by Serpent » Tue Jun 12, 2012 10:25 am
Bud I would personally not glue the thermometer onto the cage, it can be messy and difficult to move. I have merely drilled a small hole at the bottom of my cages and have placed the probe there but out of site. I have mirror taped/hooked the digital display on the wall/cage wall. Your exoterra cage hase small blocks at the top of the lid that you can pop out to put wires through the lid and then just hang them at the back to the desired height. Heating pad should cover a small spot about 25% of the cage surface, as these little snakes are famous for lying around and dehydrating themselves.
Careful for big heavy rocks and branches as caudalis are also known to wriggle and burrow, which sometimes results in the rocks toppling over on top of them. Mine are set up with kiddies play sand which is soft and sterile, but your substate looks fine. I have one large piece of driftwood and a water bowl in each cage. I opted for a more horizontal wood cage than a high exoterra cage,as caudalis are almost 100% on the ground. A hide box is not really necessary, the driftwood which the will hide behind is more than suffice.
I would not cover the sides, if mine are in a bad mood, which only happens when I disturb them, I cover the cage with a towel.
To feed I remove them from the cage and feed em in a tub to stop them from swallowing sand. Once every 10 days or so they get soaked in a cm of warmish water where they all drink heavily for like 5 minutes. I give them another 5 minutes just to get the water down.
I have 3, 1 male and two females. Are you certain yours is a female? Do you know anyone else in KZN that has?