I need advice from some reptile owners

[GHsaltie]

I know there are a couple of you out there, and I can never get much reptilian help from other places so I figure it's worth a shot here. I have all my reptiles in Animal Plastics cages and I have one kingsnake in particular that has always done very poorly on aspen. I recently switched her to a new bedding, Lugarti dirt, and she does better but now there is so much humidity that water is condensed all over the walls and door and any wood I put in there is covered in mold after a few days. I would like to try and get more ventilation in the cages but I'm afraid to try and cut the cage, I don't know what tools could do it safely. any suggestions? On another note, I took my king to an exotics specialist today because she has had a chronic issue of spinal deformities for about 4 years or so, which has gotten increasingly worse. The vet took some x-rays and he suspects that she has had an infection in her bones that causes the deformities. He started her on an antibiotic today (yay needles! :() and wants to recheck her in a month to see if there is any improvement, or at least no progression. At any rate, has anyone had some sort of experience with something like this? The vet can't be certain but that is his primary suspect at this point, he also thinks that her immune system has been compromised just enough for the infection to continue festering all these years. He also suggested I raise her heat to 90f, lower the humidity some (which I'm trying to do already) and get more ventilation in the cage.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My only experience is with dart frogs. But also ventilation and hack diy projects.

I looked at those cages but there's a lot of different ones.

I use a lot of 12v computer style fans. Super easy. The bigger Cheap ones are a lower flow. Or CFM. You can use it to blow in, or pull out if the flow is too much for the animal.

 

[GHsaltie]

I have the T cages. I'll look into those fans, I hadn't thought of something like that.

 

[Kmsutows]

I dont have kings but feom what ivw read Kingsnakes don't do well in high humidity. I would suggest a regular glass tank with a screen top. Heres a caresheet I found.
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Snakes/California-Kingsnake/

"Try to achieve 85 degrees Fahrenheit at one end and in the 70s at the cool end. Do not use "hot rocks," the heat is too centralized and can cause burns." Reptiles need temperature options.

 

[Kmsutows]

Good luck with the other issue sorry don't know much about it

 

[Dsnakes]

I'm not familiar with those cages, but I'm hoping for the best for your king! I used to breed ball pythons and always had them in boa master racks. I do miss my snakes...and beardies, and leos...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have the T cages. I'll look into those fans, I hadn't thought of something like that.

Hope that works out.
You can get all fancy ($14) and put it on a sensor too. Like I have for my cooling fans.
Orchids and dart frogs. And random useless facts.

 

[ChronicRage]

Those type of cages don't allow much air flow unless you add something yourself it seems. It's a perfect breeding ground for mold. I'm pretty sure PetCo is having their sale right now on aquariums. A glass tank with a wire mesh top would be just fine for her. Mesh top = more air flow = no mold. :)

 

[GHsaltie]

I had her in a 20L for years and I just hate them now. I don't like having glass tanks lying around, they aren't aesthetically appealing for me. I'm going to look into the suggestion of the fan, I just have to figure out if there is a way I can cut the cage material. I might try mixing the new dirt with something else to dry it out some. I didn't mean to make the humidity skyrocket, this is my first time using the new substrate and I didn't realize it is so moist. I would hate to put her back on aspen because she doesn't shed as well on it and I hear her sneezing all day long. What kind of sensor do you use @saltyfilmfolks?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

What material is it made of?

I'll find my temp link for you.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It's this one. But look for the humidity one. Same thing different sensor. Wires up the same as the pic in the thread too.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-cooling-fan-temp-controller-easy.254168/

 

[ChronicRage]

No worries, man. I had mold issues once too when I changed substrates a long time ago. I think I ended up mixing the substrate I was using with eco bark and bio dirt or something. I don't remember exactly.

 

[Kmsutows]

I had her in a 20L for years and I just hate them now. I don't like having glass tanks lying around, they aren't aesthetically appealing for me. I'm going to look into the suggestion of the fan, I just have to figure out if there is a way I can cut the cage material. I might try mixing the new dirt with something else to dry it out some. I didn't mean to make the humidity skyrocket, this is my first time using the new substrate and I didn't realize it is so moist. I would hate to put her back on aspen because she doesn't shed as well on it and I hear her sneezing all day long. What kind of sensor do you use @saltyfilmfolks?

Read up on acceptable substrates they aren't difficult to find. And you need ventilation if you insist on keeping that style cage. Fan in one side and can facing out the other

 

[GHsaltie]

What material is it made of?

I'll find my temp link for you.

According to their site it's made from controlled density pvc.

 

[GHsaltie]

No worries, man. I had mold issues once too when I changed substrates a long time ago. I think I ended up mixing the substrate I was using with eco bark and bio dirt or something. I don't remember exactly.

I think I'm going to try that. I'll just need to remember to pick up some bark when I make a trip to town. Have you tried the cypress bedding before? If so which do you like better? I have my corn on cypress and I don't care for it, it's like giant splinters.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

According to their site it's made from controlled density pvc.

Power tools.
Either hole saws or dremmel makes a rotary cutter. Like a router.
Pia I know.

 

[ChronicRage]

I think I'm going to try that. I'll just need to remember to pick up some bark when I make a trip to town. Have you tried the cypress bedding before? If so which do you like better? I have my corn on cypress and I don't care for it, it's like giant splinters.

I've tried it, yeah. I liked Repti-Bark better though.

 

[AdamNC]

You may want to keep her in a sterile environment until her infection is gone. Paper towel substrate, clean water bowl daily and a hide on the warm side and one on the cool side. Pick up a Herpstat thermostat, most accurate on the market. Kept my cages +/- .02 degrees and also have a built in night drop setting. Keep the cage about 85ish on the hot side with a gradual decrease to the other side of the tank. To help with air flow, just take your drill and just drill the appropriate sized holes on either side of the tank.

This is coming from 10+ years of keeping and breeding upwards of 37 Emerald Tree Boas and Green Tree Pythons.

 

[GHsaltie]

I thought I would give you guys an update on the medical side of things in case anyone was curious. Had another visit with the vet yesterday and I got some more information from him. He said that he suspects she has osteitis deformans brought on by most likely a bacterial infection, but also possibly a viral infection or less likely cancer. We discussed adding a second stronger antibiotic to the one she’s on now, which I agreed to. We also discussed the fact that if she does not respond to antibiotics and continues to worsen then I may need to start thinking about her quality of life and euthanasia.

 

[Kmsutows]

Sure hope you dried out the cage. Humidity is a sure death sentence