My Hatchling Is Finally Eating, But Is He Emaciated?

[treaux]

His ambient temperature is above 75°F at all times even during the night but gets higher during day. His basking spot fluctuates between 86°F and 83°F, i don't get why there is an issue with his basking temperature sense almost all major ball python research have different variety between what the essential BP basking temperature should be.

Most all care sheets for ball pythons I've read (and I've read a lot) show the ideal basking temp to be 88-94 degrees. That makes yours seem a bit low. Considering that heat is used for digestion, it may help with that lump in your snake getting processed to its fullest. I'd recommend upping the thermostat to 90 degrees for the warm side. At night, most snakes seek out a warm burrow or rock that can hold in the heat from the day. I noticed that before I had a UTH, my snake would come out and sit on top of its hide at night because the hide (made of rock) was warmer on the outside than inside.

You seem a bit defensive about your temps, but there are a lot of people on here who are experts with snakes and they have good advice (I'm not an expert, but I try to only state things I know are true).

[PitOnTheProwl]

I'm not at all trying to be rude, but could you rephrase that question because i'm not able to decipher what you're asking.

Low 80s on the cool side and up to 95ish on the hot side.
These are the recommended surface temperatures on all care sheets.
Ambient temperatures are a whole different thing.

[Snoop_Dong]

Most all care sheets for ball pythons I've read (and I've read a lot) show the ideal basking temp to be 88-94 degrees. That makes yours seem a bit low. Considering that heat is used for digestion, it may help with that lump in your snake getting processed to its fullest. I'd recommend upping the thermostat to 90 degrees for the warm side. At night, most snakes seek out a warm burrow or rock that can hold in the heat from the day. I noticed that before I had a UTH, my snake would come out and sit on top of its hide at night because the hide (made of rock) was warmer on the outside than inside.

You seem a bit defensive about your temps, but there are a lot of people on here who are experts with snakes and they have good advice (I'm not an expert, but I try to only state things I know are true).

It wasn't being defensive, but i could see why you could think that. I just take a cautious approach when it comes to trusting the requirements for my BP to live with random people i don't know (Not that rare for people on the internet troll in order for people to harm their animals or themselves). I've raised his temperature and he hasn't started any abnormal behavior. Though i am still cautious about having his thermostat set to 90°F because it can raise up to 92°F then falls back down. I've also started insulating his tub with a blanket at night just so that the ambient temperature still stays 80°F at night even though he's fine at 75°F +. Thank you for the advice though it has helped my BP enjoy his tub more (Well i believe so because he hasn't changed his behavior pattern).

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Most all care sheets for ball pythons I've read (and I've read a lot) show the ideal basking temp to be 88-94 degrees. That makes yours seem a bit low. Considering that heat is used for digestion, it may help with that lump in your snake getting processed to its fullest. I'd recommend upping the thermostat to 90 degrees for the warm side. At night, most snakes seek out a warm burrow or rock that can hold in the heat from the day. I noticed that before I had a UTH, my snake would come out and sit on top of its hide at night because the hide (made of rock) was warmer on the outside than inside.

You seem a bit defensive about your temps, but there are a lot of people on here who are experts with snakes and they have good advice (I'm not an expert, but I try to only state things I know are true).

It wasn't being defensive, but i could see why you could think that. I just take a cautious approach when it comes to trusting the requirements for my BP to live with random people i don't know (Not that rare for people on the internet troll in order for people to harm their animals or themselves). I've raised his temperature and he hasn't started any abnormal behavior. Though i am still cautious about having his thermostat set to 90°F because it can raise up to 92°F then falls back down. I've also started insulating his tub with a blanket at night just so that the ambient temperature still stays 80°F at night even though he's fine at 75°F +. Thank you for the advice though it has helped my BP enjoy his tub more (Well i believe so because he hasn't changed his behavior pattern).

Um i don't know why this reply just duplicated itself?!

[PitOnTheProwl]

It wasn't being defensive, but i could see why you could think that. I just take a cautious approach when it comes to trusting the requirements for my BP to live with random people i don't know (Not that rare for people on the internet troll in order for people to harm their animals or themselves).

Then you have been on the wrong forums to start with.
92 degree surface temperature isnt going to burn your snake. 97 degrees isnt going to burn it either but then you are starting to push the limmit there.

[Snoop_Dong]

Low 80s on the cool side and up to 95ish on the hot side.
These are the recommended surface temperatures on all care sheets.
Ambient temperatures are a whole different thing.

Oh you were referring to the temperature-gradient! 95°F seems rather on the hot-side for basking temperatures especially for an hatchling. I'd be much more comfortable having his basking temperature in the low 90's. During night time his cool side is 77°F last time i recorded down temps. Is that fine for him? It probably has raised slightly after i raised his basking temperature.

[200xth]

His ambient temperature is above 75°F at all times even during the night but gets higher during day. His basking spot fluctuates between 86°F and 83°F, i don't get why there is an issue with his basking temperature sense almost all major ball python research have different variety between what the essential BP basking temperature should be.

83F is a bit lower than any of the reasonable ranges I've seen.

My personal hotspots are only 87 to 89, but that's still a few degrees higher than your's. A lot of people go up into the low or mid 90's, but that's up to you.

You can try keeping it at 83F to 86F, but you may run into problems with his health including things like regurges that can cause bigger problems if not handled correctly.

I would at least bump it up into the high 80's.

As far as feeding, I wouldn't do every 2 days to help him put on weight. An appropriate sized meal every 5 to 7 days will have him catching up on weight in no time.

[Snoop_Dong]

Then you have been on the wrong forums to start with.

You'd be surprised what people do to mess around; raiding forums such as these and making tons of false accounts to mess around. Haha i remember one that 4Chan's /b/ conducted in which they convinced several DIY science forums to make "Crystals" but said "Crystals" released lethal gas.

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Then you have been on the wrong forums to start with.

You'd be surprised what people do to mess around; raiding forums such as these and making tons of false accounts to mess around. Haha i remember one that 4Chan's /b/ conducted in which they convinced several DIY science forums to make "Crystals" but said "Crystals" released lethal gas.

[Snoop_Dong]

As far as feeding, I wouldn't do every 2 days to help him put on weight. An appropriate sized meal every 5 to 7 days will have him catching up on weight in no time.

I was just wondering for a very small temporary feeding schedule (1-2 weeks only). At that time though i just had got my BP to eat and didn't anticipate how long my individual's snake metabolism usually takes (Seems to be 3 days) i was going off information for different hatchlings from other owners. But i think he'll be fine i was just getting real nervous about his weight sense he's my first BP .

[PitOnTheProwl]

You'd be surprised what people do to mess around; raiding forums such as these and making tons of false accounts to mess around.

You might be surprised that we enforce our TOS.

[treaux]

Weird how your posts are doubling up.

What's nice is with the temperature gradient, your snake will show you what range it likes. My hotspot is set to 90, but sometimes when the RHPs are working hard top keep the ambient up around 80, the hotspot will get up to 94 or 95 or so. Every time I've seen that I've also seen both my snakes move on over to their cooler hide, where the temp is more around 80, so I know that 95 is more than either of my snakes wants to be on.

It's actually an odd issue I've been trying to solve. If I turn my hotspot temp down from 90, then when the RHPs turn off it will get too cool. Still trying to figure it out.

Anyways, most advice on here is good. If it isn't, it gets called out pretty quick. It's been a great resource for me getting started with BPs!