New GTP, I'm concered he may be ill.

[Antiblink]

I recently acquired a GTP from a local friend, he's still pretty young, I would say about 2.5-3 foot long but very skinny and neon orange. I bought him a new enclosure (exoterra) with the proper substrate, perches, vines etc etc. I use a dome light for 12 hours in the day and off 12 hours at night, I sometimes use a infrared bulb depending on temps. I have the monsoon system running every four hours for 10 seconds. Everytime it turns on the tank is already dried.

My question is, he will not perch and I'm not sure why. He is either staying hidden behind the waterfall perching on the electrical chord, or he's burying himself in the moss and staying balled up like a ball python. It looks like he is possibly coming out of a shed, as the tip of his tail is still in shed. He has eaten, one frozen. He is extremely active when I open the tank or come near it. He is very nippy, doesn't seem lethargic or anything.

Why do you think this is? Why isn't he perching? I have the perch pretty low in the tank, and I've seen him crawl higher than what the perch is. Any ideas?

[DooLittle]

Do you have any pictures? He doesnt have any sort of a spinal injury does he? Young gtp's are very fragile. Many people dont sex or hold them until they are a year old because they are so fragile. Also, what are your temps? Maybe hes trying to get to, or away from heat.

[KMG]

Do u have a temp gun to see what the perch is at?
What are your temps and where in the tank is thermometer located?

I have a rhp for mine and the hotspot under it on the highest perch is about 83-85 but mine rarely uses it. He is usually a few inches over just to the side of the rhp.

Given the place to hide they well. Pics of the setup might help us give you some tips.

[Antiblink]

This is the best picture I have right now since I'm at work:




I do not have a temp gun but the temp gauge is right near the highest point on his perch and it reads around 87 during the day, and around 82 at night.

[DooLittle]

Have you tried putting the perch level? Also, those stick on gauges are very inaccurate.

[KMG]

That is the air temp that's 87 so I'm betting your perch surface temp is higher than that.

I give mine a cage temp of 80 with a hot spot of 83-85. Your setup is to warm.

What watt bulb are you using?

I would add a perch or two and make them more level. Put each one at a different height so it can select the one that is right for it. You are only giving it one option and its probably to hot that's why it won't use it.

That cage is also to big so I would cover the sides with thick paper to help make it feel secure. Watch your temp after you cover it. The paper will raise the temp a bit.

[Andys-Python]

I'm no expert on GTPs as I just got my first one about 7 months ago. BUT, I think your perch is too big around for such a little guy. My adult (5 foot long!) GTP was on a perch that size when I got it and I thought it was too small. I was told by some long-time GTP owners and breeders that they perfer a perch skinnier than you would think. I upgraded my cage to a PVC cage and put multiple size perches in and she has chosen the smallest perch - a little bigger than yours'. My baby is about 3 inches in diameter (empty)!

I've seen GTPs the size of yours on perchs about as big around as a pencil or slightly larger. Can you add more than one perch to give her a choice?

Andy

[KMG]

Andy

Have you moved the perches around placing a larger size in the position of the thin one it perches on? I'm just wondering if it really is selecting the perch or just that perch height for the temp.

Just curious.

[Andys-Python]

Andy

Have you moved the perches around placing a larger size in the position of the thin one it perches on? I'm just wondering if it really is selecting the perch or just that perch height for the temp.

Yep. I tried several sizes in the different locations to get it just right.
If you look on the right hand side of the setup, you can see the neonate. The perch is > 2X the diameter of the snake. Maybe each snake is different and because my snake was raised on a much smaller perch, that is what she perfers. I'd just TRY a smaller perch - maybe the diameter of the snake or smaller and see what happens. In Greg Maxwells book, I think I recall him talking about the Neonates on Biak perching on the twigs in the scrub brush - maybe he was refering to smaller neos??

Andy

[KMG]

I had one similar to the size of the op's. It had no problem perching on a larger perch and mine actually chose the larger perch over a thinner vine at the same height. I wonder it it does have something to do with what they were started on.