Hello friends,

One of my young BP's (9 mos.) spends her entire day, every day, in the hide on the cool side. She NEVER ventures to the warm side at all. Even when I take her out and put her back on the warm side she immediately goes for the cool hide. She doesn't even spend time in between zones. I have tried adjusting the temps on the warm side and nothing changed. I moved the piece of driftwood that had been on the cool side thinking she liked being under that better than inside a fake rock hide, and she is now chosing the fake rock hide on the cool side. The ambient temp on the cool side is around 76 - 80. There is a UTH set to around 90 and a 75 watt infrared lamp on the warm side.

Until yesterday, she had not exhibited any other health/behavioral issues that would indicate she's not well. She has been eating very well and because where I live is so dry I mist daily and she gets a warm soak frequently as well. She drinks frequently too. I noticed last night that she is in the early stages of RI and it's because she doesn't self-regulate her body temp; at least I think that's the cause.

I have considered shortening her enclosure to "force" her to stay warmer, but I'm not experienced enough with this kind of problem to know if that's the answer. The only other thing that I can think of, which is probably unrelated, is that she hasn't pooped in close to 2 months. There is another BP the same age, just a couple feet away and he is fine, so I don't think the spot in the house is the problem. Actually, there are two other snakes in the same room and they are all fine.

Does any one have any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks.