I've been playing around with different substrates and right now I really like the Reptichip (coconut husk) substrate. Up until last week I was actually putting Reptichip in the tub all over except right on the hotspot and the ball pythons would sit directly on the plastic tub. Lately I've found a few small red spots on some of my snakes and suspected scale rot, I'm thinking it's probably not a good thing to put the snake directly on the plastic tub.
So last week I removed the snakes, spread out the Reptichip about an inch thick all through the entire tub even over the hotspot, sprayed it down with a bit of water, then put the snake back. Today when I fed them most of the snakes were still on the hot spot but some moved over to the cold side. And almost none of them ate their fresh killed rodents, quite a surprise. So after the feeding I decided to bump up the hotspot temp from 88F to 90F. With Reptichip over the hotspot I'm guessing it's keeping the snakes a bit colder making them go off of food. If they don't eat next week I may bump it up to 92F.
I also have King snakes and reticulated pythons. My big retic digs down on the hotspot, it's easy for him because he is so heavy. My other smaller super dwarf retic stays on the Reptichip on the cold side. Both of them ate no problem (not surprising!). And none of my King snakes ever really hang out on the hot spot, they all tend to wander, and they all ate as well. I'm thinking the hot spot temps only really affects the ball pythons.
Reply With Quote