Project No'3

(Vipera room)

In 2011 it was decided to create a separate room just for my Vipers. Because more space was needed for the snakes in the first room. And also because I wanted to be able to hibernate the snakes in their actual terrarium.

First the room was stripped and checked like you would do with every snakeroom in the making.
Then strips where placed around and under the door to prevent the possibility of an escaping snake when one a snake is lose while handling or when one unfortunately makes its way out of its enclosure.
A screen is placed in front of de window. This because the window must be able to open. Also an extra screen is placed to prevent the sun to shine to directly in the enclosures at one point of the day and cause overheating.

Then all enclosures where placed and decorated like described in the section "Terrarium and care Caucasus Vipers". < link maken aub.

In this snakeroom, the window will be open all year long, day and night. So the climate of the country I live in has a great effect on the snakeroom temperature. From my experience in previous years with a smaller room in winter the temperature will vary between 4C and 11C with an average of 6C when the window is kept open. I have hibernated Vipera ammodytes, Vipera aspis, Protobothrops and Ovophis this way and it works very good.
When the enclosure is decorated right this will mean the snakes must be able to hibernate in their enclosure.
The upside is now the snakes will become active again of when they decide to. So I don't have to choose for them. I'm very curious to see if now all males will become active sooner than the females like in nature.
Also it costs less electric than when a fridge is used

To create a natural light cycle, all the fluorescent lighting is attached to a "Habistat day/night". Now the light cycle, and temperature regulate like in a typical Viper climate. The halogen basking spots will first be on a timer, going on an hour after the sun comes up, and an hour and a half before it goes down. Maybe in the future this will be adjusted. In winter months November till half February the halogen spots will be turned off completely. To prevent the temperature getting to high in winter. After winter the first two weeks will be on just 6 hours. Then it will depend on the light cycle from the fluorescent lights.

I may still have to experiment with this way of lighting, especially in the winter maybe its wiser to turn off all fluorescent lights for at least 2 months just to be sure. As the animals cant "escape" from the light like they would do in a natural hibernating den.

After hibernation a update is placed with my experience. I can't wait to try this out in my room just for my vipers.

Stefan
20-05-2011