Quote Originally Posted by dmcfarland View Post
Thanks...
Caress' enclosure is an aquarium. It's dimensions are 12 inches wide, 18 1/2 inches tall, and 30 inches long. I have two undertank heaters attached to the bottom that stay on constant, and a hood lamp light with a 75 watt bulb in it on top. I have two seperate exterior type thermometers that I keep balanced between 80 - 90 degrees. I keep a tupperware type container (about 15 inches long, 7inches wide, and about 3 inches deep) with fresh water in it daily. She has a little climbing branch on the same side as the water that extends over top of it, and one of those half log type things at the other end. (The idea was a warmer side and a cooler side to the enclosure) I try to handle her every day, but I leave her alone for a couple of days after feeding and shedding...
I have tried shorter rats and more frequent feedings, but she doesnt eat like that...she is quirky. (She will only eat dark colored male rats for some reason...anything but that and she will let it live in the enclosure with her for days?) After a couple weeks, perhaps iI could try 1 large rat every 10 - 12 days?
Thanks alot for all your help...I appreciate it.
Yikes! Don't let the rats live in the enclosure with her! They can decide to start eating the snake.

She might be less "quirky" if she felt a little more secure. BPs are shy animals and those half log hides don't feel hidden enough for them. Also it helps to have 2 hides, one in the warm side and one in the cool side, so the snake doesn't have to choose between feeling secure or thermoregulating.

I'm not sure what you mean by exterior thermometer. If you mean the kind that sticks on to the tank, that only measures the temperature on the glass (the outside of the glass), not on the substrate where the snake is. If you mean an indoor/outdoor thermometer with a probe, that is great.

Unless you have some sort of t-stat or rheostat (dimmer) on those UTHs and lamp, I bet the temps in the tank are too high.