changing hides?

hello All! I've had my baby bp for almost a month now. He finally ate a live small adult mouse Sunday morning after we had tried f/t the last 2 weeks before. I have the exo terra rock outcrops(http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/rock_outcrops.php) in his cage: large one(cool side) and medium one(hot side)but I'd like to change them to something lower and tighter. I'm thinking broken cinder blocks or brick pavers, which have always worked great for my lizards and other snakes. There is already a broken piece of brick in his cage that I usually soak to help with humidity and shed. He seems to enjoy laying on this as it is under his spot lamp. I haven't really even seen him use the hot side hide but maybe once and that was when we brought him home. He likes the cool side better apparently. BUT there is no telling what he does while I'm snoozing..LOL I'm just curious if changing it will stress him out? If maybe he's favoring the cool side hide? Should I wait for a few more successful feedings before I change anything? thanks for your help!

he probably prefers one hide over the other, try switching sides to find out then get another one that is exact. 2 different hides means that he can choose the one he likes even though he may need to be on the hot side versus the cold side. also I use the Reptile Basics hides, you may give those a try if you feel the need to change.

Will changing the hides stress him out? probably
You will have to leave him alone for another week if you make any significant changes to his setup.

I would also double check your husbandry :)
How are you measuring your temps?

I'm measuring my temps with a digital thermometer w/probe. hot side is 85 with basking in low 90's and cool side stays between 78-80. I might just get another hide like he has on his cool side. It has a little "nook" that I really think he likes, rather than totally doing an overhaul of the enclosure. He likes climbing on them anyways.thanks for all the help!

What is your heat source and how are you controlling it? Where are the probes located in the tank?

Quote:

---

I haven't really even seen him use the hot side hide but maybe once and that was when we brought him home. He likes the cool side better apparently.

---

This makes me think that your hot side might be too hot.


Also: Ball pythons do not bask.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by floydzoo2009

I have the exo terra rock outcrops(http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/rock_outcrops.php) in his cage: large one(cool side) and medium one(hot side)but I'd like to change them to something lower and tighter.

He seems to enjoy laying on this as it is under his spot lamp. I haven't really even seen him use the hot side hide but maybe once and that was when we brought him home. He likes the cool side better apparently. BUT there is no telling what he does while I'm snoozing..LOL I'm just curious if changing it will stress him out? If maybe he's favoring the cool side hide? Should I wait for a few more successful feedings before I change anything? thanks for your help!

---

We use three types of hides. Some of our snakes and all three others just have two. We just watched to see what ones they used the most and left them in the tub. Two of the links are from PetSmart but we get our hides when we go to shows or at a store called Animal Jungle.

Hides
http://www.reptilebasics.com/Hide-Boxes-p-1-c-282.html

Exo Terra Hiding Cave
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752566

ZooMed Repti Shelter™ 3-in-1 Caves
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752588

The majority of the time they use the balck box hides or the Exo Terra Hiding Cave. They usually use the ZooMed Repti Shelter when they shed or after they eat. Changing his hide shouldn't stress him out too much, but I'd leave him alone for a few days after the switch to let him get use to them.

Good luck!