Hey.. you're doing it wrong...

Sorry for the poor quality, I had to snap these quick before he went back in his hide (the correct way) lol

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...3/DSC09295.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...3/DSC09292.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...3/DSC09305.jpg
He was squeezed in there tight so when I opened the lid he slipped off a bit.

Check your temps inside the hide it might be that you are running too hot! What is your hot side temp cool side temp and ambient temps?

looks like there might be too much head space in those hides. they like to be squeezed in there tight. ive always had the best luck with hides that seem to be a little too small.

or maybe he just wanted the penthouse view :P

I appreciate the concern, but everything is perfect! :) 92 warm side, UTH on dimmer until I can get the thermostat, 85 ambient, 56% humidity. He prefers staying under his warm hide, I'm extremely OCD about everything in both of my tubs remaining perfect. Including the paper towels being changed every other day, if not more often!



And about the hides: I've tried about 5 different hides from cool whip tubs to small boxes, he seems to prefer the flower pots. He hated the smaller ones, would push them to the middle and curl up in the corner.

I thought my bp's were the only ones to do that.... I have checked everything over and over again, but sometimes I think they just like being a little off the ground.....:D

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Originally Posted by dragonboy4578

I thought my bp's were the only ones to do that.... I have checked everything over and over again, but sometimes I think they just like being a little off the ground.....:D

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Glad I'm not the only one with a strange BP.. my other one doesn't do this and their setups are identical in every way. He's perfectly happy though, usually hides all day with only his head sticking out, and eats like a beast every 5 days (bit under weight so he's on a shorter schedule than my other one).

Ok granted, 92 is a touch high and 85 is high for an ambient typically 81-2 ambient and 92 is ok if you are SURE your thermometer is correct, (very few are good on the regular market) but if it is average, the typical range is +/- 2ºF, it could be 94º. Just a comment, small royals actually produce heat when digesting and can raise the hide temp a degree or two more and typically don't need as much heat as adults (faster metabolism and all metabolic processes produce heat). So possibly as high as 96. I adjust the temps based on the animal if it is in the cool hide all the time I'd lower the ambient temps if it still stays all the time I'll then drop the hot spot.

Or it could be a an odd ball, but it goes against the natural instinct. If you want to see just drop the hot side temp 2º and see what the animal does.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

Ok granted, 92 is a touch high and 85 is high for an ambient typically 81-2 ambient and 92 is ok if you are SURE your thermometer is correct, (very few are good on the regular market) but if it is average, the typical range is +/- 2ºF, it could be 94º. Just a comment, small royals actually produce heat when digesting and can raise the hide temp a degree or two more and typically don't need as much heat as adults (faster metabolism and all metabolic processes produce heat). So possibly as high as 96. I adjust the temps based on the animal if it is in the cool hide all the time I'd lower the ambient temps if it still stays all the time I'll then drop the hot spot.

Or it could be a an odd ball, but it goes against the natural instinct. If you want to see just drop the hot side temp 2º and see what the animal does.

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Believe it or not, this little guy is an adult. :hmm: His previous owners had him for four years, he's sitting at 380g. Anyhow, I know many thermo/hygrometers aren't perfect, which is why I use an AcuRite in each tub as well as a temp gun. 92 is the temp under the 4 layers of paper towels, it is slightly less on top. Thank you for the input!

Oh, and no, he does not spend a lot of time on the cool side. If he did, I'd be concerned :)

Cool pics Kymberli. My little spider gets on top of his cool hide when doing his thermo reg deal. (yes temps are just fine) Don't understand why folks automatically thought something was wrong because of a neat pic...

That is such a cute picture!

Sounds like the temps are perfect and he's just being up high to keep a good watch out for strangers lurking :D

Lol I've become used to it. Everyone is just trying to help, I suppose :) The only reason I thought this was funny/cute and not of concern was because the temps/humidity are fine and stable. It's all okay though, I don't take offense to people who are just trying to help :)

Hey I wasn't try to upset you at all, but just pointing out a possibility.

