Growing Concerns

[FatBoy]

the food item should be about as big around as the diamater as the largest part of your snake. offer a mouse every 5 days and if she doesn't take it right off, leave it over night.

Only pinks should be left in overnight. If the rat/mouse is big enough to bite it is not safe to leave overnight.

[Smith285]

Only pinks should be left in overnight. If the rat/mouse is big enough to bite it is not safe to leave overnight.

I'm assuming she meant f/t, which is what I sometimes have to do with my pastel...he likes to wait until the lights are out to come out and eat it. But definitely don't leave a live prey item in there overnight...

Also, I think it helps a lot to know what the weight of the bp is. I just got $20 digital cooking scale from a kitchen appliance store, and I will weigh my bp's every couple weeks and weigh the prey before offering it to make sure it's about 10-15% of the snakes weight. Although if she's refusing the food, the problem is probably heat or security, so make sure the temps are about 80 on one side and 90 on the other and the tank isn't too big and you cover 3 of the 4 sides.

[FatBoy]

I'm assuming she meant f/t, which is what I sometimes have to do with my pastel...he likes to wait until the lights are out to come out and eat it. But definitely don't leave a live prey item in there overnight...

Your'e probally right...my bad. I only feed live so that's what I relate to.

[OB23]

When I took her to the vet during her shed, they said that they found her rather small, weighing in at a mere 76 grams. For 20 inches, is this terribly light? I'll try live next time (tomorrow) first, then if there's still trouble I'll kill it and leave it in overnight. Furthermore, given her size, should I step up to a mouse or stay with hoppers?
I'll raise the temp. Is a ceramic heat emitter the only way? Should I put a UTH on the cool side too? Also, I used to have a lizard whose lamp I actually had facing the side of the tank, which raised the temp. of the glass and tank...is this feasible with snakes or no?
Thanks for all your responses thus far! Learning more and more by the post!

[MiniJ83]

Again, what are you using to measure your temps? And what is regulating your UTH?

[OB23]

I have a digital thermometer set up with the probe in the warm end of her tank down by the substrate. The hydrometer is a gauge one mounted by the substrate in the middle of the tank.
Like I said, I have read the glass tank set up and plan to change it more in line with Cassandra's model but up until now, it's seemed to serve its purpose alright.
Suggestions are always welcome. Thanks for your interest!

[pillowtalk6188]

Only pinks should be left in overnight. If the rat/mouse is big enough to bite it is not safe to leave overnight.

well i mean leave a DEAD mouse in there over night. lol. not a live one.

[starmom]

Do you have a thermostat regulating your UTH?

[OB23]

No, there's no thermostat regulating my UTH. When I bought her and the set-up, it was never suggested. Perhaps her shelter is getting too warm? It is directly overtop of her hide. I was thinking of a) putting some aspen substrate under her hide, as she was keen to go in it when I used aspen and b) move it off of the UTH at least a little.
Are these sound ideas?

[MiniJ83]

UTHs can get as hot as 120 degrees. You need to have a thermostat controlling it, or at the very least a lamp dimmer. Rancos aren't very expensive and work very well.