View Full Version : Staying on the cold side
Brently
12-01-11, 10:52 PM
So my girl Athena seems to always stay on the cool side. She really only goes to the hot side after I handle her and put her back in. I keep the hot side at about 88-90 and the cool side is around 78. I am having a problem with humidity but I am about to add a humidifier to fix that. Right now I am keeping her on aspen bedding but plan on changing that to zoo med cypress forest floor. She likes to burry herself in the bedding at night and then will stay there all day and not move. Kinda wondering if this is normal behaviour for a young boa?
SSSSnakes
12-01-11, 11:18 PM
If she is staying on the cold of the tank, then to her the hot side is to hot. As long as she moves back and forth between the hot and cold side it is fine. Every snake will tell you what it likes and each snake is different.
KORBIN5895
12-01-11, 11:20 PM
What kind of boa? None of my bci burrow but I have one that lives on the cool side. He only goes to the hot side after a meal. As soon as that bump is gone it goes right back to the cool.
Brently
12-01-11, 11:29 PM
I am not sure of the subspecies but I suspect BCI. Also I have turned the temperature down and she still likes the cool side. I don't want to go too low.
SSSSnakes
12-01-11, 11:34 PM
Do you have hides on both the hot and cold side? She may feel safer on the cold side.
Brently
12-02-11, 11:38 AM
Yes I have hides on both sides. When she is on the cool side she doesn't go I the hide. She just buries herself in the bedding.
bladeblaster
12-02-11, 11:55 AM
drop the hot end to 85
Trust me she moves, unless you have sat and watched it for 24 hours. Your temps are perfect.
Brently
12-10-11, 09:59 AM
I know that she moves but just not as much as I would expect. She is very active and curious outside of the tank but seems to be kinda reclusive when she is in her enclosure. Just wondering if this is a phase or her personality.
When she's out of the tank she's looking for security and warmth that's not being provided when she is plucked from her tank. Most snakes are just more tolerable to temperature fluctuations.
Brently
12-11-11, 06:55 PM
With that being the case then do you recommend that I do not handle my snake? Because I am sorry to tell you that is simply not going to happen.
Gungirl
12-11-11, 06:59 PM
With that being the case then do you recommend that I do not handle my snake? Because I am sorry to tell you that is simply not going to happen.
Some snakes do better when not handled. Maybe you could cut back on how often you take it out of the enclosure and how long you handle for.
By over handling your snake you are stressing him out.
Unless you keep your inside temperature equivalent to South America's you will stress out your boa leading to death.
Many keepers chose to Handle, their reptiles and it can be fine if it's not for a long period.
A responsible keeper will limit handling with a stressed animal.
Brently
12-12-11, 07:11 AM
I began this thread wondering if the behaviour of my boa was normal, i.e. staying on the cool side for long durations. Never once did I express any concern about her being stressed nor have I insinuated that I handle her too often or any amount of time that I handle her period. Perhaps I am being defensive but I believe I am handling her a suitable amount to get/keep her familiarized with me. I know that she isn't a toy and will not "play" with her but there will be interaction. Otherwise I should have gotten a picture of a snake instead.
I'm trying to help. There is somthing wrong in your husbandry, which leads to stress so you do infact have a stressed boa. I would limit handaling to risk stressing it out even more.
Take a pic of your enclosure.
Brently
12-29-11, 07:00 PM
Sorry it took so long to get back. My camera went on vacation for a few weeks. Anyways here is the enclosure. Hot side on the right with the cork bark log and stick. Kept around 88ish on the hot and 78ish on the left humidity generally between 50-60. I do have a UTH on the hot side aswell. Could that be a cause?
Gungirl
12-29-11, 07:12 PM
I would recommend getting 2 of the same hides. One for the hot side and one for the cold side. Some snakes will like one hide more than the other. Now you say you have a UTH on the hot side and that wouldn't be any issue unless you didn't have it on a thermostat. If the UTH is set up properly it will not cause any issue at all. The way you worded your post makes me wonder.. do you have another source of heat? You say you have a UTH as well.... as well as what?
Brently
12-30-11, 07:25 AM
Yes I have a ceramic bulb on the hot side as well as the UTH. They are both on a thermostat. However when she is on the cold side she doesn't hide in the cave, she burries herself under the substrate most of the time.
Correct your temps, 79-83f on the cool side.
I don't think you need more then one hide for the time being. You will see your boa taking advantage of hiding under the substrate.
shaunyboy
12-30-11, 11:16 AM
if its staying in the cool side all the time try.....
dropping your hot end temps 1 degree per week
once he starts using both ends to thermoregulate,you will know the tank is just how he likes it
if a snake sits up the hot end all the time,just do the opposite and increase your hot end temps by 1 degree per week,until he uses both ends
imo care sheet temperatures are just a rough guide,i always let the individual snake,tell me what fine tuning needs done regards temperatures
cheers shaun
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