What are some reasons she would be out early during the day

At around 9am she came out of her hide and started crawling around the tank.

Last time she eat was on 8/28 but I've tried feeding her a few times after that.
If it matters I moved a week ago. Temp in hide is 91F and 82F on cool side.

what are your AMBIENT temps in the enclosure?

It is not completely abnormal for a nocturnal snake to be out in the early AM. It is the point where in the wild they would try to warm up before the day gets super hot and they need to retreat to the cool burrow.

In captivity it might just be that animals personality but with the hunger strike I'd re-examine your husbandry very carefully just to be sure.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

what are your AMBIENT temps in the enclosure?

It is not completely abnormal for a nocturnal snake to be out in the early AM. It is the point where in the wild they would try to warm up before the day gets super hot and they need to retreat to the cool burrow.

In captivity it might just be that animals personality but with the hunger strike I'd re-examine your husbandry very carefully just to be sure.

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Ambient is in the low 80s
10 gal tank with 3 sides covered with black construction paper but it doesn't go all the way to the top http://i.imgur.com/3G64r.jpg
Cypress substrate
Only 1 hide on warm side http://i.imgur.com/EJqHC.jpg
Heat source is UTH
Humidity is currently at 54%
Empty and refill water dish every few days

The only thing I'm not sure about is how to offer f/t rats to her. When I got her she wasn't eating f/t rats so I got a mouse and she took it almost right away. Then I bought a live rat pup and she would damn near snuggle with it but after leaving it in there all day she eventually took it. Last time she ate was a f/t rat I pre-scented using soiled mouse bedding. Then I dropped and left the warmed f/t rat in the tank for 15 mins, she eventually came out of the hide and took it. I used mouse bedding because it seemed to me that she didn't know the smell of rats or that they are food. I guess it's possibly that she likes mice better but I have a big bag of frozen rats lol.

I'd say you should have a cool hide it might be that she is trying to decide between thremoregulating and security.

As for feeding just make sure it is warm through and I play zombie dance with them, hold it in hemostats or feeding tongs or a hotdog tong (smooth the edges). and dance it around the enclosure it might help.

I usually try to get them feeding regularly and then switch one thing then the other. But it sounds like yours is half switched now.

get a second hide and maybe then she will eat for you too.

Is it important to have 2 similar hides? I have the one small black one and a larger exo terra hide.

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Originally Posted by Rusky

Is it important to have 2 similar hides? I have the one small black one and a larger exo terra hide.

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It is important for some snakes. In my experience and from what I've seen many other people post, all snakes handle things differently. I have some that could go without hides at all, and I have some that are still currently boycotting food because I changed 1 tiny thing in their tub. I'd say the behavior you have described sounds like she is stressed to some degree. If you have two identical hides on either side, they won't have to choose between security and safety. Also, I have yet to see you mention a thermostat...are you using a thermostat for your UTH?

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Originally Posted by LGray23

It is important for some snakes. In my experience and from what I've seen many other people post, all snakes handle things differently. I have some that could go without hides at all, and I have some that are still currently boycotting food because I changed 1 tiny thing in their tub. I'd say the behavior you have described sounds like she is stressed to some degree. If you have two identical hides on either side, they won't have to choose between security and safety. Also, I have yet to see you mention a thermostat...are you using a thermostat for your UTH?

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Yes you can see the one for the hide in the top left corner here here and one for the cool side of the tank here

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Originally Posted by Rusky

Yes you can see the one for the hide in the top left corner here here and one for the cool side of the tank here

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Those are thermometers. Thermometers read the temps...whereas thermostats regulate and control the heating unit. All UTHs should be regulated by a thermostat....

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Originally Posted by LGray23

Those are thermometers. Thermometers read the temps...whereas thermostats regulate and control the heating unit. All UTHs should be regulated by a thermostat....

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Ahh my mistake, yes I have a slider one.

You mentioned stress, I honestly can't imagine what could be causing it. Before the move everything in the tank was the same and she seemed fine.

Also when I let her out and handle her she seems to love it.

A dimmer?

If the temps you are reading are not correct, that could be a big reason for stress. I know all of my snakes burrow under their substrate and lay directly on the glass/plastic. Without my thermostats, the bottoms were reading well over 130*. I use a temp gun because I personally don't trust the cheap digital thermometers. From what I've read they can vary as much as 10 degrees. Also, when I was using a dimmer, I had to change the setting up to 8 times a day because it fluctuated as the day went on, so I'd be careful with that as well.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

A dimmer?

