Why is he choosing the cold side?

Hello everyone just had a quick question about my little ball python. I have had him for about a month now and his setup is very simple. Just two small bowls with holes cut for him to access, coconut bark substrate, a water dish, a heating pad on one side, and an infrared heating light. Both sides are monitored for temp and humidity. Warm side reads at 87-88 degrees, cold is 80 degrees and both humidity's are 50%. He seems to like both of his hides, but he really only uses the cold side one. Just wondering what was up and if anyone had any ideas. Thanks!

If you are sure the temps on the hot side are not too hot, then maybe he just prefers the cool hide. If they are identical, then he just likes that side. Is he using the hot side hide after he eats?

Which side is the heat lamp on? If it is on the cool side, then it could mean that the ambient temperature is actually warmer on the cool side, since the heat mat only affects the surface temps on the warm side. What are the ambient temps on both sides?

He said the hot side is 87-88 and the cool side is 80, you should read the whole thing before posting :P

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Originally Posted by LGray23

If you are sure the temps on the hot side are not too hot, then maybe he just prefers the cool hide. If they are identical, then he just likes that side. Is he using the hot side hide after he eats?

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Ha he hasn't eaten yet, but he likes to get out in the mornings and crawl around the cage and warm up, but then just returns to the cool side.

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Originally Posted by gardenfiend138

Which side is the heat lamp on? If it is on the cool side, then it could mean that the ambient temperature is actually warmer on the cool side, since the heat mat only affects the surface temps on the warm side. What are the ambient temps on both sides?

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The heat lamp sits almost right in the middle, but slightly closer to the warm side of course.

:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:

You've had him for a month and he hasn't eaten??

My female does this too, and I know that I need to get a 100 flat black spotlight because that's what I had before and it was perfect ambient was 85 F right now it's 80 F on the hot side and she stays on the cool side at 74-75 F I don't know why she prefers the cool side but she's slightly cold when I take her out from that side. Got a new job so will get new bulbs soon maybe some better heat mats. Should be getting a female pastel from Emilio after I get a cheap car ;) Sorry don't mean to jack the thread.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:

You've had him for a month and he hasn't eaten??

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Yeah! I have been confused also. I have tried f/t and live and he just isnt interested at all. He is always more interested in exploring his feeding box (just a small cardboard box with paper towel). I even tried force feeding him and he would just move his head out of the way and explore. Any advice on that also? Haha thanks for all the help!

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Originally Posted by evan385

My female does this too, and I know that I need to get a 100 flat black spotlight because that's what I had before and it was perfect ambient was 85 F right now it's 80 F on the hot side and she stays on the cool side at 74-75 F I don't know why she prefers the cool side but she's slightly cold when I take her out from that side. Got a new job so will get new bulbs soon maybe some better heat mats. Should be getting a female pastel from Emilio after I get a cheap car ;) Sorry don't mean to jack the thread.

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He does the exact same thing! Even when I pick him up he is cold also. Sall good thread is still cool ha. Good luck with getting your new Pastel, such beautiful snakes.

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Originally Posted by thorblood666

Yeah! I have been confused also. I have tried f/t and live and he just isnt interested at all. He is always more interested in exploring his feeding box (just a small cardboard box with paper towel). I even tried force feeding him and he would just move his head out of the way and explore. Any advice on that also? Haha thanks for all the help!

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:O

Okay...there could be a few problems.
A) the temps in the tank are not what you think they are. How are you reading temps? What re you using to control the temps?
B) removing from the enclosure to feed is pointless, and probably the main reason he won't eat. It's stressful, try feeding in the enclosure next time.
C) it's WAY too early to consider force feeding! That's enough stress to turn it off from food for a long time..
D) what size enclosure do you have him in? It may be too big, and causing stress

You mentioned he comes out in the day time, and roaming during the day is usually a big sign of stress. Have you seen the caresheet?

