I am getting reallt concerned...can you help?

Dark_Angel_25 · 01-10-04, 03:16 PM

My Red Tail Cleo, ate Jan. 6 she was on the warm side rock that night and day, but since she has been on the cool side. She always seems to stay on the cool side since we got her, its like she prefers to be cold, but when I took her out today, she still has a small lump from the rat pup she ate...

Why wouldn't she be on the warm side to digest? could it be from the cold weather? I am getting concerned, cause she shed just before she ate, and we had to soak her in the tub and help get the skin off (it was hanging off her like a big sock, but she wouldn't try)

Any ideas? It isn't parasites, we've had her awhile and no problems, and no regurging or anything.. she just always seems to stay on the cold side.....

Any thoughts would be appreciated...

Matt_K · 01-10-04, 03:43 PM

What's the temp on your hot side? and what's the temp on your cool side?? Also, you said you had to soak her to get the last shed to come off, what's your humidity at???

Derrick · 01-10-04, 03:46 PM

how cold is the cold side? 2 of my snakes, 1 corn & 1 JCP dont use thier hot spot for digestion. Is the lump still in the stomach area or has it moved? 4-5 days is about how long the lump of a good sized meal lasts in my guys, wheather or not they are on the hot or cold side.

Invictus · 01-10-04, 03:50 PM

I have a BCI that doesn't like his hot spot either. Don't worry about it, the snake will choose. If it gets cold, the snake will naturally try to warm up. As for the shed, don't worry so much about that either. Sometimes my larger boas like to pause for a breather when they shed too.

Dark_Angel_25 · 01-10-04, 03:52 PM

The hot side is 83-90 and the cool side is about 78-85. the lump had moved, it is about 1/3 from the end of her tail roughly... I can take the temps again to make sure, with my probe....she is in the warm hide now....

Linds · 01-10-04, 04:20 PM

I would try to stabilize your temps. With temps fluctuating like that it is hard to guage what temps your boa prefers to be kept at. Generally they do well in a standard range of temps, but each boa is unique, some may like it a little cooler, some a little warmer, but until you can keep them stable your boa will not be able to tell you.

As for the shed, it's not normal, but I've had it happen once with one of my rosies. She took it of as far as the base of her head then quit. Looked like she was wearing a hat. Still wonder if she is just lazy or a little slow in the gears

I have no idea what causes that kind of behaviour, but in my case, it wasn't indicative of any immediate health problems. Although I suspect it could in some cases.

Dark_Angel_25 · 01-10-04, 04:26 PM

the shed I think she was just lazy... and as for the temps, they do stay stable, I just didn't go take them again... anyhow, funnily enough, as I finished posting she mosid on over the the hot hide.. so i think it was me being paranoid... overall I think she is just a lazy boa.

it has happened (when I first got her) that i panicked cause she stayed on the cool side, so I took her out the cold hide and put her near the warm one, she would go in, I'd feel better.

This time whereever we put her she will stay, and move when she has had enough... but maybe she is just too lazy to go from one to the other all the time! lol either way, she wasn't freezing in the cold side so, I guess I should worry less...

Also it could be the tank size, it is pretty small, we just put a payment on a 4 ft tank, so that should help...

Thanks though!!!

ScreamingMisfit · 01-11-04, 01:36 AM

how small is pretty small?

Dark_Angel_25 · 01-11-04, 01:42 AM

well she is about 28" and is now in a 15 gallon. we have a bigger tank coming next week.

Linds · 01-11-04, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dark_Angel_25
and as for the temps, they do stay stable

Quote:

Originally posted by Dark_Angel_25
The hot side is 83-90 and the cool side is about 78-85.

With both sides each fluctuating 7 degrees, that is not stable at all. If they were eggs they would be dead. Some snakes can actually be kept with a gradient that just one of those sides has.

Dark_Angel_25 · 01-13-04, 03:14 PM

Lol, Sorry Linds, I know that was contradictory, what I meant was that when I was first doing the cage those were the average temps, NOW they are stabile BUT I would have to take the temps again (with my probe thermometer) to tell you EXACLTY what they are. I tend to do it like once every couple of days or so, but I haven't yet because I have been UBER busy, and I know Kenn took them, but I haven't spoken to him in awhile... If I had to go based on the last time I took the temp, Hot side was 90-92 (on heat pad) and cool side was 85. The ambient air temp changes a bit more, depending if we keep a towel over half the tank or not, but it doesn';t effect the temp all that much.

diablos · 01-16-04, 04:26 PM

As long as the boa is healthy,i wouldnt worry to much about her going just to the cool side,i have 2-male red tails,,& 1-hoggs isalnd liveing in the same enclosure,(not to mention other reptiles..)and sometimes the boys stay on the cool side.even after they ate..also as far as the shed go,s you could start spraying her down with a shed ease mixture.%50 water/%30 shed ease.you could do this daily..or a vita-spray works nice also.good luck on your baby!

tHeGiNo · 01-16-04, 04:54 PM

Quote:

As long as the boa is healthy,i wouldnt worry to much about her going just to the cool side,i have 2-male red tails,,& 1-hoggs isalnd liveing in the same enclosure,(not to mention other reptiles..)and sometimes the boys stay on the cool side.even after they ate..also as far as the shed go,s you could start spraying her down with a shed ease mixture.%50 water/%30 shed ease.you could do this daily..or a vita-spray works nice also.good luck on your baby!

Is this a joke?

diablos · 01-16-04, 07:47 PM

no,its not a joke!are you a joke?why?is there a problem with what i wrote?look i have a lot of knowledge on reptiles.!i oun at least 26 diffrent species of reptiles.i do lectures in museums,schools,librarys...that in all reality do,se not make me an expert.but if i can help someone with the knowledge i have..than it is all worth it to me..no offence,but it kinda upsets me when people like your self who suppose to an animal/reptile lover,calls someones bluff.well there is no bluffing here.i do know what im talking about..i have been doing reptile since i was 17 1/2...i am now 32-going on 33..do the math.

Dark_Angel_25 · 01-16-04, 07:50 PM

I think he is referring to keeping many species together... not a good idea...

thanks for the info on the shed ease stuff, I'll keep that in mind if I have the problem again...