Need Help!

[Evenstar]

No. Read my first post again. It is husbandry related. That will cause him to stress, sure, but the problem has started with husbandry.

[moonwise11]

sorry, missed the above post

[Evenstar]

That's ok. Easy to do when there's a conversation going on. Hopefully more people with experience with chime in. Your baby needs help.

What are you using to regulate your temps? Do you have a thermostat??

[moonwise11]

First off, welcome to the forums!! You've come to the right place to learn. We will do our best to help you. Please do not take offense at anything we might say - keep in mind that our primary concern is for the snake's well being.

Second, Read the CARESHEET. It's the single most important link in learning proper care of your new snake.



Your BP is dehydrated plain and simple. There may be other things going on, but this is the first thing that is obvious from the photos. Humidity is way too low and temp is way too high. Start misting every day. Humidity is hard to keep up in a tank, but we'll start there. It should be at about 70%.

Get rid of the lights - BPs don't need UVB light or any type of light at all. They'll raise the temps too high and suck out humidity even more. Your UTH (I assume you're using a UTH?? If not, are the lights the only heat source???) MUST be on a thermostat!! ANY and EVERY heat souce MUST be regulated with a t-stat to control the temps. Temps that are too high can cause irreversable neurological damage - and 2 weeks is long enough for that to have happened.

You want your hotspot only to be no more than 90-92 and your ambient temp should be no more than 80.

Get rid of those analog round dials for measuring temp and humidity. They don't work no matter where you put them in the tank. Pick up an Accurite indoor/outdoor thermometer/hygrometer combo from Walmart (only about $12). It is digital and accurate.

Your 1/2 log hide is WAY too big. BPs like snug and secure hiding places. Try the hide boxes from Reptile Basics. 2 of these are what you want - one for the cool side and one for the hot side.

I don't mean to point out everything that is wrong with your setup. But Petsmart employees are notorious for selling someone things they don't need and for giving poor or downright wrong information. That seems to have happened to you. We'll do our best to help you help your snake!

I'm trying to do what I can for now to get him right. Can't afford to do much at the moment. At least I got a good place to start. I will save this information and that will help me make some changes for the better. Hopefully it's not too late to help him.

[moonwise11]

That's ok. Easy to do when there's a conversation going on. Hopefully more people with experience with chime in. Your baby needs help.

What are you using to regulate your temps? Do you have a thermostat??

No thermostat. Been having to do it by eye on the thermometer.

[Evenstar]

Get. A. Thermostat. Seriously.

Again, I do not intend to come across as rude or angry. But if you can't afford the basic equipment (and, yes, a t-stat is BASIC EQUIPMENT), you shouldn't have a snake. You can get a hydrofarm t-stat off amazon for about $30. Pay a couple dollars more for next day shipping.

The money you spent on unnecessary lights would have paid twice over for a t-stat.

Remember, my only intent is to help you. Sometimes being blunt happens. I don't mince words when it comes to an animal's care. But I do not intend to be mean - I want to help you.

[moonwise11]

Get. A. Thermostat. Seriously.

Again, I do not intend to come across as rude or angry. But if you can't afford the basic equipment (and, yes, a t-stat is BASIC EQUIPMENT), you shouldn't have a snake. You can get a hydrofarm t-stat off amazon for about $30. Pay a couple dollars more for next day shipping.

The money you spent on unnecessary lights would have paid twice over for a t-stat.

Remember, my only intent is to help you. Sometimes being blunt happens. I don't mince words when it comes to an animal's care. But I do not intend to be mean - I want to help you.

Can you suggest one? I'm going to try my best to get what I can as soon as possible. But right now, what can I do? i sprayed the tank down a bit inside with a spray bottle to get the humidity up and put him near the water I have in there.

[1nstinct]

cover part of the tank to keep what ever humidity is in the tank, to STAY in the tank. i would go pick up some cypress mulch, holds humidity very well. I agree with evenstar a t-stat is just as basic as the tank itself. you need one! You could try a gatorade bath, place the snake in a container and add about .25 inch of gatorade or pedilite, to help get back some of the electrolytes the snake has lost. just make sure the snakes head doesn't go into the gatorade bc it could drown since it seems so weak as it is. order a t-stat off line right now! and have it shipped for tomorrow!. and get ride of the lights, and get a UTH
Tom

[Dracoluna]

Can you suggest one? I'm going to try my best to get what I can as soon as possible. But right now, what can I do? i sprayed the tank down a bit inside with a spray bottle to get the humidity up and put him near the water I have in there.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...5833124&sr=8-1
That's the one she was referring to. It works wonderfully for a basic setup. Get a small box, cardboard if need be, and cut a hole in it for a hide. The hide should be just barely big enough for him to fit in.

Has he righted himself at all and is he still holding his mouth open? Does he feel warm to you to the touch? Were you able to get a thermometer yet to get a more accurate temp reading?

[Evenstar]

As I said in a previous post, get a hydrofarm off amazon for about $30. Pay a little more for the next day shipping. This one right here. Has next day shipping too!!

Turn off your lights and UTH (you still never said if you have a UTH. Do you??). Move the tank itself somewhere warm where the ambient temp will be about 80. Your snake will be better off with no hotspot for 24-30 hours than having one at 95. eek...

If you don't have a warm place in the house that will keep the ambient temp up, try raising the light higher off the tank so it isn't so close. Try to bring the temps down to 80. Mist the enclosure and I agree with 1ntinct - try a gatorade or pediatlite bath. Just don't let his head go under. I would also gently rinse him off or let him soak in clear water for a minute before putting him back in the tank. The gatorade or water should not be too warm or too cool - it should be only room temperature.