BP not using hides??

[snakemomma77]

Okay so Jackson ate a really big mouse 10 days ago and since 3/1/12 he has not been seen in his hide, he will rest on top of the vine I have hanging in his tank and he will wedge himself between his hide and the cage. I have noticed him stretched out too. He also wonders and looking for a way out day and night.. I have gotten him out twice today and he seemed to settle down while I had him out, but once I put him back he wonders again. temps are between 88 and 92 hot side thoughout the day and night I have a UTH regulated by at thermostate set on 92 on hot side. cool side usually stays 84 and humidity is 50%. measuring with an accurite probed thermometer.
he did eat tonight, but he did not strike at his F/T mouse, he waited until i layed it down and then he took it. IDK why he did that, he usually stricks and kills his F/T before eating it, it's like he knew it was already dead. Right now he is not in his hide, he is draped over his vine closer to the heat lamp, which is hanging about six inches from his body. I did change to a 50 watt bulb b/c the 75 watt was making it way too hot on the cool side. That is the only changes I have made to his enclosure.
I was wondering if anyone else experienced this behavior.

[stevepoppers]

Pretty normal. They lounge wherever they like. If he's eating, pooping, shedding, and appears healthy, probably is.

[DooLittle]

Maybe his hides are too small and he can't fit with a full belly???

[Slim]

Do you have any way to measure the temps inside his hides? The warm side hide may not be warm enough for him to complete digestion. Might be why he's hanging out so close to the heat lamp. A laser temp gun is ideal for measuring temps inside the hides.

[Bill T]

Several of my bp's dont care for hides. No matter what size of one i put in there. Some are just odd. Welcome to the wonderfull world of bp's

[snakemomma77]

Several of my bp's dont care for hides. No matter what size of one i put in there. Some are just odd. Welcome to the wonderfull world of bp's

I am begining to think that too. although, he was seen in his hide today around noon. he stayed probably about two hours then got right back out again. at least now I know I can get him out during the day if he is not hiding

[Maixx]

Probably normal, but have you checked the temps inside the hides themselves?
When using top heat, depending on what the hides are made of (including color and reflective properties) affects how they they can absorb infrared heat and turn the hides into little ovens.

I had a similar issue (bp not using hot side hide), and my thermometer was reading around 91. After I purchased a temp gun I found that the light was heating up the hide differently then anything around it, and inside that hide it was 110.

Note- back then I was using 2 Zoomed dial type thermometers stuck to the ends of the viv just above the substrate.

[snakemomma77]

checked inside hide with a tempgun and it's 80 degrees. He is in there now.....