Will moving to a new cage need a settle period?

kwhitlock · 11-14-13, 11:31 AM

Topic basically. First time my milk has ever refused a feed, just recently moved her into a much bigger appropriate sized enclosure. Should last her a while its a 30"x 12" x 6/8", but anway. Will moving into a new enclosure need a settling time before I attempt another feed? Her heat is a little off, since I am waiting for my the new UTH to arrive tommorrow. Still using her smaller older one, just doesnt cover much.

So should I wait a week with minimal contact? Except cleaning up poop and changing water?

Thanks

DeadlyDesires · 11-14-13, 11:36 AM

she is probably just a little stressed out i would let her be for about a week and try again. dont bother her and let her adjust.

formica · 11-14-13, 12:26 PM

wait until the new UTH arrives, give it some time to settle, check all the temps and make sure everything is as it should be, adjust as needed, once its all just right, give it a few more days without disturbing her, then try again

Starbuck · 11-14-13, 01:05 PM

as others have said: yes, she will need a settling in period. For all she knows she might as well have been shipped across the country and set up in a new cage there (i'm being a bit fascetious, but yes, id give her a bit to settle)

however, i dont see the necessity in waiting to offer food (unless she has refused), i brought home a carpet on sunday, fed her on monday, and she took it no problems. That much is dependant on the snake.... but i still am leaving her be (no handling etc) for a min of a week.

Mikoh4792 · 11-14-13, 01:42 PM

Depends on what kind of snake. If you have a species of snake that is adapted to staying in one area during it's life(using the same burrows, lakes..etc) then I would say so. But if you own a species that naturally travels long distances it probably shouldn't matter. I'd only give a settling in period to a snake that has been stressed from shipping for that role reason, not for being moved into a new enclosure.

shaunyboy · 11-15-13, 06:05 PM

if temperatures are too low to aid digestion of prey a snake will not eat

also too much space can stop a snake feeling secure so it won't eat

sometimes bulking a larger tank out with fake plants,hides,etc, to give them extra cover,will solve them not feeding or feeling secure in a larger enclosure

cheers shaun

kwhitlock · 11-15-13, 07:53 PM

Thanks guys! Was going to reply last night but the servers where down. The snake in question is my Honduran. I think she is settling in pretty good seeing as she is burrowing EVERYWHERE. Lol

but her new heat pad came today, I just hooked that up a bit ago and we will see how she is Monday when I go to feed her!

**Aaron_S** · 11-15-13, 07:57 PM

Nothing says "settled" like a feeding snake!

muffiewrites · 11-17-13, 08:06 PM

Spike's a hondo. We moved two hours south. Spike has the same viv here as he did there, though I transported him in a zippered pillowcase in a smaller, padded enclosure that I could seat belt into the car. It took him almost two weeks to settle in the new environment, even though his viv didn't change in landscape. He went from a part of the house that rarely had people in it to my new desk, so he sees someone moving several hours nearly every day. The humidity is different, the smell is different, sounds are different, and whatever it is that snakes pick up on.