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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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 Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:32 am Post subject: |
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I have had two thermometers in my tank when it was home to my beardie, but I will be getting new thermometers and a humidity guage.
I will most likely pick him up today or tomorrow morning so I can watch him Tuesday to make sure things are ok before the kids come in on Wednesday.
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6855
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:30 am Post subject: |
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| Etreum wrote: | I have had two thermometers in my tank when it was home to my beardie, but I will be getting new thermometers and a humidity guage.
I will most likely pick him up today or tomorrow morning so I can watch him Tuesday to make sure things are ok before the kids come in on Wednesday. |
If you have the stick on thermometers, they don't actually measure the Balls environment. The most inexpensive on is sold in Walmart for less than 20.00. It measures humidity and temps at both ends of the tank by means of a probe that's buried a bit under the substrate. Balls need almost exact temps, we can't depend on guessimates. 
See pic below:
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Moshi
Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 303
Location: Pinellas Park Fl
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| Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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In the garden section!
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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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Sweet...thanks for the advice. I got my BP today. I went to another pet store and they had three balls to choose from and they looked much healthier than the one I was looking at. He/she is really laid back. Handling him/her has not been a problem when moving it from box to cage. I don't have the optimum setup yet. I was missing some things that I thought I had, but I will get them this evening (along with the thermometer/humidity thang) and tomorrow it will be ready to rock!
Here are a couple of pics:
No name for him/her yet...going to let students name our new family member!
Here is his current setup...soon to change (new temp/humidity guages, water bowl, hide spot, and lid soon to come)
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Jordan700
Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1048
Location: Petaluma, California
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| Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Great looking snake! Just make sure that if you are leaving your snake for the weekend that it has enough water. Having the light over the water is a great way to bring up the humidity, but it will also evaporate a lot of water. Good luck with raising him, and tell us his name once the kids name 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 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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I don't remember, but do you have a UTH? I don't feel like going though all the posts to find the one in which you refer to it.  
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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah...I have one.
Also, how long should I wait to try to feed. The guy at the pet store said that he just feed one of the two I chose from yesterday, but he was not sure which. And...if they dont take a thawed mouse, is it ok to refreeze it or should it be thrown away.
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6855
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Etreum wrote: | Yeah...I have one.
Also, how long should I wait to try to feed. The guy at the pet store said that he just feed one of the two I chose from yesterday, but he was not sure which. And...if they dont take a thawed mouse, is it ok to refreeze it or should it be thrown away. |
A good rule of thumb is to allow the animal to have a period of adjustment. Most of us wait anywhere from one to 3 weeks depending on our level of patience/impatience. It is ok to wait that long...you can follow your gut instinct..when he's out and about and seems not to be stressed (watch the sides (breathing)...they heave like bellows when it's frightened or stressed)
Do not refreeze! Toss it. LOL Does anyone want to tell her (descriptively) what happens to refroze prey?
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Jordan700
Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1048
Location: Petaluma, California
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| Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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I have read in multiple places that it is fine to refreeze. I have actually heard of a method to get a snake to feed by thawing it and then refreezing it, and then thawing it again. Its not like they can taste their food. Here are a couple of my sources...
[url]http://www.[site name removed: violates TOS].com/ballpythonguide/[/url]
http://www.frozenfeeder.com/benefits.html
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6855
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:57 am Post subject: |
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| Jordan700 wrote: | I have read in multiple places that it is fine to refreeze. I have actually heard of a method to get a snake to feed by thawing it and then refreezing it, and then thawing it again. Its not like they can taste their food. Here are a couple of my sources...
[url]http://www.[site name removed: violates TOS].com/ballpythonguide/[/url]
http://www.frozenfeeder.com/benefits.html |
True enough Jordan, everyone has their methods of feeding, and sometimes there is conflict among the breeders/vets in the different opinions on what's the best way to feed, or what is the best food to feed and whether or not it's a good idea to refreeze prey. We all have to weight all the advice and then chose that which works best for us.
