Burrowing

My baby ball discovered that she can burrow through the substrate and now does this instead of curling up inside her hide. Is there any environmental reason they do this?

If you are using a heat pad, she could be trying to get closer to the warm spot. They also use rodent holes in the wild, so it could be closer to "normal" for her. I wouldn't worry about though, my boa does it all the time. She sits with just her head sticking out. :P

No, it's instinct. They burrow in the wild, all of mine do (except the ones on newspaper).

I knew it was their instinct but i just thought i'd ask. She doesn't always burrow over the heating pad, but she is currently right over it lol. I'll just keep an eye on her.

Quick question. Do you have anything controlling the heat pad (ie thermostat or dimmer)?

Not for the heating pad, no. It doesn't seem to get very hot. Most of the heat is from the 150w infrared heating lamp (this has a dimmer switch).

.................heating pads get very hot. How are you measuring the temps?

I have touched the heating pad with bare skin and it was barely warm to the touch. And a digital thermometer to measure the heated side. Without the heating lamp and the STH warmed up for a full day, the heated side never got above 88 degrees, which is when i started focusing on the heat lamp.

Mine likes to move all the substrate off of the area above his heat pad as well, so I've just stopped putting substrate there when I switch it out. If he wants it there he'll put it there XP

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LoNeSt4r

I have touched the heating pad with bare skin and it was barely warm to the touch. And a digital thermometer to measure the heated side. Without the heating lamp and the STH warmed up for a full day, the heated side never got above 88 degrees, which is when i started focusing on the heat lamp.

---

Something even remotely warm to our touch would have to be over 98.6 degrees..which that alone nevermind warmer is far too hot for a snake. I can't stress how much you need something to control that heat pad...