 11:10 AM
Snakes have a way of getting caught in it no matter how well you think you have it secured. The snake survived but that was the end of my tape use.
Indeed they do. You're the lucky one. I lost a big female concinnus' I had for years. Had to put her down. She was so caught up in duct tape, there was no hope. I tried everything but she was already weak and missing a lot of scales. It was just too late since I had been gone for days. I had used the duct tape on the outside of the homemade screen top where it had begun to come loose from the frame. She still managed to get to it, even though there was no sticky part exposed or in the tank itself.:(
I will no longer use tape anywhere near a snake enclosure. Never again.
RedSidedSPR
08-04-2011, 11:14 AM
Well, dang, neither will I now...
That sucks Richard.:(
ConcinusMan
08-04-2011, 11:20 AM
It's not worth it, trust me. Make it a policy right now. No tape use in a snake room. In or out of the enclosures. And don't forget to check objects for stickers (and wire ties) and remove them before placing the object in the enclosure. Snakes are like a two year old child. If there's any hazard, no matter how unlikely it may seem, they're going to find it and get themselves hurt.
RedSidedSPR
08-04-2011, 11:22 AM
Still haven't found a good way to keep my thermos off the substrate without the included two-sided tape, (not using it, I just keep it on top of the hide).....But I sure as heck ain't gonna use it.
kibakiba
08-04-2011, 12:27 PM
Glue it to the side.
RedSidedSPR
08-04-2011, 12:29 PM
I don't want to it be permanent!
kibakiba
08-04-2011, 12:32 PM
You can take glue off of a tank easily. Paint thinner, or water if you dont use super glue.
RedSidedSPR
08-04-2011, 12:35 PM
Yeah, ok, i guess i'll do that...
Didymus20X6
08-04-2011, 12:53 PM
Or a razor scraper, which you can pick up in your local chain store's hardware section. IF we're talking about a glass tank, that is.
Also, you could try suction cup hooks. Should be able to pick those up in your local chain store's hardware section, too.
RedSidedSPR
08-04-2011, 12:55 PM
Well, my 10gal glass, but my 20gal is plastic....
Didymus20X6
08-04-2011, 12:59 PM
In that case, plumber's glue would do the trick. It's a good solid bond, but not as permanent as crazy glue. It's a more rubbery compound once dried.
RedSidedSPR
08-04-2011, 01:05 PM
Thanks man. i'll get some...
d_virginiana
08-04-2011, 02:02 PM
I use aquarium safe silicone to 'glue' things to the side of my tanks. IMO it's easier than glue to get off if you need to. Only problem is it takes a while to dry, so there can't be any snakes in it for a day or so.
RedSidedSPR
08-04-2011, 02:05 PM
Oh.. Hmm..
ConcinusMan
08-04-2011, 02:06 PM
Aquarium silicone
RedSidedSPR
08-04-2011, 02:07 PM
Ah... Hmmm..
Starling96
08-04-2011, 08:21 PM
Expoxy?
we use it for frags in our saltwater tank
xStatic
08-04-2011, 09:43 PM
SUCTION CUPS! :D work great for sticking things to sides and bottonms, without any hazards or permanet residue
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.2 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.