If the temps you are reading are not correct, that could be a big reason for stress. I know all of my snakes burrow under their substrate and lay directly on the glass/plastic. Without my thermostats, the bottoms were reading well over 130*. I use a temp gun because I personally don't trust the cheap digital thermometers. From what I've read they can vary as much as 10 degrees. Also, when I was using a dimmer, I had to change the setting up to 8 times a day because it fluctuated as the day went on, so I'd be careful with that as well.

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I'll get myself a temp gun then, this one seems good, good reviews and a low price.

Here is a video I just took of her moving around. Feel free to mute it, I had the fan blowing in the background
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQyb2lZzelI

That one seems okay, just read the accuracy. I have the PE-2 from here.
http://tempgun.com/

that temp gun is perfectly fine and will do great. They perform just as good as the $50 units for fraction of cost.

I use them as their cheap to replace and work great.

But you def want to know the surface temp of the glass of the hot side. If your using a dimmer my guess is that glass is pushing 105F when covered with cyprus. If this is teh case, thin it out or go to papertowels. Always need to know the hottest point the snake can get to. If its 90 on top of bedding then you know its hotter below.

get the temp gun asap to confirm your surface temps on the bedding and on glass.

If your temps are accurate at 90/82 and 80 what ever you are doing is fine there is no need to change it if you are getting those temps correct. (assuming the thermometer is reading correctly you might check it against a second one.)

I like to have similar sized hides your first post mentioned a single hide. I assumed you had only one. They are individuals some do come out during the early morning (6-10am) It is the type of motion is it lasy poking lots of tongue flicks or more jerky 'frantic' with few tongue flicks the later is stress the former just exploring.

Temp guns are not very accurate when measuring glass anything that is reflective really is problematic. I agree with Rich they are all the same basically and have basically the same accuracy.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

If your temps are accurate at 90/82 and 80 what ever you are doing is fine there is no need to change it if you are getting those temps correct. (assuming the thermometer is reading correctly you might check it against a second one.)

I like to have similar sized hides your first post mentioned a single hide. I assumed you had only one. They are individuals some do come out during the early morning (6-10am) It is the type of motion is it lasy poking lots of tongue flicks or more jerky 'frantic' with few tongue flicks the later is stress the former just exploring.

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I put a second hide in for the video but I had 1 hide this morning. She is doing lots of long tongue flicks, her movement and tongue flicks do not seem jerky.

Keep the 2 hides and see in a week or two if she settles some and double check the temps.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

Keep the 2 hides and see in a week or two if she settles some and double check the temps.

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Done and done. I put the second, different, hide in almost 3 hours ago and she's been chillin since.

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Originally Posted by Rusky

Ahh my mistake, yes I have a slider one.

You mentioned stress, I honestly can't imagine what could be causing it. Before the move everything in the tank was the same and she seemed fine.

Also when I let her out and handle her she seems to love it.

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It might look the same, but your snake has a far better sense of smell than you do. Her tank is set up the same but there are all sorts of unfamiliar possibly dangerous odors swirling around in her home. It's very possible that she needs a little more time to adjust to the different enviroment.

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Originally Posted by Redneck_Crow

It might look the same, but your snake has a far better sense of smell than you do. Her tank is set up the same but there are all sorts of unfamiliar possibly dangerous odors swirling around in her home. It's very possible that she needs a little more time to adjust to the different enviroment.

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That's a very good point. When I got her she did the same thing for about 2 weeks before calming down. I actually think this is the exact reason she's buggin out right now. Thanks so much for thinking of that!

Just a word about the 15 dollar temp gun that you linked from amazon. I got one and discovered right away that the laser sight is not accurate. Mine measures the spot about 1.25 inches below the red dot. If you do get one check the aim on yours before you start to think the readings are off. . . I used some ice on a paper towel and aimed above below and directly on to see if it was off. . .

Ordered the temp gun, I will def make sure to test it so I know if it is accurate.
Also after putting in the second hide and now that she has been at the new place for a week she seems to have settled down significantly.

Thanks again to everyone for your input and suggestions.