Diamond python kept outdoors normal behaviour??

[angophora]

Hi guys,
I have a 3 yo female diamond python which I house in a large outdoor enclosure. I have only had her since February. She ate well, climbed her branches and explored all day, and seemed very happy in her home. I have had no idea what to expect regarding her behaviour coming into winter, as I have found very little info on diamonds kept outside. She stopped eating at the end of April but has been still quite active up until recently. Lately she has been spending most of her time on the bottom of the cage, in and out of her water bowl but still quite active. The last few days she has just stopped in her tracks and not moved at all. She has 2 hides - one up high off her branches, and one on the floor of the cage, neither of which she has ever had any interest in. At the moment, she is just lying on the bottom of the cage and I'm not sure whether to move her somewhere a bit less exposed or let her sleep where she is. I don't handle her much, so I am worried my interference will only stress her and do more harm than good. I live on the northern beaches of sydney by the way, where these beautiful snakes naturally occur. Do you think she is ok??

 

[D3pro]

Does she get direct sunlight? It might be an idea to place a rock in the enclosure (a largish rock) to act as a basking spot. Rocks will hold heat for longer and help her warm up, snakes often use rocks in the wild as basking spots. Just an idea.

She might be in shed too.

 

[angophora]

Thanks for that. I have lined part of the bottom of the cage with bush rock flagging and the other side has her large water dish, native grass and a few decking boards (I used to be a landscaper - I can't help myself!) She is lying partly on the grass and on the decking. She is only getting a few hours of direct sunlight per day at the moment with the sun still low in the sky. Hey skin is still quite shiny and her eyes are still very black.

 

[Chris1]

does she have a good shelter?
most people provide well insulated foam hide boxes for outdoor snakes thruout winter, the wild ones wouldnt let themselves be exposed to the full chill either....they would be in cracks and crevices and come out to warm thru in the morning sun.

i moved my diamonds indoors around at the start of june cos the aviary was down to a few hours of decent sun, it was no longer enough to warm them thru.

 

[Jackrabbit]

I'd love to see your enclosure for her.

 

[angophora]

I bought it off a bloke who had it made for his diamonds. It's got shelter over half of it but is open on the other part - where she is lying. I'll have to take some pics over the weekend. So I still don't know weather to leave her move her. She does have hides, but like I said, she has never ventured inside either of them. I am thinking she isn't warming through either due to limited sun exposure, but I thought it would be ok because she would probably brumate anyway?? Would she stress too much if I brought her inside now?

 

[Chris1]

from what i keep reading/hearing, even during brumation they still need to be able to warm thru to 28-30C when they want to, otherwise you risk respritory infections, (and probably a bunch of other things due to their immune system not being able to function to its fullest potential)

im just following what ive heard, but they still need cold cold nights, so mine are in a room with the windows fully open to get them as cool as possible at night,..

is there any way you can hook up some heat for her in her outdoor cage if youre worried about moving her, jsut to supplement her heat for a few hours a day?

 

[angophora]

Yeah, I think I will look at doing that. Given it's exposed to the elements, do you think an outdoor spotlight would do the job?

 

[Chris1]

it would do the job, but make sure the snake cant physically touch the light, (light cage if its in the enclosure, or jsut have it beaming in from outside the mesh) theyre not smart enough to avoid getting burnt.

youre aiming for a basking spot between 28 and 30C.

 

[Cockney_Red]

Get her out and check her! All the rain we've had lately and she's not using her hides, would suggest, you her have set up wrong! If you cant give her full winter exposure to the sun, bring her inside! I myself gave up on putting mine in aviaries, because I could not get a year round balance of temps anywhere on my land...you need to get her inside, and properly plan your outside enclosure for the warm weather.....

 

[angophora]

Ok I'll try to set it up from the outside so the heat comes through the mesh. Mmmm, logistics will be tricky getting power down there but I really want to do the right thing. Sounds like a job for an electrician. Thank you so much for your help. I have had eastern long neck turtles outside for years and they are as happy as. I keep beardies inside who are also no trouble, but I am finding my diamond a little challenging. Its my first winter with her and I am very nervous!!

 

[Cockney_Red]

Mate, if she's been laying in the rain and 2degree temps. dont be thinking about next week, get her out now and make sure she's OK!!!

 

[angophora]

She was happy as when the weather was warmer. As I mentioned, I have found very little info on what to expect as the weather cools naturally, not induced indoors. As these pythons are found in this area I figured she would be ok and the fella I bought her off seemed to think it would not be a problem. You are right though, full winter sun is a problem for me. Do you think the supplement heating outside through the day would not work?

 

[Chris1]

how about running a heat cord or something then? just a massive extension cord and make sure where they plug into each other cant get wet?

otherwise bring her indoors till it starts warming up, im sure she wont mind, actually its probably the better idea!
i still stick mine out on sunny weekends just for the day, and bring them back in when the sun goes,..(my aviary gets full but weak sun from about 12 till 4 at this time of year)

i love having indoor and outdoor enclosures, even in summer i also bring them in on days over 35, too much heat is bad for dimonds.

 

[angophora]

Sounds like a plan. I'll bring her in. It's the simplest option. Looks like my mother in law won't be visiting for a while!!! Thanks guys, I really appreciate your input.