Staying on the cold side

Brently · 12-01-11, 10:52 PM

So my girl Athena seems to always stay on the cool side. She really only goes to the hot side after I handle her and put her back in. I keep the hot side at about 88-90 and the cool side is around 78. I am having a problem with humidity but I am about to add a humidifier to fix that. Right now I am keeping her on aspen bedding but plan on changing that to zoo med cypress forest floor. She likes to burry herself in the bedding at night and then will stay there all day and not move. Kinda wondering if this is normal behaviour for a young boa?

SSSSnakes · 12-01-11, 11:18 PM

If she is staying on the cold of the tank, then to her the hot side is to hot. As long as she moves back and forth between the hot and cold side it is fine. Every snake will tell you what it likes and each snake is different.

KORBIN5895 · 12-01-11, 11:20 PM

What kind of boa? None of my bci burrow but I have one that lives on the cool side. He only goes to the hot side after a meal. As soon as that bump is gone it goes right back to the cool.

Brently · 12-01-11, 11:29 PM

I am not sure of the subspecies but I suspect BCI. Also I have turned the temperature down and she still likes the cool side. I don't want to go too low.

SSSSnakes · 12-01-11, 11:34 PM

Do you have hides on both the hot and cold side? She may feel safer on the cold side.

Brently · 12-02-11, 11:38 AM

Yes I have hides on both sides. When she is on the cool side she doesn't go I the hide. She just buries herself in the bedding.

bladeblaster · 12-02-11, 11:55 AM

drop the hot end to 85

Jay · 12-05-11, 12:58 AM

Trust me she moves, unless you have sat and watched it for 24 hours. Your temps are perfect.

Brently · 12-10-11, 09:59 AM

I know that she moves but just not as much as I would expect. She is very active and curious outside of the tank but seems to be kinda reclusive when she is in her enclosure. Just wondering if this is a phase or her personality.

Jay · 12-10-11, 10:49 AM

When she's out of the tank she's looking for security and warmth that's not being provided when she is plucked from her tank. Most snakes are just more tolerable to temperature fluctuations.

Brently · 12-11-11, 06:55 PM

With that being the case then do you recommend that I do not handle my snake? Because I am sorry to tell you that is simply not going to happen.

Gungirl · 12-11-11, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brently

With that being the case then do you recommend that I do not handle my snake? Because I am sorry to tell you that is simply not going to happen.

Some snakes do better when not handled. Maybe you could cut back on how often you take it out of the enclosure and how long you handle for.

Jay · 12-11-11, 07:18 PM

By over handling your snake you are stressing him out.
Unless you keep your inside temperature equivalent to South America's you will stress out your boa leading to death.

Many keepers chose to Handle, their reptiles and it can be fine if it's not for a long period.
A responsible keeper will limit handling with a stressed animal.

Brently · 12-12-11, 07:11 AM

I began this thread wondering if the behaviour of my boa was normal, i.e. staying on the cool side for long durations. Never once did I express any concern about her being stressed nor have I insinuated that I handle her too often or any amount of time that I handle her period. Perhaps I am being defensive but I believe I am handling her a suitable amount to get/keep her familiarized with me. I know that she isn't a toy and will not "play" with her but there will be interaction. Otherwise I should have gotten a picture of a snake instead.

Jay · 12-12-11, 09:45 AM

I'm trying to help. There is somthing wrong in your husbandry, which leads to stress so you do infact have a stressed boa. I would limit handaling to risk stressing it out even more.
Take a pic of your enclosure.