For the record Accurite does not have a thermometer that is better than +/-2ºF (mine is 1.78ºF low as of this afternoon, I just checked it again it wanders some it is the second worst one I own) and I don't believe there are any IR guns on the market that are better than +/-1.8 ºF either. Just check the specs, accurate means traceable and that requires an individual serial number and records with the manufacturer of the 15 tests that were done on that unit before shipping, they are not cheap mass produced units with resistive probes.

Do not take my word for it check the specs of your unit.
http://www.reptilebasics.com/tempgun_faq

Those pics are great. I love it when they don't use the hides the way we intend them to. I am very picky about keeping the water bowls away from the hot side of my tubs. I have a few snakes that love to move them over just to make me move them back. They are just like my kids and trying to push my buttons. P.S. just like you I am very OCD about my tank conditions.

Don't stress, my male spider does the exact same thing! I think he likes the tight feeling. Everything in my tub is perfect, he's just havin' fun. :)

He didn't appreciate the pictures.. hasn't come out since I took them ;) I love how strange BPs can be too. The one in these pictures would rearrange his hides every night until I finally got the flowerpots that he can't move.

Well that isn't a heat issue if he is back. I am sorry if I caused grief but I have yet again dealt with "oh he is fine just not hiding and now has a bad burn" with the reptile rescue group I work with. I guess I am sensitive to the snake trying to escape the heat and being ignored. Thermometers are very difficult to get a good one that isn't killer costly, I am very OCD and expect 1ºF or better it is just hard to find. So far the best digital one I have found at the best price (personally tested, with a RTD platinum probe traceable) is a herpstat. I realize I seem to be in a special OCD category as most people seem willing to accept 2º +/- with out complaint, I can't.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I realize I seem to be in a special OCD category as most people seem willing to accept 2º +/- with out complaint, I can't.

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well since the recommended range for ball pythons is 90-94, 92 still puts her exactly where the temps need to be, even according to the caresheet. :)

I'm more curious how the heck do you have a 4 year old 380 gram snake???

No grief was caused at all! :) Like I said, I know most people are just here to help. I completely understand where your concern was coming from. Unfortunately I don't have the money right now to invest in a more accurate thermometer, which is why I have the AcuRite in each tub as well as a temp gun. I'm very careful with the temps over the UTH because I've caught one of my BPs under the paper towels once before, and I'd just die if my snakes were burned. :hmm:

My pinstripe is always on his log! He even eats off it like a GTP or Boa! It is interesting!!!!

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Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

well since the recommended range for ball pythons is 90-94, 92 still puts her exactly where the temps need to be, even according to the caresheet. :)

I'm more curious how the heck do you have a 4 year old 380 gram snake???

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Honestly, Idk how he survived this long. I just picked him up a month or more ago from a parent whose kids lost interest in it. The father told me they've had him since he was young, pet store bought, and they had him for about four years. He was in a 65gallon tank with disgustingly dirty sand, a branch, and a huge half log. 20% humidity and inadequate heat. I suppose he just refused to eat because of the husbandry. Plus, he was being fed small live mice, not sure how often. :hmm: The night I brought him home his was 363g.. he's 386g now. He's gaining weight much slower than the 2yr old I brought in who was also severely under weight. He's on a 5 day feeding schedule.. started with 30g rats, now he's taking 40g rats.

My youngsters like to do that! Too cute :P

How funny! Cute boy.

looking god to me
cute pic :gj:

I have two that do that!!!!
I can tell when the tub is hard to slide out that they are on the hide so I just leave them.
Funny thing is they are both females..........................silly girls:rolleye2::rolleye2::rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

I have two that do that!!!!
I can tell when the tub is hard to slide out that they are on the hide so I just leave them.
Funny thing is they are both females..........................silly girls:rolleye2::rolleye2::rolleye2:

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It's amazing how tightly they can squeezes themselves into spaces. I can imagine how difficult it would be to pull out a tub with one wedged in the top lol

Nope, my little female spider does the SAME thing. She's in a rack but has a small hide on either side and she lays on top of them....I have seen her in them but it's just funny seeing her all curled up on top of her hide lol.

Cute pic :gj: