Signs of Hyperthermia (over heating)

[kurtkoils]

Before I begin, I'd like to stress the fact that I'm not looking for criticism or product recommendations, just straight, honest facts to help ease my mind.

My thermostat was lost in a move (yeah, I know, awful mistake but it happens).
I've been using a dimmer on my BPs UTH for 4 days until I can get a new one due to time and money restrictions. Well, the UTH spiked while I was at work, and I came home to find the probe in the center (warmest point) reading 103.5 degrees. I panicked and unplugged everything immediately. I lifted his hot hide to find him under it coiled up normally. The only strange thing is that he wouldn't uncoil or tighten when i touched him. Just stayed coiled and virtually motionless.

Now I haven't touched/bothered or even seen him in 3 days (fed him). I noticed that he is going into his first shed since I bought him (blue eyes etc.). Not sure if that's important to note.

I also have no idea how long the temps were that high, they were normal at 8 this morning, came home at 6.

So I guess my questions are as follows:

-Is it possible that my BP has overheated?
-Would temps of 103.5 cause serious problems?
-Why in GOD'S NAME didn't he thermoregulate and move to the cool side? Isn't that what it's for?????
-What are some signs I can look for? Tests I can perform immediately to see if he's okay? (bear in mind he's entering shed)


Thanks in advance for your help everyone.

[BPelizabeth]

From what I have read.....(I don't have experience) it can cause neurological issues with your snakes. Similar to IBD syptoms sometimes. Typically the snake should be seen by a vet and sometimes they will give the snake steriods to speed up the healing process so that they get back to normal.

Again..this is what I have read.

[Beardedragon]

Do you have two hides? If not, he may have chose cover over coolness.

[Vypyrz]

Definitely keep an eye on his belly. It will probably be a light pink because of the oncoming shed, but if it starts getting darker or you see blisters, then you snake has a thermal burn and will need to get to the vet for treatment...

[Kaorte]

I don't think 103* for a few hours would do much damage. Its only 10* hotter then the recommended. It is enough to cause burns but I don't think it is enough to cause neurological damage.

The snake was probably balled up because you were rummaging around and it was freaked out. Ball pythons do tend to ball up...that is why they are called ball pythons XD

Lets face it, there are many many people who keep ball pythons relatively successfully on unregulated UTHs and they aren't all neurotic and dead due to burns. I am in no way condoning this action, but it is true.

Ball pythons can't really gauge their own body temperature, that is why it is up to you to provide a proper temp gradient.

Keep an eye on your snakes belly and get your thermostat as soon as you can.

[wilomn]

Ball pythons can't really gauge their own body temperature, that is why it is up to you to provide a proper temp gradient.

Keep an eye on your snakes belly and get your thermostat as soon as you can.

They actually CAN gage temperature, just not as quickly as a mammal.

That temp should not have done serious damage to your snake, but should is the operative word.

Going into a shed would also account for its behavior.

Patience and attention to your snake is all I can recommend. If it starts head wobbling or turning over or just not acting right, you may well have neurological damage which is pretty much permanent but not necessarily life threatening.

[Clear]

A concern I would have with high heat is dehydration.

[wilomn]

A concern I would have with high heat is dehydration.

A quick and short lived spike is more likely to cause brain damage than to dehydrate. Long term heat without proper liquid sustenance would more likely be a culprit in dehydration than a temp spike.

[Patricia]

The only strange thing is that he wouldn't uncoil or tighten when i touched him. Just stayed coiled and virtually motionless. I noticed that he is going into his first shed since I bought him (blue eyes etc.).

For what it's worth, before our BP shed last month it seemed dead during the days immediately beforehand. Literally twice I thought it had died and had to nudge it enough for it to move on its own. It didn't uncoil or breathe in/puff up, didn't tighten, didn't flex... nothing. Hope yours is OK!

[thegoalie22]

I don't think 103* for a few hours would do much damage. Its only 10* hotter then the recommended. It is enough to cause burns but I don't think it is enough to cause neurological damage.

The snake was probably balled up because you were rummaging around and it was freaked out. Ball pythons do tend to ball up...that is why they are called ball pythons XD

Lets face it, there are many many people who keep ball pythons relatively successfully on unregulated UTHs and they aren't all neurotic and dead due to burns. I am in no way condoning this action, but it is true.

Ball pythons can't really gauge their own body temperature, that is why it is up to you to provide a proper temp gradient.

Keep an eye on your snakes belly and get your thermostat as soon as you can.

I totally agree with Kaorte. The only problem i would forsee is some possible relatively minor burns that will become obvious if he has them. If he does have burns, then you are lucky he is going into shed because if it is minor, it could go away with one or two sheds.