Can't figure out why BP is stressed.

[ArcaneTB]

I'm having a problem with my bp not using the hides, constantly trying to escape, and not eating. It only settles down in and eat in a small tub the only fits one hide and water dish.. Its actually too big for the current enclosure and I want to get a pvc but I don't want to spend that money if bigger enclosures will be a problem.

Cold side & ambient: mid 70s-80
Heat pad: 89-92
humidity: mid 70s
(temperature checked with temp gun & digital thermometer/ hygrometer)
Tub: 39" x 21" x 17
BP: about 4ft 1603g

Usually went with the simple enclosure and never had this problem until I started using bigger tubs. Any tips?

Thanks!

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[Bogertophis]

How long has your snake been in this new set-up?

How long have you had the snake?

How many times have you changed this snake's home since you've had them? Made any other changes? (like from live to f/t or vice versa, or from mice to rats, etc.?)

I know it's illuminated for the photos, but do you usually keep a light on over this enclosure?

Is this being kept in a quiet area of the home? Any changes in the home? Other pets (dogs, cats, ferrets) around ? -remodeling? -loud stereo or other vibrations out of the ordinary? Other family members around that might be teasing or handling the snake when you're not around?

Overall privacy...have you tried covering at least one side, maybe with a towel (only if it's safe to do so- ie. not next to overhead heat source) ?

[ArcaneTB]

How long has your snake been in this new set-up?

How long have you had the snake?

How many times have you changed this snake's home since you've had them? Made any other changes? (like from live to f/t or vice versa, or from mice to rats, etc.?)

I know it's illuminated for the photos, but do you usually keep a light on over this enclosure?

Is this being kept in a quiet area of the home? Any changes in the home? Other pets (dogs, cats, ferrets) around ? -remodeling? -loud stereo or other vibrations out of the ordinary? Other family members around that might be teasing or handling the snake when you're not around?

Overall privacy...have you tried covering at least one side, maybe with a towel (only if it's safe to do so- ie. not next to overhead heat source) ?

I've moved about 3 or 4 times as it got bigger. Its been in the new setup about a month.

I've had it for 3 years

I've only changed the substrate but had the same problem

No light over it. It's kept in a bedroom with no traffic. only the sound from the TV and a space heater from time to time.

I darkened 3 sides of the tub. You can only barely see through the front with the dark lid on


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[Bogertophis]

Still settling into the "new" (month old) set-up would be my guess, then. Snakes learn their way around in nature, or they don't survive, because they can't find safe places to hide from predators & from weather (excessive heat & cold). So every time you change up their home, no matter how beautiful it looks to you, in their world they feel as if they'd been abducted by aliens & there's no way to get "home" to where they feel safe. See? The older a snake is, the harder such changes hit them. Keep this in mind, & stay patient.

[Zincubus]

Still settling into the "new" (month old) set-up would be my guess, then. Snakes learn their way around in nature, or they don't survive, because they can't find safe places to hide from predators & from weather (excessive heat & cold). So every time you change up their home, no matter how beautiful it looks to you, in their world they feel as if they'd been abducted by aliens & there's no way to get "home" to where they feel safe. See? The older a snake is, the harder such changes hit them. Keep this in mind, & stay patient.

Oddly enough when I’m giving them all fresh water , quite often I take branches and bark pieces out and swap them all around .. then when evening comes they are all all out sniffing around

I class it as enrichment... hopefully I’m not stressing them out !?

I know how our dog loves sniffing around in the garden all the time when the squirrels and cats have been around


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[Bogertophis]

Oddly enough when I’m giving them all fresh water , quite often I take branches and bark pieces out and swap them all around .. then when evening comes they are all all out sniffing around

I class it as enrichment... hopefully I’m not stressing them out !?

I know how our dog loves sniffing around in the garden all the time when the squirrels and cats have been around


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I do that with my snakes too, but I don't keep BPs- they're apparently more sensitive, since they're ambush-predators that tend to stay "put", & not active hunters like my rat snakes & all are.