snake:enclosure ratio

[martyn_tann]

hey everyone.

theres been a few topics in the past about snake size to suit what enclosure. i find browsing through the forums gives ample infor on just about anything. but with this i'm getting confused lol.
my carpet is only about 80cm long. shes only young and i've just built her a 1.7m long by .7m square enclosure. she hasn't easten in about 2 or so months. i jst put it down to winter. temps are about 15 - 30, hottest between heat lamp and matt. (lampp on between 11am and 2pm).
am i doing anything wrong or is she just been stobourne... lol
any advice would be great
thanx
Martyn

[deathinfire]

try feeding her in a smaller tub, like a seperate 30-50L tub, if she doesnt feed straight away, just leavethe food item in there with her over night, and make sure that you keep one side of the feed tank warm (heatmatt works well for me ).

IMO a 1.7 (6ftish tank ) for a 80cm python is MASSIVE

[martyn_tann]

lol, yeh it is pritty big... thanx. i'll try that...

[Pythoninfinite]

I would definitely downsize your enclosure for an 80cm snake. Small snakes only have small body mass and they cool very quickly when they leave the heat source. If they get cold enough they don't have the energy to move back into the warm zone, they also can feel very exposed in a large cage, and stress and incorrect temps are a major factor in refusal to feed.
That is one reason why breeders keep their snakes (hatchies) in small tubs until they grow out a bit, and even then only move them up to a size or two bigger. I wouldn't consider putting a carpet into a cage the size of yours until at least 2 years old and well over a metre long. Then they're much more confident, and their bodies are large enough to hold the heat for longer periods.

There seems to be a sentiment that the more room a snake has, at any age, the better. That is simply not true. The only reason snakes move much at all is to feed, bask and find a mate. If they can do all that in a fairly small space, they are quite happy to. Snakes which cover large distances are generally males during the breeding season, and only at that time.

Even if you put your snake into a tub inside the cage he currently occupies, and manage the temps appropriately, you should get a better response in a few days.

Jamie.

[Jason]

i agree, the snake is very small for an enclosure that size, as the snake will loose its body eat very fast if not in the warm spot,i have a 4 ft MD in a 4x2x2 it only went in last week and only because i needed it in there, i still think that mine shouldnt be in something that large yet.

[martyn_tann]

she used to be in a 6 foot aquarium. by about 1.5 square... she ate and was fine in that... but glass is a bit cold and i wanted to build a new one... gess i did a bit of an overkill lol.

[junglepython2]

how many hides does she have?

[martyn_tann]

she has a small log which is partually ova the heat matt. shes often n that. not alwas on the heat side. quite a fair bit she right over in the cold area. so i don't realy get it... she lies along the back top where the flourescent light is. sitting on top often fully streached out... sometimes i get the impression shes trying to get away from the heat. can u have two much lilght? a 4 foot flourescent, 100W sunglow on timer n a heat matt 24/7

[junglepython2]

if u are concerned use some fake plants to shade some areas, and add another hide or two in different spots to give her some more choice.

I have a pair of jungles of a similar size in an even larger cage and they do just fine

[junglepython2]

She is most likely not eating due to the lamp only being on for 3 hrs a day, wait till you bring in the summer temps/hours and she should start eating. As long as she hasnt lost to much condition and isnt looking stressed she should be fine.

[martyn_tann]

she hasn't lost any body condition... shes still frindly to me. how exaclty can u tell if thers stressed?

[junglepython2]

will generally lose condition and may become snappy and stay to one part of the cage. she sounds fine to me, wouldnt worry about her at the moment.

[elapid68]

Originally Posted by martyn_tann

she used to be in a 6 foot aquarium. by about 1.5 square... she ate and was fine in that... but glass is a bit cold and i wanted to build a new one... gess i did a bit of an overkill lol.

BIT of an over kill????
I've got a enclosure around that size and the critter inside is slightly bigger than 80cm, he's like...... 11foot long, and he seems as happy as a pig in ****.
I agree, whack the little fella into a smaller enclosure, the one you've got seems a little on the excessive side IMO