a couple of newbie questions ...

[Mase]

hey guys can any one PLEASE help me ? my snake feels really dry, its been basking under the heat light all day, is this normal ? when does the snake seson begin and can over hanling a snake stresss it out ? thanks in advace you never disapoint me !

[craig.a.c]

What is the temp fo the hot and cool ends?
Whats size enclosure is it in?
What is the humidity level in the enclosure?

[craig.a.c]

How big is the snake?

[Mase]

hot end 32
cool end 26
feb hached MD
snake roughly 45 cms
enclosure 45 cms x 30 x 35

[Mase]

sorry humidy unknown

[shelby]

If ours feel dry we send them for a swim in some luke warm water, a little warmer than room temp. It helps with dehydration and sheding. Some snakes like it but others don't. so you might want to use something with a lid

[craig.a.c]

As shelby said, you could give it a bath in some warm water. Make sure the water isn't to deep and there is something in it so it can keep its head out of the water.

[Mase]

could it be anything to do with sheeding ?

[serpenttongue]

G'day Mase,

I think you've got the temps too high for such a small enclosure. I can't even believe you've got a thermal gradient at all, using a cage with such small dimensions (your dimensions are in cm's, right?). You're drying out your snake. Hatchlings are very sensitive to temperatures and can perish quickly if kept too warm, without consideration for humidity. I personally wouldn't keep a hatchling at temps of 32'C unless the enclosure was long enough to ensure a cool end at all times. Drop it down to 29'C. Snakes can function and avoid illness just as easy at 28-29 as they can 32'C.

And yes, overhandling will stress out snakes, particularly hatchlings.

Hope i haven't sounded like a harsh prat :wink:

Good luck with it!!

[Mase]

ok ive just changed the ligfht bulb back to the 60 watter but i dont think it will heat the enclousre to the temp required .. its a reptile one enclosure the sides and tops are vented ... highly ventilated. i had a larger bulb in there cause the smaller 1 wouldntr get it to reach the required temp

[serpenttongue]

Perhaps cover some of the ventilated areas to help keep the heat in.

[shelby]

We keep some of our juves in an aqua one small enclosure, we have a towel folded across part of the top, and keep a terracotta pot near the heater so it stays warm, but the other side stays quite cool, it gives them a choice.

[NinaPeas]

If you snake is cold, it will sit under the light, but if it's hot, it will try and find somewhere cool. I dont keep my snakes thermostatically controlled, I let them make up their own minds if they are hot or cold.