BP Questions

I got a normal BP about 2 weeks ago, been feeding mouse every 7 days, he has ate good both times, just feed him today he was on it within 5 seconds of putting the mouse in the box with him and had it down in like 8 min, he has been spending a lot of time on the cooler side lately.. even after he just ate he went to the cooler side right away, I currently have 2 different hides in the cage right now, the one on the warm side with the UTH is more open on the bottom so he can use the UTH better, the one on the cooler side is a bit smaller log structure that is a bit smaller then the one on the warm side. Temps are currently 88F on the hot side with 69% humidity(high right now due to substrate change) and 81F and 66% humidity on cooler side. I don't have a temp controller for the UTH so I keep the substrate about 3/4 to 1 inch think there.

Just wondering if he is avoiding the hot side because the hide might be too big?

Well maybe I just have a case of new snake owner syndrome.. he just changed over to the warm side now, but should I look at getting similar hides for each side?

From what you descibed and without seeing your set up, I think that everything sound good. If he's eating I wouldn't change anything.
You may have new owner syndrome but that's not really a bad thing unless you get so preoccupied with changing your setup that you stress out your snake.

http://imgur.com/fDJwLyk couldn't get to show up in thread this is current setup, he just switched sides again.. just different from how he acted last time I feed him, I have to still get something for the sides of the cage, keep forgetting when I go into town

http://i.imgur.com/fDJwLyk.jpg
been a while since ive used forums but got it figured out haha

You said you don't have anything controlling the UTH, so it's just plugged into the wall? If this is the case then the pad is getting far too hot. You want to use a thermostat to regulate the heat.

The bottom surface of the tank just above the UTH is where you need to check the temperature (not the substrate, the actual tank surface) and this is where you are looking for the 90 to 92 degrees. You'll need an infrared thermometer for this.

Also if you have a UTH (which I'm assuming is under that hide on the left) then you don't actually need hot/cold sides, just a hotspot (UTH under hide) and an ambient temp (everywhere else) of 80. It doesn't hurt, would just save on electricity to have a lamp and UTH going rather than two lamps and a UTH. But don't remove the UTH from the equation they're what you want to use.

I'm not using 2 lamps anymore I just replaced that small 50w with that larger 150w adjustable I just didn't move it off the cage untill after I took the picture. I'll have to see what the temp is in that hide and get something to control the UTH on the left side hide. if im measuring the temp on the glass to 90-92 wouldn't it be coole with the 3/4-1 inch of substraight on the top of it?

Should I just unplug the uth untill I get my thermostat? Just ordered one a min ago and maintain my hot and cold side? I don't really want to be digging in the cage to get temps because I just fed him lastnight

How are you measuring the temp of the glass over the UTH? Those analog thermometers won't do it, you need a temp gun, digital thermometer with a probe that is sitting on the glass, or an IR thermometer.

I haven't measured the tank over the uth yet I unplugged it untill I get my thermoter .. He ripped apart the substraight lastnight while I was at work looks like he was doing laps.. My other temps I have 2 digital Exo terra.

Yep, you did the right thing, wait until you get a thermostat to control the UTH to plug it back in. Correct, just rely on hot/cold gradient.

BPs burrow so this will actually be helpful. If the snake wants the temp right on top of the UTH it will dig, if not it will move some substrate around to get the temp it wants. And this is what you want. I keep mine at 91 and I have yet to see (other than my freaky fire male) any BP NOT dig down to get as hot as they can.

To get the temp with the digital therm you'll want to place it on top of the glass directly above the UTH, it will read just a tiny hair under what the actual surface is but close enough. Something inert thats not too hard to get off would be good to keep it in place. Something like hot glue or bathroom caulk without adhesive. The glue is better though as caulk obviously takes forever to set up you would only use it in a new set up that you never planned to remove.

Unplug the UTH and get a thermostat for it ASAP! You are risking your snake suffering a burn. Ball pythons, even little ones, can easily move substrate around to get cozy in the hide. Mine do it all the time. It's not worth the risk to the animal.

Well that was it the uth was getting too hot.. When I first installed the uth I was using one of those liners and aspen shavings but had to hard of time controlling humidity with the shavings so I switched to Eco earth and cypress mulch and it must transfer heat better bring more damp. He is on the warm side now.

Am I going to be able to pull the pad back to get thermostat probe installed or should I replace the pad? Thought I read something on the packaging saying not to remove it..

Not sure what brand you have, the zoomed stuff I used before switching to flexwatt stayed REALLY sticky.

Zoo med or whatever the kind u get at petco and petsmart not sure exactly at work right now

Well I got my thermostat for the uth but here comes another question I have both sides air temp to 80 with the uth being warm spot but temps under Che light are reaching 90/93 degrees on substraight.. Is this normal?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by michaelt

Well I got my thermostat for the uth but here comes another question I have both sides air temp to 80 with the uth being warm spot but temps under Che light are reaching 90/93 degrees on substraight.. Is this normal?

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it is a 20" glass cage and I have the probes on each side, should I move these also picked up some indoor/ outdoor acurite thermometers today so I can place one over the uth so I don't have to keep moving substraight to get temp