Ball hates heat

[ptbmaniac]

I have a young ball and it really hates heat.If I have the heat lamp on it goes to the cool side and hides all day.If I turn it off it gets really active and is all over the tank.I do have a zoo med uth that gives off some heat not much.The snake is ok with that but not the lamp.With lamp on the temps are around 95 degrees.Is that too hot? When it is off it is around 75 or so.My snake is also inactive at night.I thought they were nocturnal? I should mention that I have had the snake for about a month.It is about 14 inches and in a 20 long snake kit I got at petco.It has only eaten one time since I got it.I have tried feeding it many times,but it has only taken one fuzzy.Any information will be appreciated!!!

[Ray]

ptbmaniac i think your hotspot is too hot and your cool site is a little low. Your snake needs a hotspot of 90-92 and the cool site should be around 80-82. BP don't like very much light.

There are more people on this forum who can help you out with your questions


Ray;)

[ptbmaniac]

Should I try to use a smaller bulb? When I first got it I had it in a 10 gal.I used a 40 watt bulb and the temp was always around 88 degrees.The snake didn't come out of the hide on the cool side as long as the lamp was on.The minute I turned it off the snake would come out and explore.Even when it ate the mouse (in 20 gal at time)it curled up on the cool side for 3 days.Even feeding,the snake shows no intrest in mice while they are warm.As soon as they get cold it is all over them,yet has only ate once.I just find it weird that my snake does the opposite of what everyone tells me.The snake is in perfect health,it just refuses to use heat other than in the morning when I first turn the heat lamp on.It never lays above the heat mat at all.I have the lamp on top of the tank,should I move it up a few inches?

[Jeff_Favelle]

The snake isn't liking the setup because the setup is wrong. BP's don't bask, they are nocturnal, like you said. Why the light bulb? Its useless. During the say, the snake will avoid it. At night, when the snake wants to be active, the light is out and the temps are 15 degrees too cold. NOT USEFUL for the snake.

THINK snake. Search these forums as the answer is here 100x over, easily. If you really can't find the answer, I'll dig up 20 posts where its been discussed before in the 4 years this site has been up.

Post pics of your cage. THat'll help us as well.

[Ray]

Most ball pythons don't come out ther hides during the day.Thats why ball pythons don't need a lightbulb during the day.
Like Jeff said there r many posts on this forum that can help you with your questions.
I learnd a lot about ball pythons on this forum the last few monhts.
Take the time to read the posts than you know a lot more.;)



Ray;)

[ptbmaniac]

You guys are missing what I am saying.But thanks for your replies.I also have a regular aquarium light on the tank,so it is not dark when the heat lamp is off.He is really active during the day with the regular light on.The snake actually is not very active in the dark.To explain in depth...my snake hates the heat lamp,refuses to lay above the UTH,is active during the day as long as the heat lamp is off,and is inactive at night.(I check)

[Jeff_Favelle]

The snake is active in the light because its TOO HOT. Its actively searching for a spot to get away from the heat. Just because its light out, doesn't mean they completely shut down and never move. And just because its dark out, they aren't always cruising around looking for stuff.

Do the snake a favour, ditch the light, get a heat pad, and get the cage to 90F warm side, 80F cool side. You are seeing irregular behaviour because the sname is kept in an irregular environment (ie. an environment in which it has not evolved to deal with).

Think snake.