Thermoregulating.....

So, little Willow has eaten even meal we've given her and also shed in one piece. We have begun to handle her as well.

When we first got her, she never used her cold hut. Once she settled in, she began to use it. Problem is, now she never uses her hot side. Like....ever.... it ranges 88 to 91 in her hot hut and 78 to 81 in her cold hut. When we held her tonight she was just in her cold hut and she felt cold. She's not climbing her trees as much either.

Should I be worried?

She's in a 20gallon long with 2 identical hides. Her uth has a thermostat and the only difference from the pic is there a lamp over both sides. She has a water bowl and her humidity is between 50% and 65%. She gets one fuzzy rat per week.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...pskdvojzri.jpg

Not climbing her trees as much would be a good sign, assuming she was climbing during the day before. Being overly active, climbing, and searching when it's still daytime usually means an unsettled and insecure ball python. It's normal for them to become active at night to "hunt" for food, but even then, not all do.

I'd add some more cover for her, like big leafy vines. The 20gal is too big and open for a hatchling her size, unless you add a ton of cover and stuff for her to hide in. (I assume hatchling if she's on rat fuzzies) https://www.amazon.com/Flukers-51015...s=reptile+vine

The reason being, she might be choosing the cold hide because it's maybe darker or somehow feels more secure to her than the warm hide. So I'd increase the comfort and cover all around the cage and see if it helps.

The climbing was only at night, but I can get more vines!

If a snake is eating, shedding, and expelling well the snake is usually in good shape.

Not using the warm hide as much as it once did is no big deal. I have some snakes that hardly ever go to their warm spot, even after eating. As long as the ambient temps are good the snake will be just fine.

My BP is one that 99% of the time is in her cool hide and she is completely healthy.


More cover could be good but if it was my tank I would cover the back and maybe the sides to block the view of the wires. I use thick art paper on my two tanks. I secured it with electrical tape which blends into the top band on the tank great. Turned out to give it a really clean look. I also found it insulated the tank a bit and raised my ambient temps a couple degrees.

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Originally Posted by KMG

If a snake is eating, shedding, and expelling well the snake is usually in good shape.

Not using the warm hide as much as it once did is no big deal. I have some snakes that hardly ever go to their warm spot, even after eating. As long as the ambient temps are good the snake will be just fine.

My BP is one that 99% of the time is in her cool hide and she is completely healthy.


More cover could be good but if it was my tank I would cover the back and maybe the sides to block the view of the wires. I use thick art paper on my two tanks. I secured it with electrical tape which blends into the top band on the tank great. Turned out to give it a really clean look. I also found it insulated the tank a bit and raised my ambient temps a couple degrees.

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I would assume that if the hot is 90 and cold is 80, the ambient is good?
She pees every 2 weeksish and rarely poops.

Im not gonna guess. You need to get a thermometer so you know for sure. How do you know what the two spots are?

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Originally Posted by KMG

Im not gonna guess. You need to get a thermometer so you know for sure. How do you know what the two spots are?

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There is one at the surface of her hot spot to measure the hot spot.
There is also one on the bedding surface in her cold hut to measure the cold spot.
So now, I need a third thermometer, dangling in the center??

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Originally Posted by Yzmasmom

There is one at the surface of her hot spot to measure the hot spot.
There is also one on the bedding surface in her cold hut to measure the cold spot.
So now, I need a third thermometer, dangling in the center??

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You shouldn't need a probe on the floor of the cold side. It's obviously gonna be right around what the ambient temp of the room is, maybe a few degrees warmer . Better safe than sorry though I guess.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yzmasmom

There is one at the surface of her hot spot to measure the hot spot.
There is also one on the bedding surface in her cold hut to measure the cold spot.
So now, I need a third thermometer, dangling in the center??

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No, it doesn't sound like it. The one sitting on the substrate in the cold hide is giving you a good air temp so the rest of the tank should be good as well.

So, my ambient temps are ok? I do have a temp gun.... if I aim it at the ground in the middle, that should tell me the ambient temp right?

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Originally Posted by Yzmasmom

So, my ambient temps are ok? I do have a temp gun.... if I aim it at the ground in the middle, that should tell me the ambient temp right?

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Not with the lamp over the middle it wont.

If you use the temp gun and check all over the cage and don't get any low numbers your ambient temp is fine.

The room is set for 70ish and with the humidifier going, it's about 76.

When I use the temp gun in her tank, her basking spot is 90 (the top of the hut is because of the lamp above it, her cold hut is about 80 and the Middle part of her tank ranged 76 to 80, depending on what the gun was aimed at. ex: the base of her tree is solid and read 80. The substrate is bumpy and uneven and read 76. Her water read 76.5.)

While hanging vines over the hot side, she slithered over and went inside.

the adults tank reads 80 everywhere in the center.

Seems like you have things running well. I don't see any reason for you to worry.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMG

Seems like you have things running well. I don't see any reason for you to worry.

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Really? I worried that 75/76 would cause an RI.
I guess she prefers the cool side.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yzmasmom

Really? I worried that 75/76 would cause an RI.
I guess she prefers the cool side.

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Nope, not with the other numbers you are providing. I have seen some keeps that say there ambient temps stay at 75 and with a good hotspot they have no issues.

I keep my heated snake room around 75-77.

Ok awesome, thanks! If I do increase the snake room, I will probably have to adjust the hot and cold spots. But if they are ok, then I am happy.

Ha! I just had a thread about the same problem...
Morty spends nearly 100% of his time in the cold hide. I indeed added some vines and covered 3 side of his aquarium with craft paper. I noticed his head popping out of the hide more often...
I guess some just strongly prefer the cold side...