Fix it now or wait until feed?

Hi everyone, so short recap for you... I've been into herps since I was a small boy but I've only had lizards, monitors, turtles that sort of thing. So I picked up a (so I am told) 1.5 y/o male (questionable) BP who is approx 3.5 ft.

Here's the thing..... I am not a snake expert this is my first but I have taken interest in proper husbandry of BP's and realized that mines setup is ALL WRONG... first of all he has a 70 gl. aqquarium... aswell the substrate is all wrong... the UTH has no regulator...

This is not a post asking what I should do... This is a post asking if I should change his setup now, or in a week once I offer him food.

He has been living like this for a year plus and taking food and growing so I am unsure if its in my best interest to change the cage and risk him going off feedings or keep it the same and then change the cage once (if) he accepts food....

Fix the tank as soon as possible. A bp of that size could go off feed for months and still be ok - as long as he doesn't lose a lot of weight.

But there are more risks in leaving the setup the way it is now: burns, stress, aggression. I'd downsize to a 20 gallon long tank. Check out the caresheet and some of the stickies on the forum for some ideas and you'll be well on your way.

I would also suggest that once you switch up his surroundings, give him a week or so before you attempt to feed him again.

Thanks for your suggestions and your quick response it is greatly appreciated. I had already created a setup using a plastic bin, paper towels for substrate, home made hides (appropriate size) and purchased a new UTH and regulator...

I just wasn't sure it was better to try and get a feed out of him or get him a more appropriate setup...

again thanks mate!

Very cool. Any pictures of the bp and new setup?

yeah i will post pics of the new and old setup tomorrow i have to re-size the images...

But now I have a new issue...

I just handled the new ball because its now night and he seems to be exploring and he keeps weezing!!! ( it sounds like the noise you make when your completely out of breath).... not dramatically but its a sound you wouldn't think a snake would make...

so im thinking probably RI seeing as how everything for this guy has been WRONG his whole life... including temp...

So now it looks like 7 hours into being a BP owner I have to find a herp vet.... Not that I'm complaining, i'd rather take the hit on the cash and make sure this guy is ok...

but I cant seem to find any herp verts on google....

any suggestions

im near Toronto so i KNOW they are around....

That I cannot answer. There are a couple folks from Canada who may know much more than me.

But it's good to hear that you have his best intentions in mind. At the first sight of an RI with my bp, I rushed to the vet. She was fine, but I'm glad I went just in case.

<_< oh lord I hope your snake isn't 1 1/2 cause and 3.5 feet cause my 2 year old is only 2'8" o_O.. Is Kyros not the right size for his age?! TT_TT Now I'm freaking!

I am hoping that the weezing is due to the traveling conditions that the BP had to endure today. Not horrible, styro-foam container at 82 ambient. After closer examination it is making the sound of "if you were to blow your breathe out of your nostrils and listen" SNNNNPPPFFFFHHHHHH hahah that's amazingly close to what it really sounds like

but i cannot find a vet whom deals with herps thats open at this time so i guess ill just have to wait it out

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoyalGuardian

<_< oh lord I hope your snake isn't 1 1/2 cause and 3.5 feet cause my 2 year old is only 2'8" o_O.. Is Kyros not the right size for his age?! TT_TT Now I'm freaking!

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I was told less then 1.5 and he is 3.5 ft. and then some if you were to really measure. So hes a big lad for his age or your lad's a bit smaller then some more.. who really cares at the end of the day as long as their healthy the size doesn't matter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RoyalGuardian

<_< oh lord I hope your snake isn't 1 1/2 cause and 3.5 feet cause my 2 year old is only 2'8" o_O.. Is Kyros not the right size for his age?! TT_TT Now I'm freaking!

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His could be a female. The girlies are usually bigger than the males. Assuming yours is a male.

that could very well be true

the kid i got it from seemed to know less about bp's then I who had only been reading about them for a couple days

so im sure he didnt know what he was talking about

maybe my big lad is a big lass

If he's been living in the current setup and eating regularly, there's no need to change it. The only things you should change are those that could be a danger to him. Which means get a thermostat on it and if the substrate is something toxic change it out. There's no reason to downsize his caging unless it's something that YOU want to do.

The wheezing could either be an RI or it could be a bit of stuck shed.

Don't worry about size RoyalGuardian. I have several males that are older, one is five years old, that are not very big, but are healthy, happy, good eaters, and even proven breeders- so definitely nothing wrong with them :)