At wits end :(

[shaunyboy]

i pm'd you a link on an alternative way to rehydrate your snake

you should see a big difference within 24 hours

the loose skin on its sides is tenting due to dehydration

cheers shaun

[mykee]

"I dont think they are big enough to eat a fuzzy rat but I will try again when I get home if the pinky isnt gone"

My mistake, I caught my error after it was too late to edit it. I meant fuzzy mouse, not fuzzy rat.

[Lankyrob]

Originally Posted by unknownclown

Sorry Im at work so Im limited on time getting on here. They are together in a 10 gallon tank with the shredded coconut stuff on the bottom with repti bark over that. They have a water dish and Ive been misting them 2ce a week. temps are upper 80s. I waited 2 weeks before offering them food but now have been trying once a week when I feed all of my other snakes.
It sounds like Ive been trying alot more than I have since I will offer one thing but if after an hour they dont take it I will switch to something else in hopes that will b e more successful...
If you all dont think she looks all that bad aside from a bad shed (whick she has been sporting since we got her) than I wont stress as much.
When I get home I will separate them into 2 5 gallons.
I dont think they are big enough to eat a fuzzy rat but I will try again when I get home if the pinky isnt gone... please let the pinky be gone...

They should be in SEPARATE enclosures they are probably pretty stressed trying to compete for prime spots. The temps should be 91f at the hot end, not "high 80s". You havent mentioned humidity even tho this seems to be the worst problem you have. Whilst the shed is stuck it should be around 70% - once sorted it should be kept 55-60% until they go into shed again.

In terms of feeding them you should try ONE prey item every SEVEN DAYS not multiple items more regularly - they will get more stressed by being messed about with and associate the food with stress. Once they are separated into their own enclosures put a plastic plate in there and put the prey item on the plate - they will then not need to be handled before each feeding attempt - leave the prey overnight (put it in at about 10pm - only do this with DEAD prey).

DO NOT HANDLE them at all or disturb them apart from changing water and putting the prey item in/out until they have eaten at least on two consecutive feeding attempts.

[unknownclown]

Ok they are now in separate enclosures although at the moment I have her soaking in a tupperware container to rehydrate her.
I trashed an old temporary enclosure yesterday that I had made for one of my male boas and took the plexiglass out. I cut it so it can be used as lids and even though I know they are way too small to get to the top I have made use of 2 dead laptops to hold down the plexiglass. Nope doesnt look tacky or ghetto at all It will do untill I get paid and can buy something more appropriate. Heat lamps are off to the side I switched to the red ones... anything else anyone can think of? anyone ever try weight gainer and an eye dropper before?? jokin of course

[mykee]

Heat lamp?
Sheesh.....

[whoaxmary]

If you now have them in smaller enclosures you should be easily able to switch from lamps to a UTH. Lamps = dryness. If you insist on using them you will need to mist more than twice a week I'd think. I use CHE's but only at certain times because me room is in the basement and gets a bit chill sometimes as I'm in canada.
Experts/Mykee correct me if I'm wrong on that -Just my quick opinion on it-

Right now though, after following Mykee's advice I'd say your biggest issue is attempted to get them to eat to often. you may be stressing them out by switching things around so much and constantly bugging them with food offerings.

[Xochiquetzal]

In my experience most BP's wont eat until theyve completed a shed ! I would make sure all skin is off then leave that baby for a day or even 2 before attempting to feed it again . From what i can see the snake is not at a dangerous weight yet. Everyone has given great advice and I would follow it to a T !

[stephanbakir]

A snake eating in shed isn't rare, its up to the individual, some always eat during shed, some never do.

[sch1sm]

Make chicken broth. reduce it down by simmering it. Put it in an icecube tray and freeze it . Take it out 1 cube at a time.

It should last months if its frozen

(Sorry folks saw foody type advice and posted without thinking. there has to be better things to scent BP food with than cooled chicken duh)

[unknownclown]

Is a heat lamp a bad thing when I have the tops covered with plexi glass to hold in the moisture?
Sorry for seeming like a dumb @$$ its been 4 or 5 years since I have kept BPs (or any other snake for that matter) and although I thought I knew what I was doing aparently I had forgotten a few tricks to the trade. Didnt even think if dehydration since they had a water dish and kept the substrate damp but they do look so much better now and I am definately kicking myself in the butt for not thinking of soaking them I was so focused on feeding since I was told that they hadnt been successfully fed at the pet store.

[stephanbakir]

If its a screen top lamps are bad, if its covered, they are great for the most part.

[unknownclown]

Originally Posted by Xochiquetzal

In my experience most BP's wont eat until theyve completed a shed ! I would make sure all skin is off then leave that baby for a day or even 2 before attempting to feed it again . From what i can see the snake is not at a dangerous weight yet. Everyone has given great advice and I would follow it to a T !

She is in a retained shed though with nothing covering her eyes.. they are clear. after I soaked her I did try to get some off but I dont want to fuss with her too much and up the stress levels anymore than they are.

[stephanbakir]

If you provide her with adequate humidity, she should do the rest on her own.

[unknownclown]

Ok Mikey has given me a complex on this heat lamp thing ... Now I do have heating pads for some of my other snakes but I cant seem to picture that being enough to keep the heat up in a tank and if heat lamps are bad what else is there? I have about 2-3" of coconut fibers and repti bark that I keep damp at the bottoom of the tank for humidity and I cant see the heating pad actually getting at a decent temp thru that...

[stephanbakir]

They aren't bad if the terrarium is covered.
There are UTH/flextwat, CHE (ceramic heat emitters) and heat rocks (NO)