Thermoregulating.....

[Yzmasmom]

So, little Willow has eaten even meal we've given her and also shed in one piece. We have begun to handle her as well.

When we first got her, she never used her cold hut. Once she settled in, she began to use it. Problem is, now she never uses her hot side. Like....ever.... it ranges 88 to 91 in her hot hut and 78 to 81 in her cold hut. When we held her tonight she was just in her cold hut and she felt cold. She's not climbing her trees as much either.

Should I be worried?

She's in a 20gallon long with 2 identical hides. Her uth has a thermostat and the only difference from the pic is there a lamp over both sides. She has a water bowl and her humidity is between 50% and 65%. She gets one fuzzy rat per week.

[redshepherd]

Not climbing her trees as much would be a good sign, assuming she was climbing during the day before. Being overly active, climbing, and searching when it's still daytime usually means an unsettled and insecure ball python. It's normal for them to become active at night to "hunt" for food, but even then, not all do.

I'd add some more cover for her, like big leafy vines. The 20gal is too big and open for a hatchling her size, unless you add a ton of cover and stuff for her to hide in. (I assume hatchling if she's on rat fuzzies) https://www.amazon.com/Flukers-51015...s=reptile+vine

The reason being, she might be choosing the cold hide because it's maybe darker or somehow feels more secure to her than the warm hide. So I'd increase the comfort and cover all around the cage and see if it helps.

[Yzmasmom]

The climbing was only at night, but I can get more vines!

[KMG]

If a snake is eating, shedding, and expelling well the snake is usually in good shape.

Not using the warm hide as much as it once did is no big deal. I have some snakes that hardly ever go to their warm spot, even after eating. As long as the ambient temps are good the snake will be just fine.

My BP is one that 99% of the time is in her cool hide and she is completely healthy.


More cover could be good but if it was my tank I would cover the back and maybe the sides to block the view of the wires. I use thick art paper on my two tanks. I secured it with electrical tape which blends into the top band on the tank great. Turned out to give it a really clean look. I also found it insulated the tank a bit and raised my ambient temps a couple degrees.

[Yzmasmom]

If a snake is eating, shedding, and expelling well the snake is usually in good shape.

Not using the warm hide as much as it once did is no big deal. I have some snakes that hardly ever go to their warm spot, even after eating. As long as the ambient temps are good the snake will be just fine.

My BP is one that 99% of the time is in her cool hide and she is completely healthy.


More cover could be good but if it was my tank I would cover the back and maybe the sides to block the view of the wires. I use thick art paper on my two tanks. I secured it with electrical tape which blends into the top band on the tank great. Turned out to give it a really clean look. I also found it insulated the tank a bit and raised my ambient temps a couple degrees.

I would assume that if the hot is 90 and cold is 80, the ambient is good?
She pees every 2 weeksish and rarely poops.

[KMG]

Im not gonna guess. You need to get a thermometer so you know for sure. How do you know what the two spots are?

[Yzmasmom]

Im not gonna guess. You need to get a thermometer so you know for sure. How do you know what the two spots are?

There is one at the surface of her hot spot to measure the hot spot.
There is also one on the bedding surface in her cold hut to measure the cold spot.
So now, I need a third thermometer, dangling in the center??

[Mangiapane85]

There is one at the surface of her hot spot to measure the hot spot.
There is also one on the bedding surface in her cold hut to measure the cold spot.
So now, I need a third thermometer, dangling in the center??

You shouldn't need a probe on the floor of the cold side. It's obviously gonna be right around what the ambient temp of the room is, maybe a few degrees warmer . Better safe than sorry though I guess.


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[KMG]

There is one at the surface of her hot spot to measure the hot spot.
There is also one on the bedding surface in her cold hut to measure the cold spot.
So now, I need a third thermometer, dangling in the center??

No, it doesn't sound like it. The one sitting on the substrate in the cold hide is giving you a good air temp so the rest of the tank should be good as well.

[Yzmasmom]

So, my ambient temps are ok? I do have a temp gun.... if I aim it at the ground in the middle, that should tell me the ambient temp right?