Several questions about Stimson's Pythons

[Colin41]

I do not wish to a nuisance as I have posted before about other matters. I have a Stimson's Python which will be 1 year in January. It is 57cms long and weighs 51.5 grms. Three weeks ago I started feeding her on weaner mice, which she was able to take. Previously I had been feeding her large pinkies. Anyway, she seemed to get quite fat near to the tail opening and had not crapped for a couple of weeks. I took her to the vet today and apparently my snake was constipated. The vet expressed some of her waste which was quite dry, suggesting that my snake was also de hydrated. I should say that I did not feed her last week and was advised not to feed her this week but keep an eye on her in case she required more expression of her stools. The vet gave her a hydration injection.
I was also advised to go back to large pinkies for now until things settle down.
I realise that today I had a good chance to ask the vet questions but only thought of some when I arrived back home (isn't that always the way? My questions are as follows:
I am going to change the heat mat for a ceramic heater. What wattage should I use? My enclosure is of glass with a mesh top and ventilation side panel. It measures 60cms(H) x 40cms(D) x 90cms(L).
Am I best to have my ceramic heat source inside the enclosure, but with a mesh cover, or on top?
I change her water every couple of days. Am I best using tap water or distilled water?
Any help you can provide would be most gratefully received.

 

[Susannah]

Why change from a heat mat to the ceramic heater?
Maybe just make sure the heat mat is on a thermostat and have it under only 1/3 of the enclosure. Have one hide in the warm, one hide in the cool side... a big water bowl and something to climb on.
I just use tap water. And a spray bottle to increase the humidity a bit when things get a bit dry too.

I'm not an expert on the feeding, but I'm so sorry to hear that your little guy is constipated. I have heard (again, not an expert!) that it's best to try and space out the feeds as much as possible. So, go a big feed, less often. Maybe try hoppers? He's over 50g, so should be able to take one.

 

[Colin41]

Why change from a heat mat to the ceramic heater?
Maybe just make sure the heat mat is on a thermostat and have it under only 1/3 of the enclosure. Have one hide in the warm, one hide in the cool side... a big water bowl and something to climb on.
I just use tap water. And a spray bottle to increase the humidity a bit when things get a bit dry too.

I'm not an expert on the feeding, but I'm so sorry to hear that your little guy is constipated. I have heard (again, not an expert!) that it's best to try and space out the feeds as much as possible. So, go a big feed, less often. Maybe try hoppers? He's over 50g, so should be able to take one.

Many thanks Susannah. I took my Stimmy to a vet specialising in unusual pets and he said that in his opinion he would use a ceramic heater from above and do away with the heat mat as it is better for the snake.
He also advised that the size of the snake would be OK to put it into my glas and mesh enclosure. Mine is 90cms x 45cms x 60cms. If I do put the ceramic heatre into the enclosure, what wattage would I best best off using. I have read lots of things, and have read the books, 'Australian Pythons' and 'A guide to Australian pythons in captivity', neither of which goes into the subject in any useful depth.
Also, in the meantime, over the past three days, since seeing the vet, I have bathed my little girl in warm water (about 30 degrees), and she seems to have taken to it OK.

 

[Vixen.]

Heat mat with thermostat is best for pythons. Covering 1/3rd of glass enclosure run through thermostat. I have a yearling ghost childreni and my glass tank is a 90cm long x 45cm deep x 60cm high and he went in there at 10months old and been happy as. Feeding weaners once week. Change water every 2 days. Has hot hide, cold hide lots of fake foliage and a fake hanging plant (which he loves having out in during warm days). Coco fibre substrate which he loves to push out from hot hide and curls up straight on the glass.
After researching for years about all different pythons, particularly the anteresia's and what they need/works best I was steered away from heat lights to either heat mats or heat cord as more stable temps, happier snakes and bonus points of longer life on products(lights bulbs blow all the time) and cheaper power usage.
Look if you want to go heat lamp you can do whatever you want but do your research and decide what works best for you. Hundreds of opinions out there and as much as I respect a vets opinion unless they have kept snakes themselves I'm sorry but I believe and value successful breeders opinions over decades of snake keeping more.

Heat lamp can go in (so long as in mesh cage to keep your little one from cuddling it and burning him/herself) or on top. Obviously being 60cm above will need alot of wattage to generate enough heat to warm where your noodle wants to be, which is on ground. Make sure it doesn't heat entire enclosure though! They must have a gradient and be able to cool off if they want.

Oh I also know that there's an old wives tale that is widely believed that heat mats/cords can 'cook' the poo in your snake and make them constipated... not true. Mentioning because perhaps vet believes it having not kept snakes themselves... only reason I can think they'd say lamp better for snake than mat...

 

[Colin41]

Heat mat with thermostat is best for pythons. Covering 1/3rd of glass enclosure run through thermostat. I have a yearling ghost childreni and my glass tank is a 90cm long x 45cm deep x 60cm high and he went in there at 10months old and been happy as. Feeding weaners once week. Change water every 2 days. Has hot hide, cold hide lots of fake foliage and a fake hanging plant (which he loves having out in during warm days). Coco fibre substrate which he loves to push out from hot hide and curls up straight on the glass.
After researching for years about all different pythons, particularly the anteresia's and what they need/works best I was steered away from heat lights to either heat mats or heat cord as more stable temps, happier snakes and bonus points of longer life on products(lights bulbs blow all the time) and cheaper power usage.
Look if you want to go heat lamp you can do whatever you want but do your research and decide what works best for you. Hundreds of opinions out there and as much as I respect a vets opinion unless they have kept snakes themselves I'm sorry but I believe and value successful breeders opinions over decades of snake keeping more.

Heat lamp can go in (so long as in mesh cage to keep your little one from cuddling it and burning him/herself) or on top. Obviously being 60cm above will need alot of wattage to generate enough heat to warm where your noodle wants to be, which is on ground. Make sure it doesn't heat entire enclosure though! They must have a gradient and be able to cool off if they want.

Oh I also know that there's an old wives tale that is widely believed that heat mats/cords can 'cook' the poo in your snake and make them constipated... not true. Mentioning because perhaps vet believes it having not kept snakes themselves... only reason I can think they'd say lamp better for snake than mat...

Many thanks for that. What you say does make sense.