BP eating problems....

[scotty99]

My male BP has started taking his food (f/t) into his hide. He strikes and coils and normally eats outside the hide, but the last 2 feeds(failed) he has striked coiled etc, then takes it into the hide and leaves it there

I have recently bought a habistat "mat stat" themostat to control the UTH. Could this be the change which has effected his feeding habits/appetite.(just had UTH unregulated before as i am snakesitting for what i thought was a short period, and was going to suggest owner get a themostat, but looks like he's not coming back so i got one ASAP now i know a bit more about hubandry) Since the stat has been installed, he has never gone in the other cooler hide and only partly comes out of his hide to rest on top with other half of body still in the hide

ps- have the stat set at 92 for the warm end

cheers scott

[nevohraalnavnoj]

How much time are you giving him to eat it in his hide?

Have you tried leaving him overnight with it?

JonV

[scotty99]

Hi JonV,I left it in there overnight and till lunch time next day.

[FIEND_FO_LYFE]

have you tried, taking the hides out, then prescenting, then feeding?

i had to do that with my one of my balls because he hardly ever came out...

[adizziedoll]

Do you have a digital thermometer hooked up to the inside of the tank, to see what temperatures you are actually getting? It's always a good idea to check out what your thermostat is doing - there's a good chance that the temp. inside the cage isnt actually 92.

Do you have the thermostat probe on the inside or outside of the tank?

[scotty99]

The themostat probe is on the inside of the tank. I will take a reading with another themometer as i havent got got one on his tank to see what the temp is. Will try removing the hide next feed , thanks Scott

[adizziedoll]

have you tried, taking the hides out, then prescenting, then feeding?

i had to do that with my one of my balls because he hardly ever came out...

I do this with a few of my balls just because they are fast asleep or what have you, but have a monsterous appetite. This snake is coming out and bring the food back into the hide.

IMO, I would not take the hides out, which ultimately takes away the snakes only security - something that you dont mess with when it's not eating. Again, I wouldnt freak out too much over 2 weeks.... just check the temps with one of those digital thermometers from walmart. He will come around and start eating.

[FIEND_FO_LYFE]

I do this with a few of my balls just because they are fast asleep or what have you, but have a monsterous appetite. This snake is coming out and bring the food back into the hide.

IMO, I would not take the hides out, which ultimately takes away the snakes only security - something that you dont mess with when it's not eating. Again, I wouldnt freak out too much over 2 weeks.... just check the temps with one of those digital thermometers from walmart. He will come around and start eating.

yes this is very true, balls get scared a little without hides, BUT its worth a shot... IMO.

but really 2 weeks isnt a ig worry.

[scotty99]

Thanks again for the advice. As said 2 weeks isn't anything to panic about, it was the taking it into his hide which is the new trait BP has started to do which is concerning me. The themometer is showing 88 f with the themostat set at 92f, are his temps ok?

scott

[starmom]

IMO 88F for the warm side is too cool. I keep my warm sides at 92-93F and the cool side is about 82-83F.

A long term member on this forum shared with me that higher temps induce hunger (faster metabolism rate?) and a better feeding response; so maybe you're seeing that difference (running the UTH wide open versus it now being controlled and a much lower temp).

As for removing the hide, it has been my experience that this induces a fear response and safety seeking behaviors which seem to override their feeding behavior. My snakes mostly hunt from their hide as though ambushing their prey.