Few beginner questions

[ImBadAtUsernames]

I got my Albino BP a month ago and he seems to be doing well. Heat mat is 90 - 91 degrees with heat lamp and cool side can get a bit cold sometimes 74 - 80 degrees. Humidity has been dropping to very low numbers (30%) so I got a humidifier and seems to be doing good (55 - 65%)

Anyway questions:

Off feed since I got him (February 2nd) he has bitten it twice but lets go in a few minutes. not too concerned about that yet though.

A few scales have changed color a little. I heard they can do that but in one month? Anything it could be? I’ll send a picture later if needed.

I heard him wheezing after his shed once and thought he had an indentation but he stopped soon after. Normal?

Other than that he has been very active and seems to be healthy.


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[SquirmyPug]

You said heat mat, you mean an under tank heater? You also said heat lamp so I don't know what you actually have. You have the heating devices on thermostats?

Have you had bright lights on when you feed him? Keeping it dark can help because he's probably scared of you.

What kind of substrate do you have?

[ImBadAtUsernames]

I have both. The heat mat is on thermostat and the heat lamp is raised with a stand but doesn’t have the thermostat. I’ve tried twice with the lights off and still no bites. I’ll start feeding him every other week until he starts eating again. My substrate is 1/2 inch of reptile prime


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[SquirmyPug]

Moving the lamp down closer and using a thermostat will help keep temperatures consistent. It would also let you cover most of the lid so that humidity and heat stay in the cage better.

What have you been feeding him? Do you know what he was being fed before you got him? If you're feeding thawed, how are you warming it?

Does he have at least two hides, one on the hot spot and one on the cool side?

How often have you been handling him?

[ImBadAtUsernames]

I’ll look into the thermostat thanks. He has 2 hides and inside the cool one it can get down to 73 some nights. I’ve been feeding him mice and they said they were feeding it a smaller sized frozen mice. I put it in a bag and then in very hot water for about 15 minutes. I usually handle him every other day. What type of thermostat should I use for the lamp?


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[SquirmyPug]

You don't want to use very hot water, you don't want it to cook or burn the snake. I like to put them in a plastic bag then let it sit in warm water for an hour so it thaws.(I fill the sink with water) Then I put it in water that just feels a little hot to me for 10-15 min until it's warm. I hold it in my hand so I can feel it before giving to a snake.

Stop handling him until he's eating consistently. Only pick him up when you need to clean or something.

What kind of bulb do you have in the lamp? You will probably want a dimming thermostat.

[ImBadAtUsernames]

Ok good to know I’lll try that. Here is the bulb I have

https://www.amazon.com/Reptile-Ceram...t_b_asin_image

It has no light only heat. I’ll try to hold him less and see if that helps. Thanks for the help.


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[SquirmyPug]

That's a CHE (ceramic heat emitter). Since it doesn't produce light you can use any kind of thermostat. Normal on/ off types will work but the temperature won't be as consistent as a dimming or pulse thermostat.

[Craiga 01453]

I’ll try to hold him less and see if that helps.


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It's not a matter of "trying to hold him less."

It's a matter of not handling at all. No handling til your snake has eaten three consecutive meals without refusal.

You'll have 25+ years to handle your snake.

Husbandry needs to be dialed in and the snake needs to be eating. Those should be your priorities. Not handling.

Your cool side temps need to come up, 73 is too low. Getting your CHE on a thermostat and set up properly will make a huge difference.