She hasn't read the book!

[sarah_m]

We are currently cooling our 16month old diamond python for the first time, according to the info in Breeding Australian pythons.
We have swapped her from a heat mat under a click clack to a reflective globe with dimmer above a platform in a 30x30x45cm reptile one terrarium.

We have it so that it comes on in the morning at 8am and stays on until 12 and then she has no further heat until the next morning. The temp on the ground is around 16 in the morning when light first comes on and gets to 30-31 on the platform, is 20-23 on the ground while the light is on, before cooling once the light goes off.

But it seems that she hasn't read the book that says she is meant to bask for the 4 hours while the lamps are on, before returning to her hide to conserve heat until it is time to bask again!
She stays curled up in her house during the day and comes out to explore at night, well after the heat has turned off. She isn't basking at all!

Is this something I should be worried about?
This is our first time cooling a diamond and I know they are a cold tolerant species, but I am concerned because she is small and I am worried about her getting RI or something.
Any advice and/or reassurance is appreciated!

Sorry about the novel

 

[JAS101]

is there a hide in the basking area?
mine are allways under there slate rock hide during the day [ they only get day heat] then at night they are at there most active.

 

[sarah_m]

No, it is a tall tank, heat lamp up the top, hide on the bottom. The floor temp inside the hide is 20.4 now. The hide is a plastic one I got from the Slitherin stand at Sydney expo.

 

[Minka]

Is there any reason your cooling your small 16 month old Diamond?

 

[sarah_m]

Is there any reason your cooling your small 16 month old Diamond?

I wasn't going to but she seemed to be off her food anyway and in the book it talks about cooling juveniles during their 2nd winter to get them used to going without food

 

[JAS101]

is there anyway u culd put a hide [ even a box] up near the heat light ? just to see if the snake would use it .

 

[sarah_m]

Will have to adjust the platform but should be able to.
Will try it and let you know how it goes.
Thanks

 

[Kenshin]

yea an aboreal hide sounds like it might be the go she must just be shy especially in an enclosure where every wall is glass....

 

[sarah_m]

yea an aboreal hide sounds like it might be the go she must just be shy especially in an enclosure where every wall is glass....

Her previous tank had all clear sides aswell and she was always out in the open. Maybe she will just take some time to get used to the new tank

 

[raycarpetpython]

mate try those hanging pots from bunnings. I can't take credit for the original idea, but both my snakes love them, especially cause of the colder weather now. It will cost u about 6 bucks depending on the size of your snake. I just position them high up in the enclosure with them right near the heat globe, but not directly under it. It's good because they are removable as well, so when you want to get your snake out there is no messing about.

 

[Fantazmic]

that is sooo cute...I need a pic... I have this vision of a snake peeking out over the top of the hanging pot spying from up high !!