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Originally Posted by LGray23

:O

Okay...there could be a few problems.
A) the temps in the tank are not what you think they are. How are you reading temps? What re you using to control the temps?
B) removing from the enclosure to feed is pointless, and probably the main reason he won't eat. It's stressful, try feeding in the enclosure next time.
C) it's WAY too early to consider force feeding! That's enough stress to turn it off from food for a long time..
D) what size enclosure do you have him in? It may be too big, and causing stress

You mentioned he comes out in the day time, and roaming during the day is usually a big sign of stress. Have you seen the caresheet?

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Temps are being read with electric probe thermometers, with the probes inside the hides. Feed him in the tank!? Isn't that a big no no? I have read all over that this is bad because he will associate the opening of the tank with feeding and become aggressive. Do you feed in your tanks? Just wondering because it seems like you hold your snakes very well and they dont look aggressive at all. He is housed in a 10 gallon tank, but I'm sorry I said that wrong. He doesn't really roam during the day. Just the early mornings when I am waking up he peaks his head out a bit and crawls around for about 10 minutes then hides again.

No, tank aggression is a common myth. Most people from this site will agree also. I feed every single snake in their own enclosures and every single one with the exception of one is puppy dog tame. I can reach in to any of their enclosures without getting bit. Unless I smell like rat of course. Trust me, try feeding in his enclosure the next time, if it doesn't work, try a live mouse hopper. Get him feeding consistently on the mouse hoppers for a few feedings to put on some weight then attempt to switch to f/t. They associate the smell of rat to feeding, not a hand reaching in.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

No, tank aggression is a common myth. Most people from this site will agree also. I feed every single snake in their own enclosures and every single one with the exception of one is puppy dog tame. I can reach in to any of their enclosures without getting bit. Unless I smell like rat of course. Trust me, try feeding in his enclosure the next time, if it doesn't work, try a live mouse hopper. Get him feeding consistently on the mouse hoppers for a few feedings to put on some weight then attempt to switch to f/t. They associate the smell of rat to feeding, not a hand reaching in.

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Thanks so much for all the help! I will try feeding in his cage next week. O and by the way your snakes are beautiful, especially your pastels. I think those snakes are gorgeous and you seem to take very good care of them. Thanks again!

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Originally Posted by LGray23

No, tank aggression is a common myth. Most people from this site will agree also. I feed every single snake in their own enclosures and every single one with the exception of one is puppy dog tame. I can reach in to any of their enclosures without getting bit. Unless I smell like rat of course. Trust me, try feeding in his enclosure the next time, if it doesn't work, try a live mouse hopper. Get him feeding consistently on the mouse hoppers for a few feedings to put on some weight then attempt to switch to f/t. They associate the smell of rat to feeding, not a hand reaching in.

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X2 I have 3 snakes ATM one is fed outside his enclosure (long story wife wont let the kids snake feed in his enclosure) but the other 2 eat better and have no signs of cage agression. Actually the one time I have been bitten was moving our adult girl from a feed tub back to her tank after feeding, after that I will not feed in a seperate tank ever again if I can avoid it at all.

We've got 60 something total and everyone is fed in their own enclosure. None have aggression issues. I would definately leave him or her alone for at least a week and try the live food fed in his enclosure.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

I feed all of mine inside their tubs and have never seen a bit of aggression upon opening a tub. In fact, the only time I've actually been tagged was when one of mine was outside of her tub on feeding day.

Yup, I will also agree with everything LGray23 said, as always. She knows her stuff and I have never seen her put out a single bit of bad advice. :gj:

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Originally Posted by evan385

He said the hot side is 87-88 and the cool side is 80, you should read the whole thing before posting :P

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With probes being inside the hides, it doesn't seem like ambient temperature is being read.

The dial type analog thermometers are actually good at reading ambient temperatures (it's what they're meant for--just make sure to do some sort of calibration), or you can hang one of your probe thermometers so it is taking an air temp reading. If ambient temps are around 80 then he could just prefer that side. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by thorblood666

Thanks so much for all the help! I will try feeding in his cage next week. O and by the way your snakes are beautiful, especially your pastels. I think those snakes are gorgeous and you seem to take very good care of them. Thanks again!

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Thanks for the compliments :D