My new Boa

Hi

Here is my new BCI female. I have had her for a week now, and she is getting used to its enclosure. My temps are 88 - 89 on the hot side and 82 - 83 on the cool side. First when I put her in the cage she climbed a branch and lay there for few hours. Then she climbed down and found the hides. First two days she travelled between hides but now she only stays on the cool side. She stays in all day, but when the lights go out he just puts the half of her body outside the hide and rests the head on the top of the hide and stays like that most of the time. I was worried it was Stargazing cause she isn´t exploring much and stays in the same position for a long time and she keeps her head upwards, not straight in the air, more like 60 degrees up. Should I be worried or is she just getting used to the enclosure.

http://www.tjorvar.is/gallery/data//511/9-_217-med.jpg

well to be honest i don't think you have anything to be worried about. i have a full grown adult bci (its a Hog Island Boa), and she does the same thing. all day every day in her cool hide. i monitor the temps and humidity like a hawk, i regularly pull her out for exploring the apartment, and i keep her feeding schedule regular. she just likes her cool hide. she will sit there for hours with nothing but her head exposed. as long as you are regular with handling and the temps and humidity are closely monitored it will go where its most comfortable. here is an important question though. when the lights go out at night is it totally dark or is there still light comming into the cage. thats important because they will be most comortable in the dark. as long as it is eating regularly and your temp/humidity levels are where they should be then you have nothing to worry about.

as far as star gazing... you would know it. the snake will be constantly raising its heat and looking strait at the roof. its not a natural position. just resting her head on something is actually a good thing, and just tilting her head up could be it checking out the environment. its a sign of being confortable. its a non-threatening position where it can keep an eye on the world arround it. star gaizing happens when the snake looses its ability to tell whats up and whats down. or when its got fluid in the mouth and throat a needs to let it drain in order to breathe easier. a good test for star gaizing is be to take the snake out and lay it on its back or hold it so that its belly up. observe how easily the snake can turn itself right side up or if it struggles to do so. a healthy snake will have no problem with corecting its body position.