Ball Python resting beneath substrate. Is this typical?

[Kymberli]

Yes, it's a half-log den.

Humidity is at 55%.

I measure temperature using strip thermometers, one on each side of the tank, beneath the bulb of the light.

Strip thermometers that stick to the side of the tank do not work at all. Trash those and get yourself an Accurite thermometer/hygrometer from WalMart.

[ODoyle90]

My corn used to do that very frequently, but yet again they are much more fond of burrowing than BP's. I currently have a half log for the cool end of my tank, but i have foliage behind it to sort of close off one end of it. It's actually my BP's favorite spot to hang out. I can find him there about 75% of the time.

[seeya205]

He is probably hiding from the light! You need a under tank heater with a dimmer or thermostat! You need a digital thermostat with a probe so you can accurately measure the temps! Get one that will measure the humidity too! Those stick on ones are not good at all! Follow this care sheet and you will have a happy ball! http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

[ogdentrece]

Is your 90degrees at the surface of the substrate or the glass below it? If its of the glass below it maybe you might want to consider that your substrate layer is pretty thick (since it is, after all, thick enough for it to hide in). If this is the case, what is the substrate surface temp as well? I only use half inch of substrate at most. They push it aside yes, but its never enough to hide under. If the 90F is the substrate surface, start measuring the glass surface that he's sitting on when he gets under the substrate. It might be hot.

[Skiploder]

I'm trying to wade through what people think you have and what you have stated that you have.

1. The heat source is an overhead light. Correct?

2. There is no under tank heater - Correct?

3. You mentioned that this behavior has been going on for a week. Have you had the snake longer than a week, or did you get the snake a week ago?

4. For your heating set up, if you are using an overhead head lamp/light, what type are you using and where is the light in relationship to the hide?

[Pyth]

I'm trying to wade through what people think you have and what you have stated that you have.

1. The heat source is an overhead light. Correct? Correct.

2. There is no under tank heater - Correct? Correct.

3. You mentioned that this behavior has been going on for a week. Have you had the snake longer than a week, or did you get the snake a week ago? Had her for several months now.

4. For your heating set up, if you are using an overhead head lamp/light, what type are you using and where is the light in relationship to the hide?

Usually her hide is beneath the lamp on the warm end of the temp gradient and she is happy.

Additional answers,

1. No belly lamps or heat pads.
2. Screen-top cage.
3. Yes, I spray to keep humidity levels up. Humidity is 68% now.

She is in her hide now that I've put her up to going into it, however I found her buried under her water bowl last night. I guess I am still learning my snake's personality - her likes and dislikes.

[kitedemon]

Ok it is possible that nothing is wrong that she has taken to digging. Or something could be wrong. Nice and wishy washey there.

Someone posted about the liquid crystal thermometers you have. First thing is they are more accurate then most digital ones on the market (0.5ºF error). The second thing is the placement is poor.

If you are getting 90º on the glass it is likely that the interior temps are quite high. Do you have a probed digital thermometer? If not one would be very useful. The stick on glass ones are very accurate but they measure the temp of what they are on, I'd not stick one inside as there is a chance of the snake managing to get it off and stuck on them selves. However if you do not have a probed digital one you could buy a new LC stick on one and use it not stuck on anything just placed in the hot hide and one the substrate on the cool side. Or pick up any digital probed one they all have the same specs and the chance of getting a good one is about the same.

What we are looking for are three temps.

The hot side on the substrate in or beside the hide.

The cool side on the substrate in or beside the hide.

(Did you say you had two hides or just one?)

The mid point between the hot and cool end about 3 inches off the substrate. Not touching the sides.

My guess and it is simply a guess they way you are measuring the temps is not very accurate basically you are checking the glass temp. I am guessing *GUESSING* that the temps inside are higher than you are expecting and that the snake is burrowing away from the heat to get to cool temps from the bottom of the enclosure. This is a guess but unless you are not in the norther hemisphere it is getting warmer outside and the ambient temps are getting warmer. That added to the lamp heat system may have pushed the temps from good to too hot.

Double check your temps using the method I described and lets see where we are.

[Pyth]

Hello and thanks for the feedback, everyone.

I have a digital thermometer with a probe now measuring the temperature at the level of the substrate as 87.2 degrees farenheit where she is resting in her half log hide without any signs for concern. Additionally, I have added a UTH in the section of the tank her hide is on.

[Simple Man]

Sounds good PYth! You probably need to double check the temp of the UTH. They sell lamp dimmers pre built at Lowes or Home Depot for $10. That will help you set a safe temperature. It sounds like you're on the right path though!

Regards,

B

[Pyth]

Thank you very much. :-)

Update


Temp gradient (F)

I installed a second probe thermometer to measure the temperature gradient accurately, meaning there is now 1 DT on her basking end, mid-way up the side of the terrarium, and one on the opposite end in the same position on the other side of the enclosure.

At the moment, the gradient is 74F to 85F. The care sheet linked above which I've been following diligently says the gradient should be "TEMPS: 80-84 F w/ basking 88-94 F."



UTHS - Under Tank Heat Source

I put 1 single UTH pad designed for a 30g tank beneath her basking end. Is it true that an UTH can suffice as a heat source without overhead bulbs? Because at the moment the UTH + Bulb are running the temperature gradient slightly low according to the care sheet recommends to have them. Is this temperature gradient unhealthy? Is it critically unhealthy? Like- a risk to her?


Humidity level in non-shed stage, stuck with analog hygrometer

I was advised to get a digital hygrometer thermometer combination, however in 2 pet stores I checked, they only carried the standard analog one I use now. Is this a major concern? The reading on the analog is at 55% and responds within 15 minutes or so if I spray the cage with reptile moisturizer/humidifying spray.


Hides

I set the cage up with one hide on each end, one on the basking end, one on the cool end, so she has options to help if the temperature is bothering her on one end or the other she can just use the hide on the other side of the terrarium.

*** She has already begun switching sides.

Substrate

The substrate in her glass tank is a standard green carpet for reptiles, which she does not seem to have a problem with, and I got rid of the odorous mushy substrate smell in the process of exchanging the two.


Eating

After rearranging the glass tank, changing the ground to a reptile carpet, she ate with no problem today, so this week's feeding went off without a hitch. Thanks, all!


Pyth