Spotted Python Help

[jaisy]

Hi
I'm just after some advice please.
I have a 4 month old spotted python and it looks like his scales are starting to lift along his sides.
I have had this problem before and took him straight to the vet. The vet told me he thought he had legions caused from over heating. He gave me a cream to put him for a week and then he had a prematrue shed and he looked to be ok. The same thing is now occuring.
My set up is a 900 x 400 vivarium with glass front. I have a thermometer/hygrometer combo. Have the temp probe at the warm end and the hygrometer probe in the middle of the tank. It also has the thermometer in the unit which takes the air temp in tank. I have a heat mat which is stuck to the bottom of the vivarium and this is on a thermostat. I have also installed a basking light at the warm end which the vet recommended. The basking lamp is on a timer. I have it running for half an hour on and half an hour off and the temp doesnt reach over 34C. (Not sure if this is the correct thing to do or not so would really appreciate advice on that too.)
Heat mat thermostat is set at 34C. The air temp in tank sits around 30C. The humidity sits around 50C. The temp at the cold end is about 26C.
I am wondering if I am doing something wrong with his environment.
He looks kind of milky again like he is going to shed but he only shed 10 days ago. I am wondering if there is not enough humidity in the tank and I need a bigger water bowl.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am a first time snake owner and want the best for my snake!
Thanks in Advance
Jai

 

[JAS101]

Hi
I'm just after some advice please.
I have a 4 month old spotted python and it looks like his scales are starting to lift along his sides.
I have had this problem before and took him straight to the vet. The vet told me he thought he had legions caused from over heating. He gave me a cream to put him for a week and then he had a prematrue shed and he looked to be ok. The same thing is now occuring.
My set up is a 900 x 400 vivarium with glass front. I have a thermometer/hygrometer combo. Have the temp probe at the warm end and the hygrometer probe in the middle of the tank. It also has the thermometer in the unit which takes the air temp in tank. I have a heat mat which is stuck to the bottom of the vivarium and this is on a thermostat. I have also installed a basking light at the warm end which the vet recommended. The basking lamp is on a timer. I have it running for half an hour on and half an hour off and the temp doesnt reach over 34C. (Not sure if this is the correct thing to do or not so would really appreciate advice on that too.)
Heat mat thermostat is set at 34C. The air temp in tank sits around 30C. The humidity sits around 50C. The temp at the cold end is about 26C.
I am wondering if I am doing something wrong with his environment.
He looks kind of milky again like he is going to shed but he only shed 10 days ago. I am wondering if there is not enough humidity in the tank and I need a bigger water bowl.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am a first time snake owner and want the best for my snake!
Thanks in Advance
Jai

ok the following is just my opinion :
Why is a 4 month old spotted in such a large enclosure - wouldnt a click clack be better for it .
I dont think there is a need to run a heatmat and a basking light , is the basking light on a thermostat - or just a timer ?
I think 34c for a spotted is a little high , i keep mine at 29-31c .
what kind of substrate / flooring are you using ?

 

[Allies_snakes]

Do you have a substrate (newspaper, breeders choice, marine carpet etc) on the floor of the enclosure. He could possible be getting burnt if not? Also, does the basking light have a cage/protector on it? He could be wrapping around that and getting burnt. He will shed if from shock if he has been burnt, regardless of how long ago he shed.

 

[smegalreptileboy]

don't let the snake touch the heat mat it will burn him

 

[jaisy]

Thanks for all of the replies

Yes, I use a substrate. It's the Reptile One desert sand.
There is also a cage around the basking light.
The basking light is on a timer only.
We bought the enclosure and snake etc at the same time. I guess that is why he is in such a large enclosure. He has logs etc and also a hide on either end of the enclosure. They are small hides, appopriate for his size. Do you think I need to partition off the enclosure maybe?
Unfortunately the pet shop where we got him from doesn't seem to have much knowledge about how to keep them.
Maybe I will drop to the temp and see how he goes.
Thanks so much for the advice, if there is anyone else that might have some ideas please feel free to tell me.
It's also nice not to be critisized for asking questions.
Thanks

 

[neo1530]

buy the book keeping and breeding australian pythons.

jason

 

[tomc1992]

nice jason funny how u happen to be advertising 2 of them ahah

 

[neo1530]

lol well you gotta keep it moving, and not only that it is awsom book

jason

 

[JAS101]

Thanks for all of the replies

Yes, I use a substrate. It's the Reptile One desert sand. how thick is the substrate , as it might be too thick for the heat mat to work right .
There is also a cage around the basking light. good , but make sure the snakes head is bigger then the wire /gaps . as it could squeeze through and cook its self .
The basking light is on a timer only. any basking light really needs a thermostate [ just to be on the safe side]
We bought the enclosure and snake etc at the same time. I guess that is why he is in such a large enclosure. He has logs etc and also a hide on either end of the enclosure. They are small hides, appopriate for his size. Do you think I need to partition off the enclosure maybe? if the snake is happy with the large enclosure then it could be left as is , but normally they like a small enclosure .
Unfortunately the pet shop where we got him from doesn't seem to have much knowledge about how to keep them. a great book is keeping and breeding australian pythons
Maybe I will drop to the temp and see how he goes.
Thanks so much for the advice, if there is anyone else that might have some ideas please feel free to tell me.
It's also nice not to be critisized for asking questions.
Thanks

all answers are in red

 

[pythonmum]

Are you only measuring air temperature, or do you have a heat gun to measure surface temps? Sand holds heat really well and you may find that the sand is a lot warmer than the air. Although I don't use sand, the surfaces in my enclosures may be10 - 20C warmer than the air (thermometer hanging on the side of the enclosure vs heat gun temps). If this is the case, it may be causing the lifting.

You shouldn't need too much humidity for a spotted. As long as there is a decent sized water bowl, it will be fine. If concerned about moisture, you could offer a hide with damp newspaper or sphagnum moss in it. The snake can choose to sue it or not.

For online advice, try the 'Doc Rock' articles on the southern cross website. He gives lots of information about setting up enclosures and interpreting your snake's body language, etc.

 

[Amby_Purr]

I can only possibly advise that the heat mat may be set too high (I set mine between 29-30) and he may be stressed from the large surrounding. other than that, I think the other posts on here are probably more helpful hehe good luck!

 

[monster]

i agree 34 c is too high. i think he is getting burnt. you dont really need a basking light its a little excessive. i agree with allies_snakes i think if you dont have a cage/protector on the light than because they love high places the most probable answer is he is wrapping himself around it and getting burnt! i would remove it. my spotted is about 5 or 6 months and is doing fine without one.