BP keep switching hides

[zivins]

Hey guys,
I just had a quick question. I have a new female ball python who for the past three weeks, has been great. She has two hides, one hot and one cooler. Normally, she may switch sides just for temperature reasons, but will stay in each one for quite some time. However, the past day she has constantly been switching between the two. Every time I look over she seems to be in the other one. I'd say she's been switching every 30mins or so. Her temperatures are on par for night/day and have been the same since I got her. She does look like she could start shedding soon though, could that play into it?

Thanks

[Lankyrob]

They may move around more during shed, double check your temps and humidity and then just leave her be. Nature knows best :)

[MoreliAddict]

What are the temperatures exactly?

What are you using to measure them?

[zivins]

The temperatures are between 83-86 on the hot side (92 on top of her hide for basking) and around 70-75 on the cooler end during the day. I know that's cold but I'm working on getting a pad to help instead of a single heat lamp. I use the Zoo Med digital thermometer. At night I keep it between 73-78. I don't have a humidity gauge quite yet, but since I know she's shedding I've been spraying her tub every day and using moss to hold the moisture.

Thanks,
Zach

[zivins]

I keep her at 83-86 (93 or so basking spot) on the hot side and 74-79 on the cold end.

[EmbraceCalamity]

I keep her at 83-86 (93 or so basking spot) on the hot side and 74-79 on the cold end.Biggie: Are you using analog or digital thermometers?

~Maggot

[MoreliAddict]

I keep her at 83-86 (93 or so basking spot) on the hot side and 74-79 on the cold end.
Check out this care sheet:

Strictlyballs Home (http://strictlyballs.ca)

[Lankyrob]

I keep the whole warm end (rather than just one spot) at 90f and the cold end NO COOLER than 75f - i would say your temps are too cold.

Also if you arent measuring the humidity how can you know its right? Its no good just sprayng around shed time, they need CONSTANT humidity levels of no less than 55%, 65% when shedding.

[jarich]

The warm side could be a bit warmer, but that cool side temp seems fine, Rob. And Maggot, if you read a little more carefully in the post above you will see that the OP said both that it was a digital thermometer and even gave the brand name.

However, your snakes movements seem unconnected to temperature either way, unless its going through menopause. (Just to be sure, that was a joke! There is no such thing) I would say its much more likely that your snake may not be feeling that safe. Could you post a picture of the enclosure? Could you describe the hides you have for your snake? Are they big enough to hide the entire snake, yet small enough that the snake can feel the sides around it? Do you have any other 'furniture' in there that gives it cover, like plants, branches, etc? If the snake is moving around all the time, it could be simply that nowhere in the enclosure does it feel like it is safe from the traffic in your house.

[Terranaut]

Sounds like she is hunting. Try feeding her. I bet she goes to the warm hide after and stays.

[EmbraceCalamity]

And Maggot, if you read a little more carefully in the post above you will see that the OP said both that it was a digital thermometer and even gave the brand name. Oops, that's my bad. :)

~Maggot

[MoreliAddict]

Sounds like she is hunting. Try feeding her. I bet she goes to the warm hide after and stays.
^this!

Sometimes my BP wanders when he's hungry. Goes right back to hiding (usually on the warm side) after he eats...