my BP doesn't want to go in her hide

[cherylsart]

I asked this question on the Reptile File but no one is answering. My BP doesn't want to go in her hide. I had to take her cage carpet out to clean it but had to replace it with a towel because the other carpet fell behind the dryer and I can't reach it! I cleaned the hide, which is just a dome shaped flower pot upended with an opening cut in it.

So the only thing different is the towel instead of the carpet. It's not too hot; I checked. Whatcha think? Thanks,

Cheryl

[Qetu]

i have no idea lol. thats odd. all i can think of is some kind of stress. the vets here will let you know im sure. goodluck.

[mrshawt]

First, get rid of the carpet. Stinky stinky. Plus, a breeding ground for bacteria.
Second, give us a write up of your enclosure. Temps, humidity, layout, how you are measuring/controlling heat, size of hides, feeding schedule.
A pic will help, too.

[cherylsart]

The carpet is a cage carpet made for reptile cages, not just "carpet". I take it out and clean it any time she poops or "pees" in the cage. So it doesn't get stinky. She's in kind of a small enclosure, a 12x30 inch aquarium that is 24 inches tall. I have a people heating pad under the hide. The hide is a dome shaped plastic flower pot that I turned upside down after I cut an opening in it. I have a probe thermometer under the hide so I can keep track of the temp, and there is a thermometer/hygrometer inside the cage to track the ambient temp and humidity. She has a pyrex baking dish for water and a rock in there to help her with shedding. I feed her f/t rats, about every 10 days. She just came out of brumation so she's eating again.

She's about 4 feet long. I adopted her after her previous owner asked me to take care of her for a couple weeks and basically abandoned her. After a year had gone by I decided she's mine now. I've had her for about 2.5 years. From what I've heard she wasn't very well cared for by the previous owners. No heat, no humidity and supposedly she got left with no water for 2 weeks. After all this time of having her she shed all in one piece for the first time this last shed.

I think the reason she didn't want to go in the hide was because I'd put a towel in there instead of one of the carpets, which fell behind the dryer out of reach. I had to wash the other one and wait for it to dry. I hand wash them with just a few drops of dish soap and rinse several times, then hang up to dry.

Here name is Kari, and she's a really cool gal. I'll post a pic when I get a chance.

Cheryl

[kris62901]

mines does the same things sometimes its its in its hide sometimes its on top just chilling. its probably a new smell and doesnt think its safe. how many hides do u have

[cherylsart]

I only have one, the tank isn't big enough for any more. I would like to get her a bigger enclosure but I just can't afford it.

[kris62901]

get a sterlite tub there like 8 bucks or less thats what i have my 2 in

[mrshawt]

I understand it's Repticarpet. That can still get gross. If you still want to use it though, I can't stop you.

What do you have controlling the output of the UTH? What temps are you getting for a hot and cool side. Humidity?

And length isn't a good way to measure size of the snake btw. grab a kitchen scale and measure her in grams when you get the chance.

[OFRD_GRL]

If you do a bleach rinse (water/bleach mix.. same mix you use to wipe down the entire enclosure) the carpet doesnt get anywhere near as gross (and no bacteria). Especially if you use a dishwashing scrub brush (like the bristle kind).
Always rinse VERY well with water.

I still personally prefer aspen shavings though.

My BP wouldn't go in her hides (humidity was good, temps were perfect, etc.) She had paper towels as substrate her whole life with no problems. I changed her to Aspen and she started using her hides again...



As far as a larger enclosure I am not as big of a fan of the rack systems as alot of people on here... but the sterilite large tubs are cheap and definitely work in a pinch (must drill holes/etc). My main problem with them is the height, Larger hides are taller and I can't find any that she can fit her whole self into that are short enough for the 6" tall tub she is in. (So I am building an enclosure for her)

[cherylsart]

It was just the towel. I put the carpet back in and she's fine.

I used to use the aspen bedding but I find the carpet is easier to keep clean and easier to regulate the temp under the hide. I got the other carpet out from behind the dryer, which is good because she deposited urates last night right after I put the carpet back in so guess what? I get to change it and wash one again today! She's still easier to clean up after than my cat. And yes, I always wipe down the floor of the tank when I change carpets. I'm as concerned as you all are about keeping her environment as optimum as possible.

I don't use an actual UTH. I use a heating pad made for humans and I have a probe thermometer in the tank between the glass and the carpet. The tank is in my living room so I am constantly looking at the temps and humidity. If the hide starts to get too warm I pull the pad partway out so it can cool down. It usually runs around 90 in the summer and 85 in winter. If it gets up above 92 I pull it out a bit. Also, the tank is propped up so that there's about half an inch of air space between the pad and the tank bottom. My nephew had a UTH that shorted out and badly burned the belly of his BP. I think it's a wonder the snake survived. He did but has a long scar on his belly from the burn.

My humidity is provided by two washcloths that I wet, wring out and put on top of the cage top covered with plastic tub lids. I leave about 1/4 of the top open for air circulation. It's improvised to be sure but it keeps the humidity where it needs to be.

All in all for someone who wouldn't have chosen a snake for a pet, even though I had two as a kid, I'm enjoying having Kari and I'm committed to giving her the best life possible. She seems to be doing fine.