Changing substrate?

[tress29]

I may have to take the aspen out of my tank and swap with paper towel or newspaper. I can't find my snakes! Boo Hoo! They are hiding from me.

I saw the eastern poke it's head out from under the water dish at lunch time, and the radix was exploring when I got home. Still haven't seen the coast, though someone was under the aspen at the back of the tank.

My question is this: will the little guys be too exposed with no shavings to hide in? I definitely want them to settle in, but I'd like to be able to check on them, and see that they are eating. Any thoughts?

[EasternGirl]

I wouldn't take away their substrate...you want them to feel safe and have a place to burrow and hide...that's what garters do...I know, I know...it's tough when you want to see them...but give them time and they will start to come out more. What I have been doing with Hermes is I stick my hand down in the substrate and find him and make sure he is okay a couple of times a day. I often do the same thing with my eastern girls as they will burrow a lot and stay hidden much of the time...if time goes by and I haven't seen them, I will simply dig for them in the substrate and find them just to make sure they are okay...sometimes that alone will get them to come out as garters are extremely curious...they will often come out and explore after I find them. As far as feeding goes...you may want to consider a separate feeding tank...one that you have paper towels in the bottom of instead of substrate...and that you move the snakes into to feed. Then you can monitor the feeding.

[infernalis]

And it's "cute" when little heads pop out of the shavings.

[tress29]

I have to unbury my hognose all the time, he's usually behind the water dish. The 20L is just so much bigger! And I feel bad disturbing their little tunnels! Maybe tomorrow I'll go looking for the coast.

[katach]

They love to dig. I would leave the substrate. It's only ben a couple of days. They will settle in and get more comfortable in time.

[EasternGirl]

Ha Ha...yeah..I always feel really bad when I mess up all the little tunnels that Cee Cee and Selena have made...I can always tell Cee Cee's tunnels from Selena's because Cee Cee's are big and Selena's are little tiny tunnels. I imagine that they are cursing me all the time for that! But Kat is right..it's only been a couple of days...Hermes is being the exact same way right now. He wouldn't touch his food tonight...and he refuses to come out from hiding. They'll get used to us! Hang in there!

[chris-uk]

Leave the substrate in, but don't be too worried about having a dig to find them. You'll soon learn where they tend to sleep when they burrow, then it's usually just a case of sticking your finger into the substrate in those places, wiggle it a bit to disturb the substrate, and a head will soon pop up. :-)

[zendragondrew]

And it's "cute" when little heads pop out of the shavings.

Very true. I just put in a new substrate that's easily "burrow-able" and she keeps her whole body under it except her head. It's funny looking, I love it.

[zendragondrew]

The problem is now I'm afraid she's going to poop underground and I won't be able to clean it.

[chris-uk]

The problem is now I'm afraid she's going to poop underground and I won't be able to clean it.
Don't worry, they prefer the water bowl just after you change the water.

[EasternGirl]

Very true. I just put in a new substrate that's easily "burrow-able" and she keeps her whole body under it except her head. It's funny looking, I love it. You ought to get a pic of that and post it for us!

I was thinking, Tress...have you spent any time at night with the lights out watching to see if the snakes are active at all? Hermes was out all night last night trying to plan an escape route...and as soon as I turned the lights on this morning, he ducked back in for cover. I know it's more true for albinos to be active at night...but I have friends who say that their non-albino (for lack of a better term) garters are primarily active at night...and I know sometimes my easterns like to come out and play in the dark...might try watching for them at night!

[tress29]

I was thinking, Tress...have you spent any time at night with the lights out watching to see if the snakes are active at all?

When I got off the computer last night, I crept in to check on them. First thing I noticed was all my worm bits have been eaten! The eastern and the radix were creeping around the back of the tank. I held each of them for a few seconds, and offered the eastern a drink of water. (I tend to put the snakes in the water dish when I return them to their tanks!)

This morning I left the lights off in the living room and found the eastern creeping around the water dish. I guess that's his favorite hide? I really need to think of some names for them, but I'm trying to wait until the weekend when my boys get back from their dad's house.

[EasternGirl]

Cool...my son named my two easterns. Does the eastern stay in the water dish a lot or he likes to hide under it?

[tress29]

He's underneath it! This is the dish, except I bought it at Meijer.

ECO Bowl Medium Dish - EC3 (http://www.lucy-the-dog.com/ecobomediec3.html)

As far as names go, our hognose is Sweets (we're Bones fans.) The leopard gecko is Sephira (from Eragon.) Our cat is Houdini, cause he can escape over the baby gate (imagine that!) Our dogs are Lucy and Eli, for no special reason!

[EasternGirl]

Thanks! I just ordered the dish in a small for Hermes. I'm a big Bones fan too...have all the seasons on boxset! My dog is Elvis Presley...we call him Presley...I'm a big Elvis fan...My cats are Boo, Beanie and Ian...and the hermit crabs are PJ and Shelly. We get hognose snakes in Delaware...usually around the beach areas. I haven't seen one since I was little though. People often mistake them for copperheads.

[ConcinusMan]

I only use newspaper when I have to. If you have aspen, stick with that. One of the problems with newspaper is that when it gets soiled you have to change the whole thing. Another problem is ink staining the snakes, and inevitably they will eventually find a way to get under it and poop directly on the glass/floor. They will always come to the surface (or water dish) to poop so no worries about them pooping "underground".

[zendragondrew]

You ought to get a pic of that and post it for us!



http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/attachments/general-talk/3399d1322637256-whats-your-fav-100media-imag0194.jpg