Improvements for the Beep

[Craiga 01453]

Alright, let's see...here's what stuck out to me. I'm just going in chronological order following your thread so I can reference it and reply...


- If you're relying on a thermometer and not using a temp gun you're not getting surface temps, so that unregulated UTH could be a LOT hotter on the surface. If 88 was ambient, that surface temp was likely well over 100.

- UNTIL YOU GET A THERMOSTAT, UNPLUG THE UTH.

- UTHs are not designed to raise ambient temps. They are designed solely to provide a hotspot.

- If your ambient temps in the room where your snake is kept aren't in the mid 80s constantly, you'll need an additional heat source, ALSO REGULATED BY A THERMOSTAT.
.....Especially once you upgrade to a larger enclosure

- regarding the shed, it could very well be because she shed right before you got her. Shed is related to growth, not time, she'll shed when she's ready.

- I love the idea of the foam board insulation, but it'll only help if you're adding an additional heat source. Again, a UTH is not going to raise ambient temps.
If your room ambient temps are what you're relying on, the foam board won't do anything at all.

- you're right. If she's constantly roaming, something is off somewhere. You mentioned that she's on rat fuzzies. That should be fine, assuming she's still 200 grams or under. But since you don't know the weight, I'm guessing here. (Get yourself a scale, very valuable tool).
...do the rats leave a noticeable lump in the snakes stomach after it is eaten?
...are the rats about the same size around as the snake at her widest point?
...if yes, it's husbandry related

- rat pups are the next size up. Hoppers are mice...so now I've got to ask...are you 100% positive she's eat rat fuzzies and not fuzzy mice??? Because that would change a LOT (roaming, not shedding yet, etc...)

- switching to coco husk is a great idea. Aspen sucks for BPs. It doesn't hold the humidity well, it's messy, it doesn't help with odor. It just sucks all around.

- I wouldn't rush to get her moved to that 3ft. enclosure. I'd wait until she basically outgrows her current one.


So, in conclusion: UTHs are for hot spots only, UNPLUG IT til you get a t-stat, are you SURE she's eating fuzzy RATS and not MICE??? And get yourself a t-stat, scale and a temp gun, like yesterday...

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.