ball python situation

ok I will try to make this post understandable since i am posting it for my g/f related to her ball python.

she has recently moved in with me and brought her snake pattrick along yipee! love snakes. We live in New Hampshire and it gets cold in the winter and we have had a hard time keeping the tank above 78 degrees and the humidity is at a poor 27% :(. The other night he made 2 weezing sounds and she freaked out cause she automatically assumed it was respiratory infection, I disagreed with her because that is the only sympton he shows no bubbles from nose no loss of appetite still active(for a python). I told her it was prob cause the humidity was at a really low level (27%), I read that if the humidity isnt at a comfortable % pythons develop a mucus in there throats when they yawn or replace old oxygen with new oxygen it makes a weezy sound. He is in a glass tank 30 gallon with screen top ,ceramic heater and a UTH. I covered 3/4 of the tank with plastic wrap to see if the humidity would increase at all it didnt. I presented the idea of ME making a sterlite captivity just for winter use. My main question about the sterlite cage is do you think it needs a UTH and a ceramic heater? to keep it at the correct comfortable temperature and humidity? hmmmmm I think that is all i really need to say if you think i left anything out please bring it to my attention. thank you for reading this long post if it didnt bore you to death.

a tub set up must have a UTH and all UTH's must be controlled by a thermostat (tank or tub) UTH's DO NOT affect the temperature of the air temperature so if your room gets below 75 then you will also need another heat source. I would advise that you do not use a CHE with a tub as they get way too hot. an infrared bulb like this one will be better:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

What are you using to measure temperates/humidity? and how cold is your room?

This might help as well: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Basics...*DUW*

i would say in the winter my room is 50 degrees most of the time during the day when i get home from work or days off it is more like 60 degrees. my g/f has a digital reading of temp and humidity. the tank stays at a constant 78 degrees with the humidity reading 27% which i know is a little on the low side. I was thinking to just use the sterlite tub in winter season and then switch him back to glass tank in summer since i dont have a controlled climate in my room in summer tends to get warm upstairs. Another note this snake is about 3 ft long. Also have any imput on the weezing noise ?

Just addressing the RI issue...

It woudln't hurt to have the snake looked at by a vet. If the snake has consistently been at too low of a temperature over an extended period of time, it is rather likely the snake has RI. Too low of humidity isn't great either, but I would be very concerned about providing enough heat.

so the air temperature in the tank is 78 degrees but is there a basking spot where the temperature is higher? humidity needs to be between 40% & 60% normally and 60%-80% during shed.

If the highest temperature in the tank is 78, then I would be very worried about the weezing. Regardless you need to keep a very close eye on this snake to make sure you don't start seeing the other signed of RI.

Does the thermometer have a probe?

You said that the tank had a UTH, does it have a thermostat?

Im not sure if others have had this happen but several of my ball pythons wheeze randomly from time to time and nothing is wrong with them. When i first started noticing it i was alarmed as well and brought them in to a vet. Sometimes they just do it. U might want to hit up your local hardware store and get some plexiglass and make a new top for the aquarium if u plan on keeping him in there. Otherwise tubs work great as well. I use mostly tubs but i have a 60 and a 100 gal tank i use for pairing them. Also if ur house temp drops that low u might want to invest in a heater to heat the whole room. Hope this helps

Also if your room is 50 degrees a tub is going to be very difficult as well, the UTH can provide the basking spot and a heat lamp can help to raise the air temperature, but they can only do so much. is there any way to get the snake into a room that is warmer or can you warm up the room that it is in now?

Has the snake shed recently? Sometimes old shed gets stuck and creates a wheezy sound. If he keeps wheezing after the next shed, its probably RI.

For humidity, try plexiglass, tin foil, or a damp towel over the tank screen. You can also get a larger water bowl and put it on the hot side. You can also mist the tank daily with a spray bottle.

If possible, can you bring room temperature up? This will help a lot with your temp problem. Especially if you choose a tub set up.

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there really isnt a warmer room available since i share a house with 2 other people. If there were no easier resolutions to this dilema i was debating on buying one of those infared heaters that cost like 2cents to run a day (human use one) say they heat about 1000 to 4000 sq feet and are thermostat controlled.at the moment im not really worried about the temp of the cage since winter is on its way out. Im more worried about the humidity level being correct which i believe is most important, correct me if im wrong. A infared heat light hovering above tank would increase temperature in the sterlite container? better than in a glass tank?

these questions really need to be answered first:

1. so the air temperature in the tank is 78 degrees but is there a basking spot where the temperature is higher

2. Does the thermometer have a probe?

3. You said that the tank had a UTH, does it have a thermostat?

Temperatures are far more important that humidity, they need to be your 1st priority bar none.

Because tubs have less volume they are easier to heat but in a room as cold as yours you are going to have issues no matter what set up you have.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

these questions really need to be answered first:

1. so the air temperature in the tank is 78 degrees but is there a basking spot where the temperature is higher

2. Does the thermometer have a probe?

3. You said that the tank had a UTH, does it have a thermostat?

Temperatures are far more important that humidity, they need to be your 1st priority bar none.

Because tubs have less volume they are easier to heat but in a room as cold as yours you are going to have issues no matter what set up you have.

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I agree with everything said here.
Temperature is more important than humidity. If temps are too low, your snake risks serious health problems. Possibly even death if his health goes down.
Even getting a cheap space heater for your room will help tremendously. It will be a good investment for your girlfriend for future winters.

You can cover your enclosure with Styrofoam boards to insulate the walls, but it can only help so much. The room ambient temp is the most important thing.



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think i found the solution im just going to buy an infrared heater for my room to keep it at a better temperature for me my girl and the snake think that will make them both happy and my mind at ease. if anyone thinks this is a bad idea please let me know

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

these questions really need to be answered first:

1. so the air temperature in the tank is 78 degrees but is there a basking spot where the temperature is higher

2. Does the thermometer have a probe?

3. You said that the tank had a UTH, does it have a thermostat?

Temperatures are far more important that humidity, they need to be your 1st priority bar none.

Because tubs have less volume they are easier to heat but in a room as cold as yours you are going to have issues no matter what set up you have.

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Please answer above questions if you want help, it's hard to tell you if it's a bad idea w/o all the info.