A Sad Sad Noobie.... :(

Bite_Me · 06-21-12, 10:21 AM

A few months ago I bought a snake from a breeder on impulse to get rid of my now ex girlfriend (i know I'm a bad bad boy). The snake was a captive born, she's about 6-8 months old now and i've grown to love her so so much. Nothing really special about her, just a regular ball python (not a morph or anything).

Tank: 2 hides, temp between 80-105 (cool side / hot side). Very big water bowl (in middle of tank for humidity), trees plants etc.... she lives better than me pretty much (or so I hope).

The Dilema: She's super "crabby" lately because of her shed (eyes have gone blue). I fed her and gave her some space before her shed (about 3 days to digest), and then when I went to check on her, her eyes were blue. She typically doesn't mind me touching her, but when I went to get her she was pushing me away (started off fairly softy and worked its way to the point that when i moved my hand, she knocked over the log).

So now we can't play and i've a sad sad man..... I miss chillen with her as she stood on my head and we watched tv....

Questions: 1) anything I can do to calm her down or help her shed quicker aside from spraying her cage 2 times a day for humidity?

2) I put some aluminum foil on the top of the cage (Glass cage with mesh and locks) to trap in some more humidity. It keeps falling to about 16-18%. I put the water bowl closer to the light (about 1/4 under the light) hoping that it would evaporate and keep in more humidity, but it hasn't helped much.... I also threw in a smaller bowl on the cold side with some terrarium moss but I can't break 20% (at the low point). I mist twice a day, but it keeps dropping while i'm at work.

I want a happy snake, she's my little princess. She started off as an excuse to kick out my girl, but now I love her to death and I haven't been able to handle her in about 8 days..... I miss her squeezing my arm

Any help would be much appreciated. Sorry for the novel, i just wanted to give as much info as possible to give you guys a better idea of what is going on.

infernalis · 06-21-12, 11:14 AM

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MoreliAddict · 06-21-12, 11:17 AM

Try to keep the humidity up, but leave her alone as much as possible until she sheds for you. Handling makes the shedding process alot rougher on them.

When she's done shedding she'll look good, won't be "crabby", and will have a better appetite too.

snake man12 · 06-21-12, 11:21 AM

Welcome. Put a damp paper towel over the viv before you leave for job/whateva. Second you temps are too hot 105 is not good for a ball python her hot side temp should be in the high 80's and maybe in the very low 90's. the cool side should be the high 70's. After she sheds she will settle down for you and you will have your friend back. Good luck

DeesBalls · 06-21-12, 11:26 AM

just from reading the 1st thing about your tank, 105 is way to hot for a BP, i keep mine at 90-92 (adults) and my babies i keep 88-90. when you say 105, your looking at almost bearded dragon temps...

that is probably the main issue with him.

Snakefood · 06-21-12, 11:42 AM

^^^ way too hot^^^

also I put a humid hide in. Tupperware big enough for the snake to fit comfortably in, some damp eco-earth and moss and a hole just big enough for your snake to get in and out without squishing itself!!

Bite_Me · 06-21-12, 12:48 PM

Thanks a lot guys.... I'll try to lower the heat by turning off the undertank heater and see where that takes me. I'll also see about some damp paper towel for the humidity as suggested.

You guys rock.

Lankyrob · 06-21-12, 12:51 PM

Agree with everything above, lower the temps and raise that humidity or provide a humid hide

Terranaut · 06-21-12, 12:58 PM

Same as above. And leave it alone between blue eyes and shed. They don't want to be handled then

Snakefood · 06-21-12, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bite_Me

Thanks a lot guys.... I'll try to lower the heat by turning off the undertank heater and see where that takes me. I'll also see about some damp paper towel for the humidity as suggested.

You guys rock.

If I were you, I would grab a thermostat, that way you can have perfect temps without plugging in and unplugging anything, you can get decent priced ones on the net or at greenhouse supply stores.

marvelfreak · 06-21-12, 06:30 PM

I would leave the heat pad on and turn the light off. This will help lower the temp some and help with the humidity. Heat lights dry up the humidity in a tank. You could put the water bowl part way over the heat pad and this will help up the humidity.

Valvaren · 06-21-12, 06:37 PM

I second ditching the light and leaving the heat pad.