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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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 Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:07 pm Post subject: Interested in BPs |
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I am an art teacher and have had a "pet" in my room for the past 8 years. Last Easter my Bearded Dragon died and I decided that I was not going to get another pet for my room. Well...as I prepare for the coming school year, it is missing something...a pet. I went to the local pet store and was looking to purchase another beardie, but I ran across a BP. I feel that I could handle the care and feeding, but I have a concern. Will a classroom setting be too much for a BP. I teach kindergarten through 8th grade, and the room can be noisy. Will a BP be able to thrive in my room, or will the constant chatter of hundreds of anklebiters  scare it and cause it stress?
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Moshi
Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 303
Location: Pinellas Park Fl
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| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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Yay! An art teacher! I don't know about noise/stress on the bp... I'm new to this and my bp lives in my room and I don't make much noise. Any body else?
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RonCrawford
Site Admin
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 2043
Location: Pottsville, PA (USA)
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| Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 1:01 am Post subject: Re: Interested in BPs |
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| Etreum wrote: | | I am an art teacher and have had a "pet" in my room for the past 8 years. Last Easter my Bearded Dragon died and I decided that I was not going to get another pet for my room. Well...as I prepare for the coming school year, it is missing something...a pet. I went to the local pet store and was looking to purchase another beardie, but I ran across a BP. I feel that I could handle the care and feeding, but I have a concern. Will a classroom setting be too much for a BP. I teach kindergarten through 8th grade, and the room can be noisy. Will a BP be able to thrive in my room, or will the constant chatter of hundreds of anklebiters scare it and cause it stress? |
They are deaf so the constant chatter won't bother them. Just make sure the ball python has a few hides in the cage.
Good luck!
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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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That is great. I think I shall go pick on up this weekend! I shall post pics once I have everything set up.
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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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Another quick question...
I have what I think is a 40 gallon tank. It has a 48"x12" footprint. Will that be too big for a young BP? Should I start with a smaller tank, or will they enjoy the room for exercise?
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RonCrawford
Site Admin
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 2043
Location: Pottsville, PA (USA)
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| Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Etreum wrote: | Another quick question...
I have what I think is a 40 gallon tank. It has a 48"x12" footprint. Will that be too big for a young BP? Should I start with a smaller tank, or will they enjoy the room for exercise? |
The smaller the better for hatchlings. They like tight spaces actually. I keep my hatchlings in 6.5qt rubbermaid shoeboxes.
If you opt for the 40 gallon, place several hides in there and make sure you have a large water bowl as well. Large tanks don't keep humidity too well.
Best of luck!
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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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Well to be honest, I have no idea how old the snake is. But I will put a few hides in there for him/her. I also will cover the top of the tank to help keep in humidity.
I don't really wanna buy a new tank...so if it is not optimal, or just should not be used, I could start out in a tote until it grows into the tank.
*edit Doh! I just remembered the science teacher has a few extra aquariums she is not using in her room. Sounds like I have found a fix.
When the snake is full size...is the 40 gallon ok?
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noodlesoup
Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Tacoma, WA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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40 gallons should be just fine.....I've got a 9 year old who's 48 inches long in a 50 gallon long and he loves being about to come out and stretch and roam around. But I'm new to this so Ron or Deb would be the ones with the professional(sp?) answers!
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Jordan700
Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1048
Location: Petaluma, California
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| Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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40g is fine, but remember Ron's adice about it being harder to keep the humidity high. You might have to cover 3/4 of the top to trap in humidity.  Hope it works out for you! And good luck!
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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks all for the advice...looking forward to getting my new lil friend!
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noodlesoup
Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Tacoma, WA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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What kind of lid do you have for your tank? I've got one of those wire ones *horrible for humidity*.....I've got glass covering one half and towel covering the opened parts now...
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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah...I have a screen now. I will get a sheet of plex to cover 2/3's of it to keep the humidity in.
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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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So I go to the pet store today, and the fella I was interested in was shedding. I did not pick him up today, because I wanted to ask if I should wait until he was done shedding to get him.
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6855
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:16 am Post subject: |
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| Etreum wrote: | | So I go to the pet store today, and the fella I was interested in was shedding. I did not pick him up today, because I wanted to ask if I should wait until he was done shedding to get him. |
Hi Etreum! Welcome to the RCreptile forums! Sorry I have been busy rearranging my snake room (yes, again!) 
From reading your post, it sounds like you are going to open the kids minds to a new perspective on snakes and I think that's GRAND! So far, you have all the advice you need to start...make sure you use the correct substrate. Cedar is toxic to balls, Newspaper is cheap and the kids can change the substrate themselves...Aspen bedding is actually MY number one choice because it's still lightweight when it gets damp and it's easy to spot clean. Reptile bark is good, but pricy and heavy when it's wet.
You actually could have taken the snake even though it was preparing to shed, ** I have done so** But it's also better to get the snake after it has shed so that is one less stressful condition on top of a new environment that it has to handle. By leaving the snake until it has shed, you will (if it sheds correctly) get a new snake that you have time to get the temps/ humidity in order before the next shed.  It's just a matter of preference.
Last edited by deborahbroadus on Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:37 am; edited 1 time in total |
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6855
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:18 am Post subject: |
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| Etreum wrote: | | Yeah...I have a screen now. I will get a sheet of plex to cover 2/3's of it to keep the humidity in. |
Do you also have the temp with probe? It's imperative that the Balls have the correct temp/humidity environment for optium benefits to its health.
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