willt they really choose the right temperaure for themselves

ok so, i have an aquarium that split into 2 so as to not stress my bp ( I got a really good deal on it but it was way to big for a baby) but felt there was a lack of floor space on her side and I also saw her pressed up against the separation on the cool side (80F) one day so i deiced to cut a whole (its mdf so worries about splinters) and thought if she really needs it she use it which she is when she's awake at night other than that she sleeps on the warm side (88F)above her uth, but now im worried that it may be too cool over there (75F). will she really choose the right temperature for herself?

to give you an idea...

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/...l/P1030729.jpg

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/...l/P1030730.jpg

Personally I would just remove the divider. I have never had any issues with young snakes in a fairly large space not feeding or showing signs of stress. Typically when people say things like this the enclosure has 2 hides and a water bowl then I'd agree. Yours is not like that it has lots of cover and such. The home you have built is great the divided is just in the way.

Yes they will regulate on their own. I;d suggest that you add more hides and 'close' spots around, both sides one side is full the other a bit Spartan. Little snakes often seek cooler temps than larger they are small and have a higher metabolism and often feed more regularly and as a result of digestion they raise their core temps some. I like to offer a few hides on the hot and cool sides not just two this fills up the space and adds extra security but also allows more variation thermally. As the snake grows you can start to go to bigger hides and remove the less popular spots.

I would agree, remove the divider. My baby is in a pretty big tank and she is just fine, I just have 4 hides instead of 2, plus she finds other places to hide in amongst her silk plants and such. You have a gorgeous set up, so I would just let her have it all! :)

My baby is in a 40 long. Does fine, went off food during her 1st shed and will only eat live now, but fine in a large tank!


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Whether you choose to remove the divider or not...here are my thoughts on the matter.

Will a snake know that the cool side is "too cold" and therefore avoid it? No. They don't slither over and think, "oh, it's chilly over here, I might get sick if I stick around." So it's up to the keeper to maintain a proper and consistent range of temperatures. Same with the hot side. They can and will burn themselves.

That being said...we can't "force" them to choose which zone they want to be in. We can't know how comfortable they are, or what exactly their body might need at any given moment. We give them their choices as best we can, and then we have to let them do the choosing.

Regarding the silk vines....please PLEASE check those over very carefully and look for any little plastic rings or closed loops. We had a very similar silk vine in our cape gopher's tank for years and never even noticed that it had such rings hidden under the leaves...until the snake got stuck in it and ended up in a very bad way. It may have ultimately led to his sudden and unexpected death a month or two later. So just look for those and cut them off.

Yes closed circles in anything can be very bad! Judy is absolutely correct but they will regulate correctly as long as the wings are correct. (wing temps the lowest low and highest high)