BP staying in 1 hide

[Kyle6203]

I've had my bp a little over 3 months, this last month I have been living at college. Ever since moving to college my snake refuses to go to the hot side hide. The temps and humidity are stable, 80 on one side, 90 on the other, 50-60% humidity. Both of his hides are identical medium sized exo-terra caves.

When I lived at home it was usually a guessing game as to which hide he would be in, now he is in the cool side hide at all times. I usually handle him twice a day and I think there has been 1 time where he was in the hot side hide. Hes showing no signs of sickness, and just recently shed for the second time i've had him. This time he managed to completely shed without my help. Hes also eating regularly and doesn't seem at all stressed so I can't figure out why he would be choosing one hide over the other. Anyone have any ideas ??

[Kagez28]

what are you using to measure your temps?

[xdeus]

This time he managed to completely shed without my help. Hes also eating regularly and doesn't seem at all stressed so I can't figure out why he would be choosing one hide over the other. Anyone have any ideas ??

Sounds like you're doing everything right. Sometimes Balls prefer one side over another, but I'm sure he would use it if he wanted to. As long as he's eating and isn't stressed then all is well.

[Kesslers Kreatures]

My BP is doing the same thing at the moment... everything is just dandy... she just likes the one side... and shes not stressed. she comes out and lays around at times and explores then just goes back to that hide.


No need to fret

[bearhart]

I've had my bp a little over 3 months, this last month I have been living at college. Ever since moving to college my snake refuses to go to the hot side hide. The temps and humidity are stable, 80 on one side, 90 on the other, 50-60% humidity. Both of his hides are identical medium sized exo-terra caves.

When I lived at home it was usually a guessing game as to which hide he would be in, now he is in the cool side hide at all times. I usually handle him twice a day and I think there has been 1 time where he was in the hot side hide. Hes showing no signs of sickness, and just recently shed for the second time i've had him. This time he managed to completely shed without my help. Hes also eating regularly and doesn't seem at all stressed so I can't figure out why he would be choosing one hide over the other. Anyone have any ideas ??

Mine lives in the hot hide at 93 degrees and loves it. He'll only start sticking bits of himself out to cool off when the temp fluctuates up to 95. Only very rarely does he use his cool hide and, when he does, I usually find a mess in the warm one ! :eek:

That being said, I think its always a good idea to question changes in behavior.

1) How does the temp/humidity of the room compare to home?

2) If not, how does the area immediately surrounding the cage differ from before?

3) If you're using glass do you have three sides covered? If not, #2 above is even more important.

4) Have you cleaned everything and put in new bedding since moving?

[Kyle6203]

Kagez i'm using an accurite thermometer from Wal mart.

1) How does the temp/humidity of the room compare to home?

2) If not, how does the area immediately surrounding the cage differ from before?

3) If you're using glass do you have three sides covered? If not, #2 above is even more important.

4) Have you cleaned everything and put in new bedding since moving?
_________________________________________________

1) The actual room is alot cooler since my roomate can't sleep unless its no hotter than 65. I first thought it would be a problem but keeping my heat lamp over the cold side keeps it at 80 inside the cage. The humidity is around the same as it was at home.

2) Theres more people in the room on a regular basis than before. I was hardly ever in my room at home as it was summer and I was always working. Now I am in my room quite a bit as well as my other 3 roomates.

3) I'm using glass, the entire back is covered, but I ran out of the decorative plastic stuff and only had enough to cover 1/2 of both sides, the front is open.

4) Yes, I just disenfected and replaced a new layer of repti bark 2 days ago shortly after his shed.

[bearhart]

What you say doesn't sound too bad.

I too use a UTH to get my warm temp and a heat lamp over the cool side to get the ambient temperature. However... one thing I can say from somewhat hard-fought experience is that temperatures can vary over much shorter distances than you think. Its every easy to assume than there's a smooth temperature gradient because you have two good readings. With my setup I typically see the lowest temperatures *right outside the warm hide*.

* With your lowered room temperatures, I would definately measure the cage in several spots to see if you don't have cool spots which are likely the cause of drafts from the incoming fresh air and the cool glass surfaces.
* I would make sure to enclose the top as much as is safe. In my setup I have only one small sliver open over the cool side and about a 1/2 ring open around the heat lamp. Keep in mind that the heat lamp will drive a convection current so more air circulates than you might guess.
* I would seriously consider re-covering all three three sides of the cage with something more insulating. Trust me, this helps keep your ambient temperate even. I have had good results from rolled cork which can be obtained in a craft store.

Also, in my setup I have the "outside" probe from the accurite resting on top of the substrate right in the middle of the warm hide. Be sure to measure the temperature inside the hide as accurately as possible. The farther away your probe is the less likely it is that you have any real idea of what your snake is actually experiencing (which is what really matters!)




Good luck.