OK, I have 2 3ft x 2ft x 4ft vivs, length x depth x height.

I know these are a little bigger than usual but I want them to work. I have heatmats and mat stats, ceramic heaters and flourescent bulbs.

Should I stick the thermostat sensor in the middle of the viv and set it to 85 using heatmats?
Is a basking bulb necessary?
Orchid bark would be nice to put down...
What's the best way to fix the branches to the side walls?
60 - 70% humidity ok?
No handling is fine by me.


If I could see pictures of a few set ups for these guys that would help.

Thanks guys.

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ROB

Once I have temps and humidity steady and constant I will be fairly chuffed, then its just the minor maintanance...

Can I use 2 water dishes? One half or more on a heatmat and one off, staying cool.
I know warm water will breed bacteria quicker but is it ok to humidify with a water dish on heatmat?

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ROB

Hi

I would say that your vivs are too big (certainly too tall anyway) and as a result you'll struggle to keep the temps. and humidity correct. Anything over 2 feet in hight is uneccesary IMO.

Its also worth noting that the dimensions of your vivs will result in your heat gradient being primarily established over the vertical axis of the viv if you use a standard roof-mounted heat source. Vertical gradients are not ideal as chondros will often head for the highest branch in the viv in order to feel more secure. In a vertically oriented viv this is also the hot end. Chondros can sacrifice a good thermal gradient in order to feel secure. A good review of all of this can be found in Maxwells "The More Complete Chondro".

Most chondros will be happy in a 2 foot cube viv but some larger females may need something a bit bigger eg 30/36x24x24 (LxWxH).

The stat probe should be placed at the height of the perch nearest the heast source. This is what I do. As long as the snake has a hot spot of 86-88F I don't even bother measuring the temps in other parts of my viv - though you will probably want to if you decide to use such a large enclosure.

Humidity should be cycled rather than steady and constant. I spray once per day to achieve a high of 90%+ which then dries out over the following 24 hours.





And a couple of my chondros;







cheers

Stuart

If you haven't got it yet get Greg Maxwells "The Complete Chondro" or the new edition "The More Complete Chondro".

You will thank yourself many times times over.

Also read up at Chondro Forums - Message Board - ezboard.com.

Keeping chondros isn't rocket science, but you do need fairly exact care, and in this day and age there is such a wealth of information available things are much easier than several years ago.

Also, im my experiance mat stats are rubbish, it may just have been mine that was crap, but it wasn't even graduated above 80c.


What age chondro are you going for?


P.s @Essexchondro. Wow. lovely snakes m8.

Just saw this, nope.

Don't put water on heatmat, it isn't necessary.

You are not aiming for constant humidity...bad for chondros.

You are aiming for a "spike" of humidity lasting a few hours and then a natural drying off period until its time to spray again the next day (except for when in shed).

Love those glass cubes Stuart, did you make or buy them?

Don

hese vivs are too big, what snake would suit these vivs?

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ROB

stunning vivs where did you get them from

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For all tree snakes, the viv should be at higher place than human eye level.

They like looking down you.

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The vivs are custom made from acrylic. The design copyright is owned by a fellow chondro enthusiast by the name of Adam Bisset. I have 4 of them set up as a bit of a display piece in my living room.

The rest of the chondros (I currently have 15) are either in home made vivs or "Really Useful Boxes"; 9L size for hatchlings up to about 9 months and the 84L size for sub-adult and smaller adult males.

Hoping for three clutches of chondro eggs this season so fingers crossed I'll be clearing the shelves of RUB's at my local Rymans store next spring!!

cheers

Stuart