stencorp69
Well-Known Member
While I was away on holidays (4 weeks) one of my male Stimsons became ill and I'm after some comments on my setup to see where I need to make changes to try to prevent it happening again. The condition appears to be a respiratory infection and scale rot - Vet will confirm this tomorrow - which from the books I've read indicate excessive cold or humidity and poor sanitory conditions. I've included as much detail about the setup as I can and anything that I think is relavant.
Setup
5 stimsons (2m 3F) housed in the same cage together
Cage size 1200W X 1000H X 500D, on wheels, front glass doors, sides made of MDF, 2 X 100 vents half way up cage back. Cage located inside, in a carpeted room by a window.
Dual Fluro lighting
Heat is supplied by an incadesance red reflector light from the cage roof and connected to a thermostat located in between the two vents in the middle of the cage back panel. The thermostat was set to 29C and is timed for 12hours 6AM-6PM a day all year. The temperature gradient was 25C to 29C.
I since increased the temperature to 31C and added a heat rock which is on permanently.
Up until a month ago (just prior to going on holidays) I used crushed walnut shells as a substrate but after some advice regarding its potential to cause illness if injested I changed to breeders choice. During the change over I completely disinfected the cage and all bowls and hides. I regularly (fortnightly) disinfect the water bowls and hides and weekly changed the water. I daily or at the most every second day remove the defecation.
The water bowl is not excessive 300MM X 150MM and there are plenty of hides.
Observations
The male in questions has not eaten since puchased at the end of August and appears to be about to shed (milky eyes)
One of the females purchased at the same time and housed in the same enclosure has not eaten either but has no signs of scale rot or breathing difficulties - she is a young python and has just shed her skin.
The other three Stimson are feeding really well and eating well and putting on weight and show no signs of illness.
Any advice would be appreciated
Sten
Setup
5 stimsons (2m 3F) housed in the same cage together
Cage size 1200W X 1000H X 500D, on wheels, front glass doors, sides made of MDF, 2 X 100 vents half way up cage back. Cage located inside, in a carpeted room by a window.
Dual Fluro lighting
Heat is supplied by an incadesance red reflector light from the cage roof and connected to a thermostat located in between the two vents in the middle of the cage back panel. The thermostat was set to 29C and is timed for 12hours 6AM-6PM a day all year. The temperature gradient was 25C to 29C.
I since increased the temperature to 31C and added a heat rock which is on permanently.
Up until a month ago (just prior to going on holidays) I used crushed walnut shells as a substrate but after some advice regarding its potential to cause illness if injested I changed to breeders choice. During the change over I completely disinfected the cage and all bowls and hides. I regularly (fortnightly) disinfect the water bowls and hides and weekly changed the water. I daily or at the most every second day remove the defecation.
The water bowl is not excessive 300MM X 150MM and there are plenty of hides.
Observations
The male in questions has not eaten since puchased at the end of August and appears to be about to shed (milky eyes)
One of the females purchased at the same time and housed in the same enclosure has not eaten either but has no signs of scale rot or breathing difficulties - she is a young python and has just shed her skin.
The other three Stimson are feeding really well and eating well and putting on weight and show no signs of illness.
Any advice would be appreciated
Sten