Injured ball python

[MD_Pythons]

But how could a snake sustain burn injuries from what is essentially human body temperature? The CHE is set to a thermostat and I have digital probe thermometers on both sides of the enclosure.

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CHEs get much hotter than 85-90f, try feeling yours when it's heating. It'll sting and you could burn yourself if you hold your hand to it. They get very hot.

[Bogertophis]

But how could a snake sustain burn injuries from what is essentially human body temperature? The CHE is set to a thermostat and I have digital probe thermometers on both sides of the enclosure.

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But they're not human- & excessive temperature over too long a time causes tissue injury to them. They burn more easily than we do- they're cold-blooded & way different physically. For one thing, their blood circulation is not as efficient. And I don't think their nervous system is as complex either.

Thermostats are only what is "intended"- it's always up to you to find out what is actually produced & maintained- plenty of things don't read accurately. Thermostats are like people: When you ask a question of people- you still might need a "second (or third+) opinion" to get the truth. You can't trust a thermostat either- you need to double-check, & more than once.

A "burn" injury to a snake is not like a burn from fire- it doesn't require anything like that level of heat. Snakes are just not designed to be as warm as we are for a sustained period of time.

And it seems like BPs are prone to this, I suspect it's because they're heavy-bodied snakes & it takes a long time for warmth to penetrate to where they realize it's too much.
It does make me wonder how they survive in the wild though?

[Bogertophis]

CHEs get much hotter than 85-90f, try feeling yours when it's heating. It'll sting and you could burn yourself if you hold your hand to it. They get very hot.

For sure, they get screaming hot.

I'm not an expert on t-stats so correct me if I'm wrong here, but in theory, maybe the kind of t-stat used makes a difference too?
If it's proportional, it would never fully heat up & would be safer, but if it's an "on-off" t-stat, it would be blasting heat briefly before shutting off, & that's how the snake could get burned. Right? A snake might sit there through many on-off cycles & ultimately sustain some damage.

[rumbi]

The thermostat is proportional by the way so it never really gets hot.

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[Bogertophis]

The thermostat is proportional by the way so it never really gets hot.

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How are you taking the temperature? You cannot go by what the t-stat says. And a reading is only as accurate as what you're using.

One way or another, your snake is injured- it's essential to figure out how & why. And we don't have the enclosure to see & test, that's up to you.

[rumbi]

I use digital thermometers with probes apart from the thermostat.

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[Bogertophis]

Like I said, we aren't SEEING the enclosure. Quote- " She's in a wooden viv with a CHE (with a lamp cage) set up to a thermostat."

Is the CHE/cage inside the enclosure? You also mentioned climbing branches- could she be scraping the (hot) cage around the CHE?

It would sure help if snakes could talk...until then, we have to play "detective" to figure out what the heck they did.

[Jamiekerk]

Like I said, we aren't SEEING the enclosure. Quote- " She's in a wooden viv with a CHE (with a lamp cage) set up to a thermostat."

Is the CHE/cage inside the enclosure? You also mentioned climbing branches- could she be scraping the (hot) cage around the CHE?

It would sure help if snakes could talk...until then, we have to play "detective" to figure out what the heck they did.

I don’t get it cause I use the same type of enclosure and the guard it self once the temperature is up never gets above 35 ish. So without seeing the enclosure I can’t advise any more either


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[Jamiekerk]

Also depending on probe position with che it goes the thermostat control the temp to that position, if its too far from the che it will draw more power to keep that area hot thus getting hot and the cage getting hot above acceptable levels.


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[Bogertophis]

Also depending on probe position with che it goes the thermostat control the temp to that position, if its too far from the che it will draw more power to keep that area hot thus getting hot and the cage getting hot above acceptable levels.


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Yes, maybe the probe isn't where it should be, or has been dislodged. Something isn't right though, since the snake has very real injuries- & no one wants to see them repeated.