Restless BP that don't seem to like the optimum temps

[sharilynn]

Thank you...my thoughts exactly!

[fishmommy]

I will ask you this though:

how are you measuring temps?
Are you measuring surface temps with an infrared device?
if not, the temps on your snake's belly may in fact be much higher than you think.

[starmom]

Hey there!
My bp is restless...I think it is because it is too hot for her, she seems to like it a little cooler. I put a uth under the cool side a week or so ago; her substrate is the coconut husk, is a thick layer & since it is a wooden enclosure, I put the uth underneath the enclosure itself so I know that its not hot, her temps are (and I swear this is how she likes it, If I make it any warmer she doesn't stop moving from side to side) 85 warm, 78 cool (and she NEVER hangs out on the warm side unless she is just passing by)...humidity is good at 67-69. Since my cats love to sit and watch her moving around for hours, I covered her enclosure with a towel & now she is laying on top of her hide on the cool side, she does not like the warmth on her belly, I swear!! She has been this way since I got her about 7 or 8 years ago. So, how about it? I know some are gonna think I'm out there, but I've had her a long time with no illnesses & have tried everything to make her comfortable...remember, this is the snake that laid eggs last year with no male around (parthenogenesis). Oh, yeah, she eats like a champ.

Okay, so this is interesting and I'd love to have more background on your snake: WC? CB by whom? How'd they keep her? Did you get her as a baby? Etc.

I keep reading different research suggesting that these snakes are highly adaptable and not the highly breakable objects that we treat them as. They are found in several different environments on the African continents including mangrove swamps!! Yes, that's right: Not all python regius' live in termite mounds though it seems that gravid females seek out the mounds (when available) for the safety that they provide for the eggs. Males prefer low climbing to strictly terrestrial life.

Anyway, I would think that along with the different environments would come a propensity to adapt to different temperature ranges. Perhaps your snake came from such a line and if WC or if first generation CB (or close to it) is still adaptive to these (relative) cooler temps. I find it very difficult to believe that there is a "one size fits all" mentality to the keeping of these snakes and I have found differences in just the few that I keep.

Thank you for sharing your snake's environmental preferences with us (some might argue that it was very brave of you ) and please, if you have time, maybe you could fill us in on her background.

[fishmommy]

hey that was a nice post
I tried to rep you Starmom but it's not letting me

[JoshJP7]

Ight so you have a wooden enclosure... but your heat pad is on the outside??? I'm not sure how thick your wooden enclosure is but the heat pad prolly isnt doing too much not to mention its probably a fire hazard. I have 4 wooden enclosures and I have the pads inside the tank and then a layer of thin vinyl covering the heat pad so they cant pee/poop on the wiring and what not. You say your using a heat lamp as well? You should only need a heat pad for the warm side and if need be you can use a heat lamp to keep the cool side up to 80ish... If you have a heat pad and a light running then yea it may be too hot.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I just took out the uth & adjusted her heat lamp, I don't think she likes the belly heat

Your BP need belly heat for it's overall health and to help facilitate digestion.

Put the UTH back in and remove the heat lamp, the heat lamp is not an efficient way to provide your snake with the heat it requires.

[sharilynn]

Well said McKinsey...As for being brave, I knew what was gonna happen, that's why I tried to be as specific as possible about having her for so long and knowing how she is. I do not know if she was WC or CH, I would think the latter and I don't know the idiot that had her before I rescued her from death by be-heading. I did, however, put the uth back UNDER; on the warm side,with foil to distribute the heat evenly & it is not touching the enclosure since it is lifted & the wood is not thick at all, I can feel the warmth & by touch (I don't have an infared thingy) I have the lamp on the outside, just to add needed warmth in the air, without it it would only get up to 75 & that is too cold. My temp now are 87 warm & 80 cool & I tossed her in some crumpled newspaper and she seems contented, but it is feeding day & she knows it, she is ready. This snake btw, has NEVER had ANY problems since I got her 7 or 8 years ago; She has never refused a meal and even laid me some eggs by suprise. If anyone wants to jump on me cuz they think that I don't know any better...go ahead I think I am pretty well-educated & put my animals first no matter what. Thank you all for caring & feel free to ask me anything!

[hoo-t]

Just to add my 2 cents... At least a few of the BIG breeders recommend temps lower than we recommend here.

If your snake has been doing well for EIGHT YEARS, and only became restless when you changed the heat source and temps, thats telling you something. She is accustomed to the environment she has been in for eight years, and changing it up now has made her restless. In fact, I would go so far to say that trying to elevate temps to the 92/82 range COULD actually be unhealthy for YOUR snake.

I'd say put back like it was. But you might want to do it somewhat gradually. Don't want a sudden drop in temps.

Steve

[sharilynn]

I'm gonna add this tid bit just for the heck of it...I tried to add 2 new hides; smaller hides since snakes "can fit in small spaces with no problem" I used 2 big cereal or salad type (Jethro bowls). Anyhow, she is a rather large girl, I'd say pretty close to 6 feet long...she is about as long as I am & I'm 5'10-1/2" She was trying so hard to get into these bowls & finally gave up with her neck & some of her body inside of the bowl & her head & the rest of her rear-end wrapped around the bowl. She can't even get her whole body inside of a LARGE half-log. She really likes the crumpled up newspaper tho. But I really want to get her a couple of nice new hides that she can actually fit into. So I put her trusty logs that she likes back in until I can spend more money on something nicer. Any suggestions for good hides for large balls?

[sharilynn]

Thanks, Steve; I appreiciate your 2 cents!