New Odd Behavior for my BP
My BP is eating well and on time, typically hides all day like she is supposed to, and is in healthy weight and body condition. She does a nightly exploration of her tank and then goes back to hide. However, in the last 3 days she has been soaking a lot. Concerned, I triple checked my temps with a heat gun (everything was spot on). After that, I became concerned about mites. I did a deep clean of her tank, removing and sanitizing everything and dumping all of the substrate. I had just done this a couple of days before she started soaking as well. I'm rather obsessive about keeping the snake habitats clean and healthy. She is on paper towels at the moment so that I could see if any mites appeared (none so far). We took a magnifier and looked over her entire body, investigated any flecks in the water (all little flecks of substrate), and put down paper towels to see if there were any that we missed. We saw absolutely no evidence of any mites on her, in her water bowl, or anywhere in her habitat or the paper towels. I’ve messaged several people with a lot of BP experience and have gotten various responses ranging from checking her heat (done), checking for mites (done and so far no signs but we keep watching), and that some soak when getting ready to shed and some don’t. It has been about 5 weeks since she last shed. So, one of the awesome people helping me recommended this forum and here I am. Is there anything that I am missing here? Her behavior change has me quite concerned.
Husbandry information:
1. Temps: Ambient: 82, Hot spot: 92, Cool Spot: 80
2. Humidity: 60 (it was 65-70 until I changed substrate), humid hide 75
3. Enclosure: modified 40g breeder, 3 sides blacked out with foam board and top modified to maintain heat and humidity quite successfully
4. Heat source: under tank heaters regulated by Herpstat themostat
5. Temps measured using probed thermometers: 1 beside the hot side thermostat probe to double check temps, one beside the cool side thermostat probes to double check temps, two to check ambient temps. Humidity measured by digital hydrometer with probe. All cords are hidden under hanging plants to minimize her contact with the cords.
6. Normally 2 (one warm side, one cool side), an extra one during a shed, and lots of clutter (fake plants). She seems content with her hides and clutter.
7. I usually use coconut fiber but she is currently on paper towels
8. Food: 1 medium rat every 14 days as recommended by her breeder
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