Some weird BP problems! Getting worried - Please help!!

[fearlesspainter]

I have a male BP about 2 yrs old who I adopted from a good friend who has a whole bunch of snakes. He was a pretty good eater for my buddy and has eaten twice for me - once the first week I had him and then nothing for 6 weeks then ate once again. He has since then not eaten in about 4.5 months, appears to be losing some weight. He hasn't shed at all in the 6 months I've had him. Rather, his lower-sides and belly have random scales (relatively few but at least twenty or more) which are curling up. There is no discolouration to these scales and they don't appear unhealthy in any way except for the curling on the trailing edge.

[Luciferskeeper]

What's your setup type, heat source? How are you monitoring your temps? Hides, and substrate, etc?

[fearlesspainter]

Further to previous post,
Cage is 12x12x30"
Bedding is aspen
Hot spot is from a light on a dimmer. DT temp 80 on the floor and 90 in the tree under the light.
Cool side has a hide where he spends most of his time stays a pretty constant 72. Humidity is between 45-65% sometimes higher but I don't let it get below 45%

Aside from the lack of appetite and the weird looking scales and no shedding, he seems happy, doesn't mind being handled, hides out all day, poking head out occasionally, basks in the tree for hours in the evening.

I'm aware that BP's can go a long time without eating and that it could just be a phase or winter or any of dozens of other harmless explanations, but it's been 4 months of no eating or shedding and the weird look of those scales has me kinda worried.

I would appreciate any feedback anyone could provide. Thanks

[Luciferskeeper]

Curling scales im thinking may be linked to possible dehydration maybe. Some one else may know more about this.

[Luciferskeeper]

Ok first you should get an uth and thermostat. Your ball is not getting that 90 hot spot he needs because it should be on the ground and not in the tree. Bps prefer to hide out down low and typically will not bask in a tree branch. Also your cool side must come up above 75 absolute minimum but should be 80-82. Id get uth and thermostat for hot side and move your light and dimmer to cool side to get those temps up. The lack of appetite im sure is partly do to the low temps.

[fearlesspainter]

[Luciferskeeper]

Looks good only I suggest you get digital thermometer/hygrometer those stick ons are notoriosly inaccurate. Also uth and thermostat ASAP

[fearlesspainter]

Cool. Thank you very much - I actually have a uth but no stat. It's very small and doesn't seem to do much warming under just 1" of aspen. I have a digital thermo as well with a probe - display is on the wall outside of frame. On your recommendation, ill move the light over to the cool side n get the temp up. Will use the uth to warm the ground on the warm side n see if things change with his appetite. As for the skin issue, I've seen him drinking on more than a few occasions and he's never out of water. Should I maybe try n soak him? How warm for how long?

[FireStorm]

How big is the UTH? It's possible that you need a bigger one, but you definitely need a thermostat. Do you keep the light on 24/7, or just during the day? Is the top of the tank all screen? Is there a hide on the warm side, or just on the cool side?

My guess would be that the lack of appetite is due to a combination of two things. One, you need to get the temps right. Two, BPs like small, dark spaces. They live underground in termite mounds in the wild, and they don't spend a ton of time out in the open. While your setup is very attractive, I have seen many BPs become problem eaters when they are kept in big glass tanks like that. All that open airspace makes it harder to keep the temps and humidity correct as well.

[fearlesspainter]

So I've added a thermostat to my uth and made the warm end more "hidey" by covering the structure with plants. The floor temp is a stable 90F. I picked up a ceramic heat emitter and have that on a dimmer as well. I've placed the fixture over the Center/right of the enclosure and covered the screen on the top with space left for ventilation. Cool side is now regulated to 75 overnight and 83 through the day.
Humidity is between 45 and 60%.

Fingers are crossed. I usually attempt to feed on Weds evenings. Here's hoping. Thanks fellas! I really appreciate the help.