What's going on with these snakes?

So we have had the rack set up for some time now, the deal is no one has been sitting on there hot sides. The temps and humidity are all right on. I do keep the ACvent closed for there room, so could it be the air temp. is warm enough for them to not actually need to sit in there hot hide?
Also 2 of them havent eaten since 10/03/06, while others are eating every feeding day.
Then I come in to tuck them all in for bed lol...okay I just do a head count and say "good night" well I catch one of them in there water dish :confused: Checked the humidity and its actually a high (68%) so I pulled him out and checked him over hoping it isnt mites and I didnt find anything on him....although I have never seen snake mites, I like to think I would know when I did. I was looking for little black dots yes? I thought that could be the answer to why he hasnt eaten in so long, but I didnt see anything...checked every little hole and scale...nothing.

Who knows what's going on around here. :confused:

what are the temps exactly inside the tubs, on the hot and cool ends? what are the room temps? can you briefly describe the rack? tub size and snake size??



vaughn

Only thing I would ask is where and how are you taking the temps for the hot side?


I had my thermostat probe and thermometer gage on TOP of the substrate under his hide and Columbus started soaking (my first days I had him) and then learned to put the probe and thermometer thingy UNDER his cage on the outside and set the temp from there instead and he's been in his warm hide since then:) and no more soaking:)

But you probably know that:) I'm still green:):rolleye2:

Cara

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HIGHMAINTENANCE

Only thing I would ask is where and how are you taking the temps for the hot side?


I had my thermostat probe and thermometer gage on TOP of the substrate under his hide and Columbus started soaking (my first days I had him) and then learned to put the probe and thermometer thingy UNDER his cage on the outside and set the temp from there instead and he's been in his warm hide since then:) and no more soaking:)

But you probably know that:) I'm still green:):rolleye2:

Cara

---

only problem is that it may read 92* but on top the substrate could be as little as 88 I'm sure. ALways measure from where your snake will be

Temps are very important, but they just might be starting the cool down cycle. They will prefer the cool side and not eat. I like to take a digital thermometer with a probe and tape the probe right on the inside of the tub over the heating element where the snake hides. I like the ones that read inside (the thermometer itself) and outside (the probe). Then I tape the themometer to the front of the tub (coolside) so I can see it at a glance. You'll see the cool and hot temps and also they come with high and low memories so you can check whats going on and adjust as needed. I think it takes out all the guess work. Then you know if temps are a factor. Some come with humidity reading too. Home depot or OSH will have them cheap.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheAudOne

So we have had the rack set up for some time now, the deal is no one has been sitting on there hot sides. The temps and humidity are all right on. I do keep the ACvent closed for there room, so could it be the air temp. is warm enough for them to not actually need to sit in there hot hide?
Also 2 of them havent eaten since 10/03/06, while others are eating every feeding day.
Then I come in to tuck them all in for bed lol...okay I just do a head count and say "good night" well I catch one of them in there water dish :confused: Checked the humidity and its actually a high (68%) so I pulled him out and checked him over hoping it isnt mites and I didnt find anything on him....although I have never seen snake mites, I like to think I would know when I did. I was looking for little black dots yes? I thought that could be the answer to why he hasnt eaten in so long, but I didnt see anything...checked every little hole and scale...nothing.

Who knows what's going on around here. :confused:

---

Have you cleaned there windows lately? They may be unable to see outside from there hotspot:8: :8: .Sorry i could not resist it and its been awhile since i gave you a hard time:cool: .How are you checking your heat levels? I am guessing the hot spot is hotter then you think it is.Or they are using the hotspot when you are asleep maybe.Do you have a temp gun? I have one and i randomly check my temps in my rack and the fish tank setups.

temp guns are your friend...makes life a whole lot easier. Could also just be picky animals adjusting to the changes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tmlowe5704

only problem is that it may read 92* but on top the substrate could be as little as 88 I'm sure. ALways measure from where your snake will be

---

Your snake will get to the warm temps. If you have 3" of Aspen and you set the tstat to get a surface temp of 92, you might have 100 on the bare plastic/glass. If your snake moves the Aspen around, you could be risking a burn.

Would it be safe to assume that a probe on the outside of the cage and directly on the heating element giving a read of 95 should be sufficient for the bp's warm side?

Our rack is set up with sterilite 1996's, we have flexwatt on there hot sides, controlled by the Herpstat from Spyder Robotics, the probe for it is placed on the flexwatt of the top shelf under the tub. I have a $100 temp gun, I actually got from our restaraunt...figured if it checks our food to make sure they dont get to hot or cold then it must be pretty on the point as far as temp. goes.
I check everyone's temps. and humidity many times a day, I use accurite placed in there tubs for humidity, I dont leave it in there though, I place it in and leave it for awhile...read it and then take it out and move on to the next guy.
Temps on the hot side (bare plastic) are reading from 85-92.7 at the hottest part. Acu-Rite reads, 76.5 as there air temp. and 56% humidity in that tub.
Also, I'm up at the crack of dawn and going to sleep at 3AM, they all come out of hiding at 10pm, yet only go into there hot hides for brief amounts of time....most of the time enough to poop in it :mad:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kilo

Would it be safe to assume that a probe on the outside of the cage and directly on the heating element giving a read of 95 should be sufficient for the bp's warm side?

---

It depends how thick the plastic is. For instance, with an AP (or similar) enclosure, it takes a much higher temp to get the plastic heated up but it holds heat for a longer time. For a Sterilite type container, it may only take 95 to get it to 92-94 in the tub if the Flexwatt is directly on the plastic or it might take a higher temp. You should always know your temps, guessing doesn't work. Good luck!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheAudOne

Our rack is set up with sterilite 1996's, we have flexwatt on there hot sides, controlled by the Herpstat from Spyder Robotics, the probe for it is placed on the flexwatt of the top shelf under the tub. I have a $100 temp gun, I actually got from our restaraunt...figured if it checks our food to make sure they dont get to hot or cold then it must be pretty on the point as far as temp. goes.
I check everyone's temps. and humidity many times a day, I use accurite placed in there tubs for humidity, I dont leave it in there though, I place it in and leave it for awhile...read it and then take it out and move on to the next guy.
Temps on the hot side (bare plastic) are reading from 85-92.7 at the hottest part. Acu-Rite reads, 76.5 as there air temp. and 56% humidity in that tub.
Also, I'm up at the crack of dawn and going to sleep at 3AM, they all come out of hiding at 10pm, yet only go into there hot hides for brief amounts of time....most of the time enough to poop in it :mad:

---

I think i have caught the problem.Now you have the thermostate probe on the top shelfs flexwatt.Is the snake that seems to not go to the hotside on the middle to lower shelves? If so he/she is not getting the proper heat,since heat rises the probe at the TOP shelf is shutting off since it thinks its warm enough.I have my probe on the middle shelf and it keeps everyone nice and warm.

The cool sides are "too cool" ... use a supplemental heat source to get the cool side of the tub to 82-84 and your snakes will begin to thermoregulate.

When ball pythons are offered temps that are "too cool" they tend to use them exclusively ... they slow down their own metabolisms ... fast ... etc.

-adam

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

The cool sides are "too cool" ... use a supplemental heat source to get the cool side of the tub to 82-84 and your snakes will begin to thermoregulate.

When ball pythons are offered temps that are "too cool" they tend to use them exclusively ... they slow down their own metabolisms ... fast ... etc.

-adam

---

So, I should run flexwatt on that side to now?

You could run flexwatt on your cool sides and get another thermostat for it, or get an oil-filled heater or something of the like to supplement heat during times of the year that it is cooler in your house. You'd need a thermostat on the heater as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

The cool sides are "too cool" ... use a supplemental heat source to get the cool side of the tub to 82-84 and your snakes will begin to thermoregulate.

When ball pythons are offered temps that are "too cool" they tend to use them exclusively ... they slow down their own metabolisms ... fast ... etc.

-adam

---

Really? I didn't know that.... I thought the snake would be smart enough to seek out warmth if its cold??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mmchoppers

Really? I didn't know that.... I thought the snake would be smart enough to seek out warmth if its cold??

---

Exactly what I thought...but when Adam speaks....we know its the truth...well atleast when it's about snakes. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheAudOne

Exactly what I thought...but when Adam speaks....we know its the truth...well atleast when it's about snakes. :D

---

Hahaha, so true... I have read a bunch of threads with his statements backed up by facts, and his really health snakes, and his friends who study ball pythons in the wild etc etc.. So I know im not blindly following his words.;)