snake constantly stays on the cold side of the tank?

Anyone ever see this. My snake stays in the hide on the cold side of the tank constantly. I even moved the under tank heater to the other side and he moved to the cold side within an hour. I measured the temp using an infrared thermometer and the warm side is sitting around 90. Why would my snake prefer the cold side so much?

Is the UTH being regulated by a thermostat?

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Is the UTH being regulated by a thermostat?

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Yeah, this. If the hot side is too hot, they'll usually opt for too cold instead.

He could just be in the mood for it - that's why we give them the gradient to choose from. Some of mine will pick a side for a few weeks, then switch. You should also check inside his warm-side hide for a "present", just in case he isn't wanting to curl up with what he left you. ;) What is your ambient temp, since you already posted that you temp-gunned the hot spot at 90deg?

(though sometimes it's just warm in your house. We can't get our house below 78F in the summer in Phoenix, and a lot of the adults just spend the whole summer half in and half out of their water bowl.)

mine has always preferred his cool side, usually only going to the warm side when he's digesting, or sometimes late at night.

The only time i see my cinny male or fire male on the warm side is when theyre in shed. The rest of them time theyre on the cool side, even after meals. I think its bc theyre both pigs so since the cold side hide is closer to the front of the tub they dont have to move as far to get food when i open the tub lol.

Vic only goes to his warm side SOMETIMES after he just finished eating, but always when hes about to shed (like 3-4 days before he sheds)

If your snake is eating and pooping and otherwise acting fine, I wouldn't worry about. If he's hiding he's happy.

i have a hard time keeping my snake room COLD enough therefore all my snakes seem to stay away for the hot side april - september

I'm having the exact same issue with my ball. He has stayed on the hot side almost constantly since I got him... now he is staying on the cool side. So confusing :)

Snakes will self regulate if they are given the option. Thus, why you generally offer a warm and a cool (not cold) environment in an enclosure.

My snakes will choose a cool side with a hide over a warm side with no hide. This is also a consideration.

I realized my snake prefers the cool side. I find him hiding there every morning, roaming at night to the warm side. My temps are about 95 on the warm side and 80 on the cool. Is this ok?

i even startled him this morning because I wanted to make sure he was still breathing. He struck at me but didn’t bite. I’m assuming he thought I was prey. :(

also should I use a basking light in the middle of the cage for (6 hours) right now all I’m using is a under the heat matt because I found when I used both a purple 50 watt light and the uth my warm side temp was too hot.

Tips please!!!

I have a 20 gallon tank

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Originally Posted by Shke0

I realized my snake prefers the cool side. I find him hiding there every morning, roaming at night to the warm side. My temps are about 95 on the warm side and 80 on the cool. Is this ok?

i even startled him this morning because I wanted to make sure he was still breathing. He struck at me but didn’t bite. I’m assuming he thought I was prey. :(

also should I use a basking light in the middle of the cage for (6 hours) right now all I’m using is a under the heat matt because I found when I used both a purple 50 watt light and the uth my warm side temp was too hot.

Tips please!!!

I have a 20 gallon tank

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You're replying to a 5 year old thread that's been dead for 4 years.

Start a new thread, you'll get more readers and more replies.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shke0

I realized my snake prefers the cool side. I find him hiding there every morning, roaming at night to the warm side. My temps are about 95 on the warm side and 80 on the cool. Is this ok?

i even startled him this morning because I wanted to make sure he was still breathing. He struck at me but didn’t bite. I’m assuming he thought I was prey. :(

also should I use a basking light in the middle of the cage for (6 hours) right now all I’m using is a under the heat matt because I found when I used both a purple 50 watt light and the uth my warm side temp was too hot.

Tips please!!!

I have a 20 gallon tank

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95 maybe a tad high tbh ..

Either way if any of my snakes spend too much time one one particular side I tend to adjust the heating accordingly so they do move around from one side to the other occasionally just to thermoregulate .


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Originally Posted by fhbob

Anyone ever see this. My snake stays in the hide on the cold side of the tank constantly. I even moved the under tank heater to the other side and he moved to the cold side within an hour. I measured the temp using an infrared thermometer and the warm side is sitting around 90. Why would my snake prefer the cold side so much?

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I have a young female like that. Ever since I brought her home as a hatchling, she prefers the cold side of her bin and often wraps around the water bowl. My hot side is about 88 F., cold side is about 78 F. I used to worry about it and move her back to the warm side, but she'd return to the cold side next time I checked. Occasionally, she'll compromise and park her butt in the hot hide but the rest of her body is stretched out toward the cooler end.
Apparently she never read the book on preferred temperatures for ball pythons. ;)