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Questions about Vacation and Water

Posted By:

MrCoyote

ok first question, I will be goin on vacation soon and i want to know which would be the best way to keep my snakes warm. The heat source i use are heating lamps on all our snakes, could i leave on the night time lamps on while we're gone or use something else?

number two. I live out in the country and the water i use to spray and water my snakes is well water except for my indo tree boa which i use distilled water cuz she spends most of her time in her water bowl and actually started to get calcium deposit on her eyes. Is well water ok for them or should i be using bottled water? i know i shuld've asked this question a long time ago but just thought of it.

number three. I have an auto sprayer that i used to use on my veiled chamelion. Would it be a good idea to rig it up to all my snake cages so the humidity can stay where it needs to be while we're gone?

your thoughts and ideas will be greatly apreciated, thanks


Points:	100
Topics:	General Health , Heating , Water
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Accepted Answer

7/27/2010 2:32:30 PM

WrathRaptor

On the first I would say, night time lamps are okay, if you don't have access to timers for the normal lamps..

On the 2nd, I really can't say if bottled is better than well water. But if you boa was getting calcium deposits, then it may be best to just go with bottled water, because it could potentially happen with all of your reptiles as well.

Finally, I think that rigging the auto-sprayer would be your best option. Depending on how long you will be gone, just large bowls of standing water may suffice, but obviously the sprayer would be ideal.

Member Comment

7/27/2010 2:33:14 PM

dalvers63

What are the temps like where you live? If they're going to be warm (80F and above) and you can't have someone come check your animals, I'd just turn the heat off if possible. Unless all of your animals are on thermostats that control the temp I wouldn't chance them getting too warm. Being as it is summer they should be fine for a few days as long as your house stays in the mid-70s.

For the water issue, what's your well water like? I use straight tap water where I'm at and have never had a problem. If your well water has a high mineral content I think that the distilled water would probably be better.

Member Comment

7/27/2010 3:47:11 PM

FyreFocks

I would stop using well water all together, if for no other reason than the possibility of it becoming contaminated. Aaron lost some animals to this problem not too long ago.

I cant speak on the heat issue as i use no external heat source for any of my animals.

Member Comment

7/27/2010 8:36:54 PM

treetrunkchris

I would use a timer or herpstat/rheostat. You can plug multiple lights into it and if it gets too hot it'll shut them off. As for the water I would just use bottled water, depending on where your at you could have a bad well or certain contmination from bugs/rodents that type of stuff. If you can hook it up to all your tanks then go ahead, especially if noone is going to check on them while your gone.

Member Comment

7/27/2010 10:04:34 PM

caitlync

I recommend a timer. You can usually get them at hardware stores near the lightbulbs. They usually cost between 5 & 7 dollars each and most have two plugs so you can have two day lamps hooked up to each.

Member Comment

7/28/2010 3:51:50 AM

shellboa

I would say that unless you have recently fed all of your animals would be fine if you either left the heat off or used some sort of thermostat/rheostat or timer device. There is a water conditioner that is used in fish tanks called Genesis or one for reptiles called reptisafe that removes some of the harmful stuff from tap water, I am not sure if it would help with well water but if not you could always boil a big batch and jug it up in sterilized milk jugs. Speaking of milk jugs you can make your own drip depending on your cage set up by poking a few pin holes in the bottom of a milk jug and setting over the water dish on a screen top cage. Humidity and keeps up the water supply.

If you plan on being gone for more than a few days I highly recommend getting some one to check up on your animals at least every other day. In this heat and with power being unpredictable...well I'd hate to see a blog about who you lost.

Member Comment

7/28/2010 10:48:05 AM

sonja

I agree with leaving the heat off. I see you are in Texas so it should be no problem at all. And, have someone check in on them every day or two, if possible.

Member Comment

7/28/2010 1:35:59 PM

dalvers63

I would avoid a timer or rheostat and only trust a good thermostat. While the others will work to turn the heat on and off, they won't do anything to keep the temperature steady if there is a spike in room temp. Better to leave the heat off while you're gone and have someone check on them every couple of days if possible.

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