Baby short tailed python not eating

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Originally Posted by Dinoanc

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I can place him back in the 15qt I have if it won't stress him too much. I can go out and purchase other hides as well. As for temps, I'm using a bigger heat mat as was suggested. My ambient only improved slightly to 72ish, according to the temp gun. I wrapped a towel around the enclosure and I am reading 75f on the warmer side closest to hot spot.

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This is winter (I'm assuming your general location- U.S.) so is the room where he is now colder??? You need to find ways to keep adequate warmth in whatever tub or enclosure he's in- even when the room is colder, or keeping a snake just won't work for you. Seriously.

... I'm aware of that. And I've asked how to do it. I was told to get a bigger heat mat and I did, and it improved things only slightly. I'm going to test out a lamp, but I'm afraid of the melting plastic and the smells that come with it. What if I just went and picked up a 5 or 10 gal to put him in? Would it be too small? I'd rather fight with humidity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dinoanc

... I'm aware of that. And I've asked how to do it. I was told to get a bigger heat mat and I did, and it improved things only slightly. I'm going to test out a lamp, but I'm afraid of the melting plastic and the smells that come with it. What if I just went and picked up a 5 or 10 gal to put him in? Would it be too small? I'd rather fight with humidity.

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That might be an improvement...because for one thing, it's a lot easier to insulate a glass tank- the sides are straight up & down, & there are various things you can attach (even corrugated cardboard, sheet cork, foam-board or poster board with a foam core, etc) that will help the warmth* stay where it's needed- INSIDE.

*Not all heat pads are created equal- some put out more heat more than others, & all should be controlled by thermostat for safety. Still, it's possible that the wattage of what you're using is just not adequate...either that, or your room is too cold- remember that heat rises (up & out of the enclosure) & cold air sinks downward- Have you tried putting his home on a higher table or shelf? Rooms are colder nearest the floor. Tried warming the room better?

We aren't IN your home- we cannot see exactly what the problem is- we can only offer suggestions, but we cannot fix it for you. I understand you're frustrated...in part, because you're getting answers from various places all at once. As far as the size (5 or 10 gal?) being correct, match the "floor dimensions" to what he has done well in for you- & realize at some point you'll need to size up when he grows, but for now, he needs to be eating- otherwise you won't have a pet left to worry about anyway. If this is what you need to safely use some added overheat heating, then by all means, get going on it. Your profile shows this is not your only snake, so I'm not clear why this one is giving you so much difficulty, as far as setting up his housing. Your other snakes are eating, right?

Moving to a 5-10 gal aquarium will make things worse as glass is a worse insulator than plastic and there is more volume to have to heat.

Why not just heat the room up? Shut the door, put in a small heater. With an ambient room temp of 70*F most enclosures will have issues.

And that ^ ^ ^ would be the easiest solution (warming the room!) & would likely be appreciated by your other snakes too. ;)

And cheaper than buying a tank + heat lamp fixture + bulb. Should have been done weeks ago.

I do have him on the floor near to a vent, hoping the warm air coming from it would help. I can move him onto my desk. I guess my issue here is the whole plastic tote thing. He's my only animal that lives in one, everyone else is doing fantastic and eating like champs, besides my leopard gecko who's brumating right now. My room is about 70 degrees. I really really want a small portable heater, however my dad's convinced one would burn the house down. I've combatted the issue with my other snakes with my "winter" lamps that I only need during this time.

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Originally Posted by Dinoanc

I do have him on the floor near to a vent, hoping the warm air coming from it would help. I can move him onto my desk. I guess my issue here is the whole plastic tote thing. He's my only animal that lives in one, everyone else is doing fantastic and eating like champs, besides my leopard gecko who's brumating right now. My room is about 70 degrees. I really really want a small portable heater, however my dad's convinced one would burn the house down. I've combatted the issue with my other snakes with my "winter" lamps that I only need during this time.

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Get him off the floor. ;) Sure, it's warm next to the vent when the F/A heat is on, but in-between times it's chillier- up, down, up, down...no wonder he's not eating. When snakes feel a chill, that's their signal to quit eating *instinctively* so they don't get caught with undigestible food rotting in their stomach...that can actually kill them. Get him set up higher up with more even-keel temperatures.

I do understand where your dad is coming from...statistically, space heaters can be dangerous. (For that matter, so can lamps- they can start fires when knocked over by pets etc.) But you own this python that's going to die from starvation if you don't fix his conditions...how you do it is up to you now, you know what he needs. I can't promise that just moving his home higher up in the room will get him eating now, and you are running out of time to keep him healthy. You don't have "forever" to test this out.

I make no secret that I'm a glass, not a plastic "fan" for caging herps, but either one can be made to work- each has pro's & con's. In your case, if you can't run a space heater to make your room warmer, an insulated glass tank might be better, but the downside is that it's also one more scary change for your snake. He already "knows" (ie. felt safe enough to eat while living in) his previous smaller tub, so that is something to keep in mind right now too. < I think that's what I'd do first, if I were you- go back to what was working, get him off the floor- & get him eating.