cage change experiment - Where Responsible Reptile Keepers Connect!

faroutinmt · #1 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 09:22 PM

I just made some changes to my kingsnake's cage. I'm using a slightly different mixture of substrate (coconut husk fiber, fir bark, organic top soil) and I'm going to add a little leaf litter. My test here is to see if this will help to break down the leftover excriment after spot cleaning. Kingsnake's poop is small and hard to spot. He relieves himself more often than my python's as well. I also built up the depth of the substrate higher (around 3 to 4 inches).

Another thing I did (besides trimming the fake plants and adding a couple of branches) was to add a rock to use as a basking spot. I usually just utilize sub floor heat with an UTH. Now, since the substrate is just a bit deeper over it, I've added a heat bulb attached to a lamp dimmer which I'll only turn on during the day. I'm aiming for a hot spot of around 86 under the light where the rock is. I want to see if he adapts at all and decides to use the basking spot as the warm spot under the hide will be only around 82 or 83. I set the rock next to his hide to imitate the normal basking behavior of snakes in the wild. We'll see how it works.

Any suggestions or constructive criticism is welcome.

AbsoluteApril · #2 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 12:07 AM

I think it looks great!

razeraze · #3 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 12:50 AM

At least 8-12 inches of soil is needed for a good compost or bioactive substrate. Monitor keepers usually use 2-3 feet to be on the safe side.
Composting: Journey to Forever organic garden - how to turn wastes into clean, healthy food, making compost, compost bin, composting indoors, worm composting, composting toilet, soil fertility

faroutinmt · #4 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razeraze

At least 8-12 inches of soil is needed for a good compost or bioactive substrate. Monitor keepers usually use 2-3 feet to be on the safe side.
Composting: Journey to Forever organic garden - how to turn wastes into clean, healthy food, making compost, compost bin, composting indoors, worm composting, composting toilet, soil fertility

Gonna up the soil and find a larger rock. :-)

ssjsmits · #5 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 03:41 AM

Looking good.

razeraze · #6 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faroutinmt

Gonna up the soil and find a larger rock. :-)

Just be careful about weight in glass tanks. Good luck with your project. Leaf litter is always a good organic additive to soil as long as your reptile doesn't try to avoid it or constantly eat it. My sav did not care for leaf litter at all except to occasionally chew on it, my salvator loved it and had much richer more moist soil because of the leaf litter.

Woodland Park Zoo Doo

faroutinmt · #7 (**permalink**) 06-12-2008, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razeraze

Just be careful about weight in glass tanks. Good luck with your project. Leaf litter is always a good organic additive to soil as long as your reptile doesn't try to avoid it or constantly eat it. My sav did not care for leaf litter at all except to occasionally chew on it, my salvator loved it and had much richer more moist soil because of the leaf litter.

Woodland Park Zoo Doo

Yes...leaf litter...great idea. I actually have some which I'm going to put into the additional substrate I just mixed up. Just going to allow it to air out a little before adding it. I did some reading up on the subject and found that, like you said, the leaf litter is a popular component to the bioactive mix.

Thanks for the reminder warning concerning the heavy rocks. Instead of adding a huge rock, I'm just going to put something under the one I have to raise it up higher...something which can keep the animal from burrowing under it.

Thanks for the article too.