My bp only likes his cool hide...?

My bp spends the vast majority of his time in the hide at the cool end of his viv, which is an artificial stone cave. At the warm end he has an up-turned terracotta pot. Both seem equally secure and are about the same size.

I'm pretty sure my temperatures are good, and when he's cruising he does spend time at the warm end. He just never uses the hide there, and spends most of the day in the cool end hide. I've only had him just over a week by the way.

I wanna try switching the hides to find out whether it's the hide he likes or the cooler temperature. Is this advised, or would it stress him out to switch the hides around?

i don't know why it would stress him out, but i'm new to snakes so i can't really offer advice.
that said, i noticed the same thing with my snake so i switched the lights around, instead of the hides, and he switched hides... i gotta believe your snake knows what's best for himself ;)
my guy likes a cooler hide, but he hangs out more in the warmer end when he's out and about.

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Originally Posted by jphealy

I'm pretty sure my temperatures are good

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Well, you're really going to have to do a little better than "pretty sure" if you want to keep your snake healthy.

Sounds like the cool side might be too cool or the hot side might be too hot.

-adam

I do actually have a digital thermometer/hygrometer with a probe for the warm side. The reason I said "pretty sure" was that people, books and websites seem to have somewhat differing opinions on temps. The warm side stays between 90 and 94 and the cool side stays between 82 and 85.

Do you think it would be a good idea to switch the hides to try to test whether it's just the hide he likes or the temperature?

I switched the hides in my snakes viv, and he now spends most of his time in the flower pot, which is now on the cool side. I've seen him go into his cave, which is on the warm side now, but he doesn't stay in it at all.

Warm side stays between 90 and 94 and the cool side stays between 82 and 85. Could these temps be improved? Or is my snake just being a normal bp? He does spend time at both ends when he's out exploring.

try lowering the hot side to 88-92, but only for a couple of days. if this doesn't do anything I'd try to move his "cool" side hide towards the middle more and get a third for the far "cool" side.

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

try lowering the hot side to 88-92, but only for a couple of days.

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Why?

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Why?

-adam

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Why?

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

Why?

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Why would you only try lowering the cool side for "a couple of days"? Ball pythons have a very slow metabolism and adapt slowly to change ... a "couple of days" is about nothing to a ball python. In my opinion, it won't do much good.

-adam

I said hot side, but I guess that would lower the cool side too.

Just to see if he/she will move around sides more for him/her, but at the same time not disturbing the snake too much for too long

In my opinion, Sir, the snake is probably moving sides just like any other and Ireland is just coincidently not seeing it when its on the hot side. The two hets I just bought tend to only go on the warm side at night anyways the rest of the time they are over against the cooler side of the rack squished against it sleeping.

The thing I wasn't trying to do is change the bp's adaption just see if it made any difference.

Sorry if I confused anyone.

Keep the temperatures at a constant 82-84 cool/92-94 warm. You provide the correct temperatures....the snake will figure out what is best for itself. By messing with the temperatures, you are not providing the appropriate enviroment for the animal and will not allow proper thermoregulation. Basically, when you change the temps like that you are trying to take control over the thermoregulation of the snake by changing its environment. Just make sure you setup is correct and provide the proper temperatures, the snake can take care of itself in the thermoregulation dept. :D

Did I just repeat myself like 3 times...ha....just trying to get the point across :)

I wish I could say thermoregulation three times fast :D

Thanks everybody!

I'm pretty happy my bp has the right setup to be comfortable in. I've only had him 2 weeks though and he's my first herp, so wanna be sure about everything.

Also, I've only attempted one feed so far, nearly a week ago, and he showed no interest. Going to try again tonight and I'm hoping for success! I won't be really happy I guess until he's feeding for me.

I gave my BP Byron an extra hide, so he had a hide at the warm end, one at the cool end, and one in the middle (all the hides were identical). Guess which one he favoured? You've guessed it. The middle one! Figured he knew best of what he was doing.

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

The thing I wasn't trying to do is change the bp's adaption just see if it made any difference.

Sorry if I confused anyone.

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No confusion really, I was just pointing out that if you're going to try something new with a ball python "a couple of days" really isn't long enough to wait to see if there is an effect.

-adam

Just fed him and he ate!!!

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Originally Posted by Lady Python

I gave my BP Byron an extra hide, so he had a hide at the warm end, one at the cool end, and one in the middle (all the hides were identical). Guess which one he favoured? You've guessed it. The middle one! Figured he knew best of what he was doing.

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Works every time, huh? :lmao: