Does my BP look dehydrated?

So to combat the darn outside temperature fluctuations I have two heat lamps set up, as well as a UTH. As you can imagine, my humidity becomes less than ideal and I spray the tank about 4-5 times a day to try keeping it damp. When I picked up Arya yesterday she felt different than before, not really "sticky" but that's the best word I can come up for what her underbelly felt like. She also has these wrinkles in her skin. What do you think?

http://i.imgur.com/Xn1dxWX.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/wINIOGz.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/S4Jwf0F.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GWKWyK1.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6M9uo4jX1s

Based on her eyes, yes. They get crinkly-looking like that when the snake is too dry.

How big is her enclosure and what is the ambient in the room, that you need two lamps and a UTH to maintain temp?

Ambient temp usually sits at 70. Her tank is 36x18x18 and with my setup I get the tanks temp between 79 and 82, depending on the time of day.

What is a solution to this? I have a large water bowl for her and I change the water daily, and I've positioned some of my branches around it to try making it "private". Would it be okay to soak her in water?

If she wants to soak she will do it on her own.

With two lights running you'll drive every bit of moisture out of that tank in no time.

Short term: remove the light over the side without the UTH, and cover the screen top with something like foil or Glad Press n Seal, which will help keep heat and humidity in the tank. Just leave an opening for the other light. The warm side hide over the UTH does trap heat underneath of it to help your BP stay warm if she needs it. Also I hope you've got a thermostat regulating that UTH.

Long term: buy a proper reptile enclosure, you can often find them for way less than retail price on CL or your local FB reptile forums. Then you can either sell the tank, or use it to house a species that doesn't have to stay humid.

I'm using a 36x18x18 while I wait for my animal plastics cages. I got two Rubbermaid/sterilite lids covering the top. On the cool side I melted holes in the one lid with a soldering iron. I found this helped keep humidity correct, and helps keep heat in. Maybe you can try this temporarily.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

If she wants to soak she will do it on her own.

With two lights running you'll drive every bit of moisture out of that tank in no time.

Short term: remove the light over the side without the UTH, and cover the screen top with something like foil or Glad Press n Seal, which will help keep heat and humidity in the tank. Just leave an opening for the other light. The warm side hide over the UTH does trap heat underneath of it to help your BP stay warm if she needs it. Also I hope you've got a thermostat regulating that UTH.

Long term: buy a proper reptile enclosure, you can often find them for way less than retail price on CL or your local FB reptile forums. Then you can either sell the tank, or use it to house a species that doesn't have to stay humid.

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The foil trick works amazing. I set it up when I got home at 4:30, gave the cage a real good misting, went to my softball game and got back just now about 4 and a half hours later and humidity is at 80%. So it works too good lol. Time to adjust my misting technique.

I've seen well hydrated snakes with crinkly eyes...

But I've never seen a well hydrated snake display tenting of the dorsal skin along the spine.

I've seen dented/crinkly eyes in snakes with partially retained lenses. I've seen dented eyes in snakes that are kept in too arid conditions for the species. In short, I've seen multiple situations in which dented eyes are the result.

Tenting of the skin along the spine is the sure fire way to see if your snake is dehydrated.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

I've seen well hydrated snakes with crinkly eyes...

But I've never seen a well hydrated snake display tenting of the dorsal skin along the spine.

I've seen dented/crinkly eyes in snakes with partially retained lenses. I've seen dented eyes in snakes that are kept in too arid conditions for the species. In short, I've seen multiple situations in which dented eyes are the result.

Tenting of the skin along the spine is the sure fire way to see if your snake is dehydrated.

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Do you mean the "triangular" look along the spine, similar to how pregnant females can look when about to lay?

If you've got foil on top make sure to have at least two "vent openings" so air flow isn't hindered.