Re: Loss of Apetite/Wheezing
I’d remove the stuck shed first and wait a few days to see if the wheezing stops. Does he show any other symptoms? If your snake does then I’d go and see a vet.
Humidity should be 50% minimal, but would ideally range from 60-65% regularly, and then bumped up a little bit more when in shed. You could make your snake a humidity box so that they have a separate place where humidity is higher. Or add damp sphagnum moss throughout the enclosure to give it a little boost. You could also combine your substrate with another humidity holding one like cypress or coco husk.
I’d also say to lower your CHE temp since it’s not necessary to keep it so high for a basking spot since you already have your UTH. The UTH heat plus the heat from the CHE can sometimes be too hot as well. So if you can measure the temperature under her hide and find it doesn’t exceed 92 then you are fine. Otherwise, you can lower the CHE by getting a lower wattage or buy a dimmer. Lowering your CHE will also help your humidity.
But an added note to the temperatures, if it is an RI then you can bump it up to 93. Your snake will need the higher temperatures to help fight it.
Re: Loss of Apetite/Wheezing
Thanks for the reply!
Just seeing this now so I'll attempt to remove the stuck shed tonight. Other than the wheezing, he's not showing any other signs of an RI. No mucus, open mouth breathing, stargazing etc. He's showing normal behavior i.e. hiding/asleep during the day and active at night. Not sure if that matters with regard to the RI.
I bought a bag of cypress the other day which I'm planning to mix in with the coconut fiber when I do a full clean down (most likely this weekend). If that doesn't work, I'll try some damp sphagnum moss.
As for CHE/UTH and temps, my UTH is hooked up to an On/Off type thermostat so the temp does vary slightly from 89-92º. I know ambient temperature is preferential regarding a gradient or constant throughout the enclosure. My issue is that without the CHE temps get down to around 77º throughout the enclosure. If I get a dimmer what temperatures do you suggest I keep my ambient temperature on the warm side at?
Thanks again for the help!
Re: Loss of Apetite/Wheezing
Hey there,
My thermostat probe is placed in between the UTH and the glass, outside the tank. In my post I referred to belly heat as a 'basking spot.' Haven't had any issues maintaining these temps around 90-92º. I check every other day using a IR temp gun.
Re: Loss of Apetite/Wheezing
Quote:
Originally Posted by
edessimoz
My issue is that without the CHE temps get down to around 77º throughout the enclosure. If I get a dimmer what temperatures do you suggest I keep my ambient temperature on the warm side at?
Thanks again for the help!
Ambient temperatures ideally should be between 78-80 throughout the enclosure.
I personally think your air temperatures on the hot side can just be your ambient temps because you also have a UTH, but if you wanted to increase it, you could go up to 90.