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Setup questions?
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by farmerjohn on July 19, 2013
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I am still doing my homework and will for sometime before I take the plunge on getting a A. contortrix eventually I would like two
my question is if you budgeted for one southern copperhead with space for 2 in mind and your budget was $2,500
what would you recommend I get and why..(books, equipment,medicines,caging and the like/sources) in relation to keeping copperheads
ascetics is just as important to me as functionality so please do not recommend the tupperware kinda stuff I would like to be able to enjoy looking at them in there cages as well
sorry if the question has already been asked
O and are there any folks in the piedmont of NC that is able to mentor?
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RE: Setup questions?
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by andrewhopkins on July 19, 2013
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It's good that you're thinking ahead with a budget.
There is a 'Reviews' section that should be easily found on the left sidebar that has many valuable information for you to consider.
For equipment I now use BARRS Herpcages (you have to install locks yourself or get it done professionally if unsure) for the fact I like fully constructed, affordable, and white cages that bring the color of the snakes out. Other than that, lighting/heating may be more tricky to install. I have used Neodesha before and it works great, but I personally am not a fan of the laboratory yellow color that you cannot stack. They seem to have newer stackable ones now, which I have no experience with. Appropriate or slightly altered Vision cages are probably the most secure cages I have used.
This is not a sponsored message, but Midwest Tongs are indeed fantastic. I switched to them for all my non-venomous as well now. Much more durable and sturdy than the common retail equipments.
I have always found academic research useful for learning more about particular species. If you'll seek post-secondary education, you will be afforded with an online engine where you can enter scientific or common names for more information that you'd like to absorb. I do currently take advantage of my wife's post-grad membership. For books, Snakes of the Agkistrodon Complex: A Monographic Review is something you should at least read over before if you are for real. The fist volume of Venomous Reptiles of the U.S., Canada and Northern Mexico is a good effort in a summary of academic notes on Agkistrodon. Many times, the challenge in reading is to not fall too hard for other mentioned species and wanting to have them in your own collection. I have sized down considerably and have plans to shrink it even more to a few select species. Not everyone is meant to have all species of whatever they find fascinating. It does help to look around and remember those who welcome your existence.
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RE: Setup questions?
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by farmerjohn on July 20, 2013
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Thank you for your reply, and I do have access through my school I am a biology/chemistry major will access them this semester when I am at school.
that said one topic that is of considerable importance to me is medicine I see very few articles here or elsewhere that talk about what you need to identify treat and care for reptiles for example lets say a snake was given to me to spare it from being blown apart by a 12ga how would you go about treating it for the parasites that it almost certainly has?
if you know of any books that covers things like this would also be greatly appreciated and basic reptile care in general would probably help greatly my knowledge on care and treatment is really only applicable to mammals and chickens
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RE: Setup questions?
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by andrewhopkins on July 20, 2013
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If you have an injured snake in your hand, the best thing for you to do is find a qualified vet. I am sure this is not terribly surprising. Not every vet who treats "exotic" animals are competent in my experience. If the snake is venomous, you will have a more difficult time tracking down a vet. For both you and the injured snake's survival, do not attempt to perform surgical procedures if you aren't already experienced in this field. I haven't read a book on performing home surgeries on live reptiles that I can recommend.
For parasites, I have always used Panacur and Flagyl for treating wild caughts. Depending on the condition of the animal, I will use 50-100mg/kg biweekly x 2. Last time I treated a Bitis nasicornis @ 100mg/kg biweekly x 2 and she is now doing fantastic. It is imperative that you keep the animal well hydrated during this period and for a considerable time afterwards to prevent permanent kidney damage. There are a number of conflicting literature on the topic of reptile medication that I have found, some warn of Family specific sensitivity such as some Colubrids (Drymarchon being cited), thus recommending a lower dosage.
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RE: Setup questions?
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by TheBlackMamba on July 20, 2013
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I personally use Exo-terra terrariums. The actually come with a combination lock, look the best aesthetically, and can open in lots of different ways which I find extremely use full for hots. The only drawback is they you cannot stack them. As far as books go I use Reptile Medicine and Surgery by Douglas R. Mader. That will have everything you ever need to know and you can get it here: http://www.amazon.com/Reptile-Medicine-Surgery-Douglas-Mader/dp/072169327X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374382609&sr=8-1&keywords=reptile You can get a very large well decorated Exo-Terra for about $150.00 and this book for about $100.00 (kindle version) on amazon. Other than that maybe you could get an incubator and a microscope for some fecal smears so you don't have to bring your snakes to the vet to check for worms. Although you probably don't need an incubator for copper heads since they are oviviparous. An RBI heat pannel would probably be useful. As far as tools go get a good hook, tweezers, tubes, probe kit, pinkie pump, vennom defender gloves (I love mine) you can get them here: http://snakeprofessional.com/venom-defender-gloves.html Other then that I don't think you need $2500.00 for a pair of copperheads that is a little overkill.
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RE: Setup questions?
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by farmerjohn on July 20, 2013
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To Andrew
I have no intentions to try to perform anything but preventative medicine and minor fixes, I will be a vet but that is a long time in coming working undergrad right now, just out of curiosity how do you medicate the snake im assuming not injections is there a device you use to feed them the medicine if that is the case as i doubt your pushing pills down with your fingers.
To John
I have a very nice leica DM750 I use it for my other hobbies and for helping on the farm as its a good bit to have the vet come out and test the herd for parasites that can be treated for at home
one thing I am very very proud of is I made myself a snake hook the other day using a golf club and 5/16 steel rod have caught and handled a bunch of snakes but never with a hook so I'm happy with it.
I am not sure what a probe kit is for or the tubes but if its tubes like something you would see in a chem lab then I probably have it already as well
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RE: Setup questions?
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by andrewhopkins on July 20, 2013
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I inject the medicine into the rodents directly, since I have only treated animals that were feeding already. Likewise, you can provide them with extra water this way during this period.
... Tubes are used for restraining the snakes. You don't know what probe kits are but you're looking to keep venomous?
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RE: Setup questions?
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by farmerjohn on July 21, 2013
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LOL I am, but I probably will not be getting one for at least a year because I do not feel I know enough to do me or it any favors
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RE: Setup questions?
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by farmerjohn on August 12, 2013
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ok so I got for a good deal a boamaster cage similar to boaphile but its a lighter plastic and sliding vs front opening doors, and I am going to be putting a lock for sliding doors on it the boamasters has a funny plastic lock piece but not one that is actually a key lock going to be using a under cage heating tape with a thermostat.
any opinions and comments would be greatly appreciated
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