BTW: I wasn't referring to the fact that it's fine to feed thawed/refrozen prey if you can get the Ball to eat it, that's fine it has nothing to do with whether or not they can "taste" the food. I was referring to the fact that when prey is thawed and then refrozen, it can burst and the smell is not pretty. I don't refreeze. I throw it away. I am not interested in having the smell in the house. Then again, I don't have any problem eaters (not yet). However, if anyone wants to take the risk of feeding re-f/ted go for it!
Thanks for the link...one of the link has the specific question asked. below is the recommendation:
Can I re-freeze a prey item that wasn't eaten?
You can refreeze a fully thawed prey item, if you do so within a short period of time. If the thawed item has been left overnight and uneaten, it is best to throw it away as it will have already started to decompose. Some refrozen prey items (especially pinkies) will be more likely to "pop" . Separate and mark all refrozen prey items for next week's feeding. If they are unused again, dispose of them as repeated freezing will degrade the quality of your snake's food.
nough said?
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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:48 am Post subject: |
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Thanks again for the advice. Looking forward to getting to school to see how it is doing!
BTW...
| Quote: | | Does anyone want to tell her (descriptively) what happens to refroze prey? |
Her...is a him 
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6855
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:17 am Post subject: |
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| Etreum wrote: | Thanks again for the advice. Looking forward to getting to school to see how it is doing!
BTW...
| Quote: | | Does anyone want to tell her (descriptively) what happens to refroze prey? |
Her...is a him |
I am a victim of my generation...traditionally teachers are women.
However, if I had been on the ball, I would have known by the picture of the hand, but I was busy observing the snake! Nice specimen by the way! Very healthy looking! Sorry for the mislabel..hope I haven't given you an identity complex? I was assuming..something I try not to do...sigh 
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lindsey_marshall00
Joined: 05 Jul 2006
Posts: 568
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:21 am Post subject: |
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that is a very beautiful snake.
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Etreum
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:33 am Post subject: |
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No complex here. I am quite in touch with my feminine side. :wink:
Ok...yet another question. I bought the thermometer you suggested. When I place it in the cage, should I put the whole thing in, with unit on one end and probe on the other? Or...should I buy two and place a probe on each end?
Man, I can't wait until I got it all settled in and can just enjoy the little fella...or lady (I don't wanna give it a complex )
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6855
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:51 am Post subject: |
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| Etreum wrote: | No complex here. I am quite in touch with my feminine side. :wink:
Ok...yet another question. I bought the thermometer you suggested. When I place it in the cage, should I put the whole thing in, with unit on one end and probe on the other? Or...should I buy two and place a probe on each end?
Man, I can't wait until I got it all settled in and can just enjoy the little fella...or lady (I don't wanna give it a complex ) |
Good to know that you aren't afraid to use the "pink" razor!
You don't actually need two. One does the job of two. I taped mine to the sides of the cages/racks with double side sticky and the probe goes in and is laid lengthwise across the cage floor..and substrate is then placed over it. Some don't recommend this, but I taped my probes to the bottom of my cages with two inches of substrate over. The snakes don't have access to the probes..There has been stories of the probe getting swallowed with the prey, or simply getting swallowed. There have been stories of the Ball getting tangled in the tape...I prefer the ball get tangled in the tape than swallow the probe...((lesser of two evils))...of course, I know how to get the tape off without hurting my balls...
Here, I have easy access to seeing the temps and humidity at a glance.
In the below pic, the probe is taped to the bottom of the cage with very strong tape that doesn't come up even when the substrate is wet.
When I was using aquariums, this is how I did it. I placed the body of the temp on top of the screen or on the table next to the aquarium and placed the probe across the bottom and yes...again I taped it down. I recommend making sure that the wire is kittycorner so that there is less chance of the Ball getting entangled in it...trial and error is the rule of thumb. These are suggestions, but of course other's will have suggestions also. You will learn from trial and error which ones work best for you.
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