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...

Again like i said the STH made barely a difference on the overall temperature of the tank. I'm just making sure what she does is within the norms.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LGray23

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

---

Actually, I'd like to clear this misconception up. They live in burrows in the wild, but they do not burrow. There have been some threads that got quite heated up on this debate before. In our enclosures they probably push substrate aside for the few reasons stated, security, heat, etc. But they do not actually dig and 'burrow' themselves.

Anyhow, back to the point.
It's instinct for your ball to get security and heat yes. But if she can cover her entire body in substrate it seems that your substrate layer is too thick resulting in not much heat getting from the heat pad to the substrate surface. I barely use half an inch. And heat pads do get hot, warm to our touch means about 100, which is way too hot for them. 90 is good enough, that feels cool to us. So please do get a thermometer to measure temps and a thermostat to control them. Thermometer with a probe to measure floor temps in the most absolute least. You HAVE to measure floor temps with a UTH, a UTH may not affect ambient temps but definitely heat up the floor a lot. Your ball could be trying to get warmer since your substrate layer is so thick and heat is not getting through. And if she goes too far, and hits the 100+F, its not healthy. These temps although do not burn them externally, do cause overheating in their systems and they cant function well at that temperature either. They can't eat too.

We know the original intentions of your question, but now that we see the mistakes in your setup (which are not minor mind you), we wish to help by educating you on what you could do to protect your pet from any danger. It isn't just potential dangers, its a disaster waiting to happen. Please don't condemn us for doing so, its only out of concern. Please do whats best for your pet. We'd rather you use the cheap option, like buying a cheapo thermostat, but still get things right, rather than getting it wrong and harming your snake.

Is there a thermostat you would recommend? I am going to get the thermometer linked below from amazon, so if you could find one to recommend from the website that would be incredibly helpful. This morning i woke up and she was on the ambient side of the tank still curled up under the substrate. She can cover herself completely with substrate, but at the same time she is still a baby (100 grams, about 18 inches). but any help with the thermostat would be much appreciated. I don't think heating is an issue to be quite frank (living in texas, i've seen the heated side of the tank get up to 99 degrees with the heat lamp turned completely off, gotta love this state), and she is always alert and active when i play with her.

http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrum...8163574&sr=8-6

Before you order that, they actually have an updated model (I believe) at Lowes for half the price as that one..... http://www.lowes.com/pd_21243-53921-...ter&facetInfo=

Also FYI human hand isnt 98.6, thats the core temp not surface. Most humans hands run 88-92.


Need to get something to control it as if room temp shifts hot or cold the snake will feel it and eventually something will go wrong fast.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LoNeSt4r

Is there a thermostat you would recommend? I am going to get the thermometer linked below from amazon, so if you could find one to recommend from the website that would be incredibly helpful. This morning i woke up and she was on the ambient side of the tank still curled up under the substrate. She can cover herself completely with substrate, but at the same time she is still a baby (100 grams, about 18 inches). but any help with the thermostat would be much appreciated. I don't think heating is an issue to be quite frank (living in texas, i've seen the heated side of the tank get up to 99 degrees with the heat lamp turned completely off, gotta love this state), and she is always alert and active when i play with her.

http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrum...8163574&sr=8-6

---

Depends on your budget. The best IMO are
http://www.coldbloodedsupply.com/pro...-SHIPPING.html
http://www.reptilebasics.com/ve-100
http://www.helixcontrols.com/DBS1000.htm

Decent on/off ones are
http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000-pre-wired
http://www.reptilebasics.com/johnson...stat-pre-wired

And a decent cheap one
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...9480702&sr=8-1

I use herpstat, johnsons, and the hydrofarm and like them all, herpstat being my favorite.

I would get the acurite and buy a thermostat if you have the money. If not then install a wall light dimmer wired to your outlet or buy a lamp dimmer you can plug into the outlet then the heat pad.

*Note you'll have to check the temperature several times a day to make sure the temperature in the cage doesn't increase too much. I have my A/C set at 77. I turn down my light dimmer before I leave for work since the room my snakes are in gets warmer as the day progresses. I'm also in texas, but regardless you need safety measures in place.

Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LoNeSt4r

http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrum...8163574&sr=8-6

---

I got this same exact one at Wal-Mart for like $12. Works pretty great. I put the main unit on the cool side and extend the prob under the substrate to the warm side. It's nice because you can see both of the temps and humidity.

Oh yea and I also use THIS on a suggestion from LGray for both of my snake enclosures (one is glass tank and other is tub) and they work great.