No hide's Please.

I just recently transferred my pastel female from a 20-Long tank to a 40, and after 2 days she isn't using any of her hides. My ambient temp is 78-80 and my hot spot is 83-86, and a super solid 64% humidity.

I have 3 hides currently in the tank, one in the back right corner over my UTH, one dead in the middle, and one in the far left corner. I have a great heat gradient going on.

Anyway, she won't use any of her hide's, and I've never had this problem before. She will use one for an hour, then go lay out in the open, then use a different hide. Just a random cycle.

Before anyone flames me for having a juvenile in a 40, I'd just like to say I haven't ever had a problem before... as long as I have 3-4 hides in there. To me it just seems like she's being restless.

Alot of bp's are sensitive to change, may just take a bit for her to settle in. I have a few 700-100 gram males in 16 quart bins because Ive tried to move them up a size a few times and it just doesnt work for those guys

Thanks for the input, I'm hoping this female pastel will settle in. My other bp's I have/had made the transfer from their 20 to a 40 no problem at all. This was my first experience with one having a hard time, so it just kind of got me worried.

Sometimes my male ball python is out of his hide also. He eats well and doesn't seem stressed at all. When he's out of his hide he lays on top of the moss in his tank and takes a nap.
I'm not sure about yours. My bp is about a year old and is in a 40 gal breeder. He's doing just fine, hasn't turned down a meal once, etc.
I'm sorry I can't offer more than the fact that my BP does it too but doesn't seem stressed. I'm not an expert yet. :(

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

To me it just seems like she's being restless.

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This is a sign of stress. Which is most likely caused by the switch.

If your SET IN STONE on using the 40 instead of the 20 for it u can give it more time or add more things in there.

Take some paper and crumble it up and toss it in there. Fill some of the empty space and remove it over time.

Thanks as well. :)

Your male sounds like he's just basking, and that's totally fine. What my female is doing is a little different, she will lay out like she is going to bask...but then changes her mind where she should be constantly. Pretty much just avoiding hides.

It's almost like watching a dog trying to take a nap, and the dog can't make up his mind where to lay.

Aye, I'm not an expert either...so it's ok :)

I agree with the concept that she just needs more time to settle in. Their little brains work at an entirely different pace than ours do, and it may take her a week or two to finally be convinced that no other critters intend to claim those perfect little caves. I'm pretty sure in time she will settle and you'll see just as little of her as you did before. :P

Thanks Mike, I have plenty of extra plants, vines, and other terrarium nic-naks. So if I didn't want to put paper in there, I could just add plenty of those?

Thanks JLC, would you recommend what Mike said to do? or just leave her tank alone for the rest of the acclimatization?

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Thanks Mike, I have plenty of extra plants, vines, and other terrarium nic-naks. So if I didn't want to put paper in there, I could just add plenty of those?

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Couldn't hurt to try...just keep in mind that any changes you make will likely "reset the clock" on the settling in period. :)

Yes exactly.

See BP's like smaller places. You took her from a small place. To a bigger place. If u add some of that stuff in to fill in the negative space. And then remove it over time it will help her.

Id put it in there. Then over the next 2 weeks just slowly remove stuff. She will settle in to the "new bigger home" soon enough.

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Originally Posted by JLC

Couldn't hurt to try...just keep in mind that any changes you make will likely "reset the clock" on the settling in period. :)

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This is true to but from what iv seen it makes the transition quicker overall because it doesnt seem a wide open to them.

But if shes restless as it is i doubt shes hardly settled in at all yet.

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

my hot spot is 83-86

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Am I the only one who noticed this?

Hot side temps should be 88-92 bump that bad boy up 5 degrees

Alrighty.

Ugh...this is a tough one, I think I'm going to just leave her alone for now. Feeding day is Wednesday, and if she doesn't eat. Then I guess I'll add some more stuff to her tank. :(

Thanks

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Alrighty.

Ugh...this is a tough one, I think I'm going to just leave her alone for now. Feeding day is Wednesday, and if she doesn't eat. Then I guess I'll add some more stuff to her tank. :(

Thanks

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Yea that works just do not put her back in the 20 because that will likely lead to more stress. If she just seems like she isnt settling in then add a few things to cover up some empty space.

Seen a lot of people do it and it work, its like weaning a baby off of the bottle. Slowly take it away till they forget about it.

I agree with Mike...it's too cold in there.

Gosssh, Mike and Judy both drive a hard bargain... I just posted what I'll do, but then once Mike posted again I'm totally unsure again. (No offense mike, I really appreciate the input :) )

@Mitsumike, I read in one of my husbandry books that a Juveniles hot spot was suppose to only be around 85, and then for adults it was like 90-95. Don't take what I say at face value, I may have misread.

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Gosssh, Mike and Judy both drive a hard bargain... I just posted what I'll do, but then once Mike posted again I'm totally unsure again. (No offense mike, I really appreciate the input :) )

@Mitsumike, I read in one of my husbandry books that a Juveniles hot spot was suppose to only be around 85, and then for adults it was like 90-95. Don't take what I say at face value, I may have misread.

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Just leave her alone for a few. If shes still refusing food, acting restless and not utilizing her hides then go with another approach.

And bump ur hotspot 88-92

Me personally in my rack I like my flexxwatt to be at 95 as the max temp it gets directly on the flexxwatt allows the tubs to be at 91-92 constantly

LOL! Cody, try not to stress too much about it! There's really no wrong way to go about it...just do whatever you think best and be patient and observant. I'm sure that whatever you choose to do will work out in the long run.

These critters have a way of getting under our skin and making us crazy over the littlest things! :rolleye2: :D

As for the temps...I don't believe I've ever read that juvies should be kept at cooler temps than adults...however, I do believe that there is a much wider range of acceptable temps than a lot of folks realize (or will recognize). I would try and keep the warmer area closer to the upper 80's more consistently...but overall, his temps are alright...just different than the accepted norm.

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Gosssh, Mike and Judy both drive a hard bargain... I just posted what I'll do, but then once Mike posted again I'm totally unsure again. (No offense mike, I really appreciate the input :) )

@Mitsumike, I read in one of my husbandry books that a Juveniles hot spot was suppose to only be around 85, and then for adults it was like 90-95. Don't take what I say at face value, I may have misread.

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I wonder where you read that. From all the breeders that I have talked to or visited along with how I raise my babies hot spot is always the same, 90-92. Some say 88 is fine but I like to keep it at 90-92 so if there happens to be a drop it will drop to the 88 and not lower.
I actually keep my babies alittle hotter so they can breakdown the food faster b/c at a young age they are eating machines.
0-300 are kept at 92-94
300+ are kept at 90-92
But I do agree with JLC that BP's can live in a much wider range then keepers keep them. I just keep them at the 90 hot spot b/c it raises the cool spot to 80 in the tubs.

Judy is right because keep in mind in the wild they do not have a "hot spot" of 92 all the time. That may be whats "best" for them but their more then able to live with a 83-86 hot spot.

But then again we do not keep the in the wild lol so we provide whats "best" for them which many feel is 88-92 so thats what people tend to keep it at

Thanks for all the help everyone. By the way Judy, you have been extra, extra helpful!

Yes, I notice from time to time how crazy my ball pythons can make me sometimes. lol :taz:

Oh, and I just raised her hot spot temp to 90.

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Thanks for all the help everyone. By the way Judy, you have been extra, extra helpful!

Yes, I notice from time to time how crazy my ball pythons can make me sometimes. lol :taz:

Oh, and I just raised her hot spot temp to 90.

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Btw. Dont be another person to ask for help and not give us updates :)

I and maybe "we" would like to get an update if she settles in =)

Alright will do Mike, I'll give an update on feeding day (Wednesday). I can tell you guys how the situation progressed and if she ate or not. Do you want me to post to this thread then? Or post another one then?

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Alright will do Mike, I'll give an update on feeding day (Wednesday). I can tell you guys how the situation progressed and if she ate or not. Do you want me to post to this thread then? Or post another one then?

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This thread work =)

I like to hear if things worked or didnt work.

But truly i like to ask for updates because say "Jill" comes here has same problem as u, find this thread and guess what? NO UPDATE! So she doesnt know what worked here or not. Where as if u sorta give us a update if things worked if ur thread ever is used by someone else they can see what worked..

Trust me im sure we all have goggled something and someone has had the same problem and u get to reading the thread people offer of advise but you never read what worked or what didnt work :)

Yeah, now that I think about it...I have seen threads like that before and it sucks not knowing weather or not the advice worked.

So I will post an update for you guys most definitely. :)

Ditto on the new tank stress. Throw a blanket over the tank for a couple days.

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Originally Posted by MitsuMike

Am I the only one who noticed this?

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Nope. That was the first thing I noticed! But like others have said it's not super low. I keep my flexwatt set anywhere from 95 to 98 directly on the tape. This seems to work pretty well for temps in my bins.

Update on the pastel female, that wasn't using her hides.

She has been using her warm hide for about 4 hours :) and counting!

She has used her warm hide all day today, except she came out for about an hour around 6pm. Then returned to her hide, after doing some more exploring of her big tank.

She's been using her warm hide, and she ate today! :D

Glad to see shes doing well..

Btw when it comes to hides. The way i judge a good hide is.. if they can "use it" i find it to big :P

If they can "wear it" its just right =)

Yeah, I'm glad too :) and really relieved.

I have a similar view about hides as well, except I think about it like a hermit crab's shell...I'll have them in the one that fits for a while, and already have the next size up waiting :D

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Yeah, I'm glad too :) and really relieved.

I have a similar view about hides as well, except I think about it like a hermit crab's shell...I'll have them in the one that fits for a while, and already have the next size up waiting :D

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Imma find my cord to upload my hide pics XD


http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9943/dsc01522n.jpg
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4959/dsc01693y.jpg
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/6767/hatki.jpg

Haha, the 2nd picture reminds me of the hermit crab reference I made. Is that why you posted them? Or showing how tight your hides are?

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Haha, the 2nd picture reminds me of the hermit crab reference I made. Is that why you posted them? Or showing how tight your hides are?

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2nd was just cuz of that. The other 2 are a bit older. That second one i just took cuz its like ur hermit crab thing :P

Hes in a tub. And without 2 hides.. He does not eat >.> 2 hides take up almost the whole tub so hides cant get any bigger

Hah, well thanks. That was pretty cool bro! Made me giggle. :cool:

Not to be off topic but...Your a rack user aren't you?

If so, come first of the year I was thinking about getting a small 6-8 (give or take a few) tub rack or something. I'm just looking for something more space efficient for my next few BP's I also plan on getting in the first of next year. I was wanting something with the heating method already installed and pretty much ready to go.

Any suggestions? Or tips...this would be my first rack.

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Hah, well thanks. That was pretty cool bro! Made me giggle. :cool:

Not to be off topic but...Your a rack user aren't you?

If so, come first of the year I was thinking about getting a small 6-8 (give or take a few) tub rack or something. I'm just looking for something more space efficient for my next few BP's I also plan on getting in the first of next year. I was wanting something with the heating method already installed and pretty much ready to go.

Any suggestions? Or tips...this would be my first rack.

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So like buy one already made? Hmm there are 2 i would go with that iv actually had experience with and seen first hand in use. LEt me get links

Mind u these are not cheap. Their like 5x the price if u build one out of melamine.

But u get what u pay for. These are way better then any melamine rack i think.

http://www.boaphileplastics.com/rhinoraxx_choices.html

http://www.reptilebasics.com/for-mid-sized-snakes/

There are some others. But if i bought a rack it would be from Jeff Ronne the boaphile or Rich from RBI

Yeah already made. It can be a ready to assemble kit as well. I'm trying to also strike a balance of quality and price. I want something pretty nice, but $600 is the most I want to spend, which I think will work out since I don't want anything with a ton of space either.

Alright, gimme a couple mins to check em out.

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Yeah already made. It can be a ready to assemble kit as well. I'm trying to also strike a balance of quality and price. I want something pretty nice, but $600 is the most I want to spend, which I think will work out since I don't want anything with a ton of space either.

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Yea u can make a 5 stack melamine for like $50 bit its heavy. Thats really the only downfall i really have. They are super heavy to move and not as "nice and professional" as the ones i listed above.

5 stack melamine?

This one seems like it would fit my needs decent. http://www.boaphileplastics.com/rhin...sterilite.html

From what I read...it does come with heating installed, just ready for a thermostat?

A thermostat to recommend? I'd like something with an LCD panel, but affordable as well. I may be asking a bit much there. lol Sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it too. :)

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

5 stack melamine?

This one seems like it would fit my needs decent. http://www.boaphileplastics.com/rhin...sterilite.html

From what I read...it does come with heating installed, just ready for a thermostat?

A thermostat to recommend? I'd like something with an LCD panel, but affordable as well. I may be asking a bit much there. lol Sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it too. :)

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A melamine rack is one u build urself out of very heavy material :P Around $50 for a stack (5)

Anyways heres the only tstat i use now

http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000.html

And yes jeffs comes with heat installed!

You can also order ur prewired ranco tstat from him to and have it shipped with ur rack also. Maybe he will give u a deal on it for less then $100 if u order with rack. But RBI's prewired tstats are cheaper even with shipping

Awesome, lets say I go with the one from Reptile basic's. It's only got 1 probe, would I just place it in a middle rack, and just know the bottom ones a few degrees cooler. Then the tops a few degrees hotter?

I did think about building one, but like you said it can lack the professional appearance. Not that I'm gonna have a bunch of people seeing it, I just like to be proud of what I got.

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Awesome, lets say I go with the one from Reptile basic's. It's only got 1 probe, would I just place it in a middle rack, and just know the bottom ones a few degrees cooler. Then the tops a few degrees hotter?

I did think about building one, but like you said it can lack the professional appearance. Not that I'm gonna have a bunch of people seeing it, I just like to be proud of what I got.

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I set mines at the top. And i get like a 2 deg differential throughout my rack.

My top one is at like 90-91 bottom sits at around 89-90

Btw if ur getting a rack get one of these

http://www.proexotics.com/store/prod...e=0&featured=Y

RBI has some to tho iv never used any of theirs

http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermometers/

Trust me u will thank me :)

Alright.

I've got 2 already, I've got a little $30 one that you have to take at almost point blank range, and a $200 infrared laser pistol style. I've just been using them to check my heat gradients in my tanks. lol

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Originally Posted by Cody John Steele

Alright.

I've got 2 already, I've got a little $30 one that you have to take at almost point blank range, and a $200 infrared laser pistol style. I've just been using them to check my heat gradients in my tanks. lol

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I love them. So glad i got one awhile back. It is really worth the $30 just for the crappy one

when i put my two boys in a rack system from glass tanks one wanted a hide and one wont use the hide. after awhile the one that wanted the hide quit using his and instead just hides under the newspaper now :D