Cranky and Moody Girl

[anwhit]

Hey guys, it's been a while. I've been busy with college so at best I've just been lurking but I've noticed something strange about Athena.

The past week she's been soaking in her water bowl and acting uncharacteristically cranky. For one, she has always hated water with a dying passion so needless to say I was surprised when I saw her start to soak. And with being cranky, she has always been quite vocal with huffing to let me know when she doesn't like something but this morning she full-out hissed at me and tensed up and away from my touch.

I already checked for mites, I've checked up and down for might. Nothing in her water bowl, nothing on her. She's not shedding either, her eyes are clear, belly is its normal cream, and her color hasn't dulled.

Her temps are the same that they have always been. 80 on cool side, 84-86 on warm side, and 90 on the heat pad. General humidity is has been around 30% but there is a humid hide in cage that she goes into often thats around 60-70% The UTH is hooked up to a thermostat and I measure my temp with a gun.

Shes about 20 months old, 1350 grams, she eats 4 mice a week, (still can't get her on rats.) However for the past 2-3 weeks she's only been eating two.

I honestly have no clue why she's acting like this. I read something about females being able to grow follicles without ever being paired to a male? I don't even know if thats possible let alone if thats what even is happening here. I guess I just wanted to know your guys' thoughts.

[Naom9Anne]

I would have initially went straight for mites or shedding. If her temps are spot on too I'm baffled....

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Yeah I'd say mites...if not mites then she is shedding and probably soaking cause your humidity isn't right at all..my guy never soaks. Only time he goes to the water bowl is to drink or when he does night exploring,sometimes he takes a dip or he will also on occasion,sit with his head and neck in the hide,mid body on bedding and rest of his body in the water,it's interesting and pretty funny to see,he's a character..anyway sounds like you husbandry is quiet a bit off

[Physician&Snakes]

Hey guys, it's been a while. I've been busy with college so at best I've just been lurking but I've noticed something strange about Athena.

The past week she's been soaking in her water bowl and acting uncharacteristically cranky. For one, she has always hated water with a dying passion so needless to say I was surprised when I saw her start to soak. And with being cranky, she has always been quite vocal with huffing to let me know when she doesn't like something but this morning she full-out hissed at me and tensed up and away from my touch.

I already checked for mites, I've checked up and down for might. Nothing in her water bowl, nothing on her. She's not shedding either, her eyes are clear, belly is its normal cream, and her color hasn't dulled.

Her temps are the same that they have always been. 80 on cool side, 84-86 on warm side, and 90 on the heat pad. General humidity is has been around 30% but there is a humid hide in cage that she goes into often thats around 60-70% The UTH is hooked up to a thermostat and I measure my temp with a gun.

Shes about 20 months old, 1350 grams, she eats 4 mice a week, (still can't get her on rats.) However for the past 2-3 weeks she's only been eating two.

I honestly have no clue why she's acting like this. I read something about females being able to grow follicles without ever being paired to a male? I don't even know if thats possible let alone if thats what even is happening here. I guess I just wanted to know your guys' thoughts.

Husbandry sounds good. Have you noticed any signs of follicle development?

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Husbandry sounds good. Have you noticed any signs of follicle development?

People always say there husbandry is perfect,but there snakes show nothing but signs that it isn't...so to the OP how do you measure all these tempertures? What are you using to monitor them? Are your thermometers all set in the right place? Hygrometer in the right place? Pic of your set up?


just to mention,I take most all my temps and hygrometer readings from the lower portion of the tank appx 3-4 inches off the ground surface,cause thats where he dwells,90% of the time.

[southbay54]

check for mites

[ViperSRT3g]

Her temps are the same that they have always been. 80 on cool side, 84-86 on warm side, and 90 on the heat pad. General humidity is has been around 30% but there is a humid hide in cage that she goes into often thats around 60-70% The UTH is hooked up to a thermostat and I measure my temp with a gun.

OP measures his temps with a temp gun.

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

But the thermo gun is good for checking surface temps,it can't check the air,unless I'm wrong on that...

[anwhit]

Husbandry sounds good. Have you noticed any signs of follicle development?

Not enough for me to feel at least.

People always say there husbandry is perfect,but there snakes show nothing but signs that it isn't...so to the OP how do you measure all these tempertures? What are you using to monitor them? Are your thermometers all set in the right place? Hygrometer in the right place? Pic of your set up?


just to mention,I take most all my temps and hygrometer readings from the lower portion of the tank appx 3-4 inches off the ground surface,cause thats where he dwells,90% of the time.

I use a temp gun and a hygrometer/thermometer that sits on the ground. Its the AcuRite one from Walmart. I have one at each side of the enclosure.

And guys, I'm telling you, I already checked for mites. That was my very first thought as well, but I checked her water bowl, gave her a soak for good measure to see if I can see any fall off her, and I checked her up and down with a magnifying glass specifically in the most popular places. (vent, chin, eyes, etc). That's why I'm so perplexed. If I did find any sign of mites what so ever I would have put her on paper towels and ordered some provent a mite without an issue.

Theres still a possibly that she will be entering shed. She's not showing any signs now, but whose to say she won't when I wake up in the morning or sometime later in the week.

It's not like she's off feed either, yeah she halved her intake, but she still refuses to, well, refuse. She's still the pig she's always been.

I even checked her for an RI for good measure. Nothing at all.

[Physician&Snakes]

Are four mice doing it? Might be time to up things.