BP issue and scared about it

[normalbp]

Hello All, I'm new to the forum and decided to post a new thread since I cannot seem to find another isntance like mine while searching.

I got my snake about ~8months ago from a local pet shop. He/She has been doing great and eating every week without hesitation.
Here recently I've have two instances where the snake has threw up a week after feeding. First instance it was a few small parts and some stank goop.
This happened shortly after a shed. I didn't put much thought into it since he did also discharge his urine and there was a nice pile of fecal matter, and figured it might have been the heating on the warm side that was a little low. It typically ran 80*, but I went ahead and bought a higher wattage heater and was able to raise the temp to 86*. He seemed fine after this episode and ate two to three more times afterwards. Until last night, I feed him Saturday and woke up to this morning and noticed there was throw up again. This time it was a distintice tail and skin with fur still attached, again thre was uring and fecal matter like normal. So now I am really puzzled. I've raised temps, never had issues with humidity. Warm side it always 50, and cool side sits at 60. I do find though that he seems to always favor the cooler side while in shed. So my first thought is possible since he prefers the cool side during shed that he is not getting enough heat to fully digest during sheds. So now I am wondering if I just need to not feed him anymore during sheds since he always stays on the cool side. Not sure how I can keep the warm side higher with humidity, I've tried everything from setting the water bowl on that side to spraying every few days. But, because of the heat source, its drying the air out worse than the cool side. I do have a glass 40gal tank, but replaced the wire screen lid with a plexy glass lid with only one hole cut out for the heat source. I also have a heat pad under the tank to provide the belly heat. I use aspen now for bedding, but with all this stuff going on I am going to use paper towels for a little bit until he stops throwing up.

Any other ideas as to what it could be or how I could correct my setup to stop it? I don't believe hes sick, there is no mucus discharge comign from the pits, nor do I see any signs of mouth rot or mites.

Sorry for the long post, just want to get to a point where he is being healthy again.

[tttaylorrr]

proper temperatures are 90° warm side hotspot and ~80° cool side. ambient temps should stay just above 80°.

what are you using for a heat source(s)? how are you regulating the heat source(s)? you know all heat sources must be regulated, correct? either by thermostat or rheostat (thermosat being superior). how much does the snake weigh and what size prey item are you offering?

your temps sound way too low, which could be why you're getting constant regurgitation. a regurge happens when the snake does not have the proper temps to digest. without a thermostat you're just guessing temps. you need the UTH to be REGULATING heat via thermostat so it stays at 90°.

[JodanOrNoDan]

Taylor is correct but I am going to clarify a little bit because if you do not correct these problems your snake WILL die. Hot side cool side temps are floor temps below the substrate. Ambient can be no lower than 75. Ball pythons require "tropical" temps and humidity. At the temps you have now the animal cannot digest its food and is regurgitating because the food begins to rot in its stomach before it can be digested. Your snake is going to starve to death or more likely develop a respiratory infection and eventually die of sepsis.

[normalbp]

proper temperatures are 90° warm side hotspot and ~80° cool side. ambient temps should stay just above 80°.

what are you using for a heat source(s)? how are you regulating the heat source(s)? you know all heat sources must be regulated, correct? either by thermostat or rheostat (thermosat being superior). how much does the snake weigh and what size prey item are you offering?

your temps sound way too low, which could be why you're getting constant regurgitation. a regurge happens when the snake does not have the proper temps to digest. without a thermostat you're just guessing temps. you need the UTH to be REGULATING heat via thermostat so it stays at 90°.

Heat sources are a 100w ceramic heat lamp for ambient temps, unregulated. UTH is a zoo-med 16w, unregulated.
Thermostats are sitting on the floor of the tank, and are both acurite temp and humidity.
I do not own a regulating thermostat.
I've not been able to figure out wieght due to me not having a scale to measure it. I've been feeding adult mice, which are on the smaller side and are less than the girth of the snake. I've been searching for a scale so I can mathmatically figure out snake wieght and size feedings approprately.


With what I am reading sounds like my next pruchase is a new tank. I've been tossing around the idea of purchasing a new setup from http://pvccages.com/, as he has a nice setup for a decent price. Any ideas on how to raise temps? Maybe remove substrate and just use paper towls for the UTH isn't fighting with the thermo regulating properties of the substrate?

[JodanOrNoDan]

Please go to the husbandry section of the board and read the sticky threads on tank and tub setups. I don't know where you live but I am betting that your room ambient temps are too low and you are going to have to insulate the enclosure. A thermostat is a must.

[tttaylorrr]

Heat sources are a 100w ceramic heat lamp for ambient temps, unregulated. UTH is a zoo-med 16w, unregulated.
Thermostats are sitting on the floor of the tank, and are both acurite temp and humidity.
I do not own a regulating thermostat.
I've not been able to figure out wieght due to me not having a scale to measure it. I've been feeding adult mice, which are on the smaller side and are less than the girth of the snake. I've been searching for a scale so I can mathmatically figure out snake wieght and size feedings approprately.


With what I am reading sounds like my next pruchase is a new tank. I've been tossing around the idea of purchasing a new setup from http://pvccages.com/, as he has a nice setup for a decent price. Any ideas on how to raise temps? Maybe remove substrate and just use paper towls for the UTH isn't fighting with the thermo regulating properties of the substrate?

a thermoMETER and a thermoSTAT are two very different things.

before you purchase a new enclosure, get a $15 lamp dimmer for the bulb and get ready to spend some dough on your forever-thermostat Herpstat for the UTH. yes that's a pricey thermostat but it's worth every penny. if you need time to save up for the Herpstat, this thermostat is more affordable but should be considered a temporary solution (they've been known to fail after a few years) until you get a Herpstat. once your temps are correct you will see a difference.

PLEASE unplug the UTH until you can get it regulated. it is dangerous to your snake as it can reach 120°.

get a scale. weight is p much the main indicator for health besides overall appearance.

Please go to the husbandry section of the board and read the sticky threads on tank and tub setups. I don't know where you live but I am betting that your room ambient temps are too low and you are going to have to insulate the enclosure. A thermostat is a must.

here's the link he's referring to: How to Set Up a Glass Enclosure

[normalbp]

I may have found the solution to my problem, now that I am talking to someone my memory is coming back. This seems to have all happened with I switched from using flood light bulds as my heating souruce to using ceramic emitters. I do recall those flood light bulbs would raise the temp higher than what they are now. I'm going to put them back in when I get home. and still look at buying a different cage, this a becoming a nightmare to regulate everything in a glass tank. Thought I cuold make it work, but not anymore.

[tttaylorrr]

I may have found the solution to my problem, now that I am talking to someone my memory is coming back. This seems to have all happened with I switched from using flood light bulds as my heating souruce to using ceramic emitters. I do recall those flood light bulbs would raise the temp higher than what they are now. I'm going to put them back in when I get home. and still look at buying a different cage, this a becoming a nightmare to regulate everything in a glass tank. Thought I cuold make it work, but not anymore.

you're still going to need a thermostat for the UTH. there is now way around it.

[normalbp]

you're still going to need a thermostat for the UTH. there is now way around it.

I'll check everything out and get to Amazon to start ordering. I'm not opposed to buying a new setup. I knew it was inevitable.
Thanks for the help on this, and I'll post an update later.

[tttaylorrr]

I'll check everything out and get to Amazon to start ordering. I'm not opposed to buying a new setup. I knew it was inevitable.
Thanks for the help on this, and I'll post an update later.

please keep us updated! 😀 let us know if you have any more questions.