Need a bit of advice on substrate for new tank

[chris-uk]

As for the more concentrated vinegar solution, mix some up yourself. We have a bottle of cider vinegar that we just mix with water for cleaning vivs.

[angrygamer]

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husb...spen-ever.html

A thread I started.... enjoy.

Yup, picked some yesterday. Thanks for the info!

As for the more concentrated vinegar solution, mix some up yourself. We have a bottle of cider vinegar that we just mix with water for cleaning vivs.

Yeah, I am trying to scrub it with 5% and scrape it off...at the rate I am going, this thing won't be set up until next week.


Anyway, here are a couple of pics-I thought I'd post them before I go to bed. I don't know in you need an underside picture of the cloaca to tell what sex it is, it's just that I have been really busy and you have to be completely still to take pictures with my webcam, something a little difficult to do with (her?)! I'll take more pics soon, I just wanted to give y'all something to look at !:

[infernalis]

Sorry I did not pick up on this sooner....

For grimy aquarium scale, I warm up a little vinigar (Full strength, no water) in a cup in the microwave. (Chemical reactions speed up with higher temps, and disolving calcium deposits with vinigar is a chemical reaction) and wipe the glass with that.

For really stubborn scale, Use one of these scrapers... Be really careful not to cut yourself!

[EasternGirl]

Beautiful snake...yeah we will need a underside pic of the cloaca...hold the tail as straight as you can...I know it isn't easy. As for type of garter...Wayne?

[kibakiba]

It looks like a wandering to me.

[EasternGirl]

I haven't gotten the subspecies identification down yet...but I'm getting pretty good at the sexing through pics.

[infernalis]

Wandering..

[angrygamer]

Here's a few more, I'll just have to keep trying, lol:

[guidofatherof5]

Beautiful female.

[ConcinusMan]

As for the more concentrated vinegar solution, mix some up yourself. We have a bottle of cider vinegar that we just mix with water for cleaning vivs.

If I get a used tank I always clean thoroughly with bleach solution, leave on for 15 minutes, and rinse several times. But after that, white distilled vinegar is what I use to keep the glass clean, since it's non-toxic and doesn't require rinsing. For hard water deposits, any acidic cleaner works well though. For organic deposits, use an alkaline cleaner. If you're having a hard time getting off hard water deposits (white stuff) with vinegar, you can use muriatic acid (sometimes sold as concrete cleaner)

If you don't know where a snake is from, (location would tell you if it's a wandering or an eastern) take a look at the spots. See how they overlap the dorsal stripe? That gives it away as a wandering. (T. elegans vagrans)