Staying down at the cool end...Anything to worry about?

[Slytherin]

Hi, I just brought my first snake home (6mth old MD), and set it up in a click clack with heat mat below, but it is only staying at the cool end. :?

I've checked the temps (31-32C at warm end and 15-16C at the cool) so its not too hot. Is this normal? There are hiding places at both ends and I've darkened off the click clack by partially covering it to help him/her get over stress. I'm only concerned as he/she was fed this afternoon (small feed of one pinky mouse so he/she would cope with the car ride better), and I've heard that they need to be warm to digest. I tried to gently guide him/her to the warm end but Snakey chose to return to the cooler end and only hissed at me when I tried again so I left him/her. I don't want to cause stress.

Would any experienced keepers know if it would harm its digestion/health if it stayed too long in the cool end? And am I worrying for nothing (just like a new parent). :lol:

Thanks for advice that would put my mind at rest

 

[waruikazi]

As long as it has access to heat i wouldn't worry at all. It is probably just cooling itself for the winter.

 

[Slytherin]

I made sure it knows where the heat source is but it chose to return to the cool end. It came from a click clack that was situated within the incubator room of my local breeder, Reptile City in SA. In there it felt all toasty warm. My room is hovering around 13-14C at the moment

 

[Renagade]

put a hide in both warm and cool areas if you have not already

 

[Dave]

Hey mate, I just got my bredli wed and she has been in the cool end aswell. I got her wed and fed her a pinkie rat and then she went to cool, I wouldn't worry about it, I have been bothering a few ppl with some Q and I just got paranoid I guess. So I'm just going to let her be and check up on her in 2 days. Mine seems to come out at nighttime and sit in the hot spot and hide so it should be ok, she probably is nervous so she is in the hide and is scared to come out. GL with her, has she tried to strike you yet? Mine has a couple times :lol:

 

[Slytherin]

Mine hasnt tried to bite but hissed very quietly once. I then decided to leave them alone.

There are plently of things to hide in at both ends, so perhaps he/she has chosen to 'cool themselves', or will move down the other end later when I'm not watching

Thanks to all who have replied so far

 

[Slytherin]

Good news, Snakey's on the move now and is on the branch up near the top exploring. So maybe he/she will go down the other end if need be.

I think he/she was waiting until all went quiet.

 

[Leezel73]

I have a 8 month old spotted and she spends about 80% of her time in her cool end (in her hide) and of a night time she comes out for a wonder for about 3 hours and then straight back into her cool hide... she has done this since we've had her (for 3 months) I'm no expert but I was told when I asked the same question that its very very very normal!!

 

[Dave]

Good news, Snakey's on the move now and is on the branch up near the top exploring. So maybe he/she will go down the other end if need be.

I think he/she was waiting until all went quiet.

haha, mine is on the move too, wrapping around her branch and going through the toilet roles etc. They prob don't feel as threatened in the night then in the day.

 

[Slytherin]

Thanks Leezel and Dave, Im feeling much better about it now. Looks like Snakey is out on a big exploring time. It's semi dark in my room and very quiet with the door closed, so he/she prob feels safe now.

As it's my first snake I've never experienced what it's like so I'm trying to find out if I'm doing things correctly. Reading lots and and doing all sorts of prepartion doesn't always help in some circumstances.

 

[Dave]

Thanks Leezel and Dave, Im feeling much better about it now. Looks like Snakey is out on a big exploring time. It's semi dark in my room and very quiet with the door closed, so he/she prob feels safe now.

As it's my first snake I've never experienced what it's like so I'm trying to find out if I'm doing things correctly. Reading lots and and doing all sorts of prepartion doesn't always help in some circumstances.

Yeah, I guess you can say I've been "bugging" the person who sold memy bredli. First snake here too. Hopefully I'll be able to fully handle her in a week or so!

 

[Slytherin]

I'm hoping the guys at Reptile City dont think Im bugging them too much, especially with dumb questions!! :lol: (I'm sure they get it a lot as reptile breeders and sellers :lol I guess you gotta start somewhere even if it means feeling a little dumb.

Its gonna be hard not handling for a while!! But as its in the best interest of Snakey, I will resist.

 

[Danni]

lol i just remembered that when i brought my MD home ( in one of those take away containers lol) I placed the container in the enclosure and let it decide when to come out, so i guess it was in a cool spot too, the next day it was in its hidey cave thingy ( another cool spot) ... it wasnt until the follwing day did i find it in the branches up by its basking lamp, and there it has stayed lol, and i think it only ate the day before i got it...
anyways glad to hear its exploring.
have fun

 

[Slytherin]

Thanks Danni.

Its probably not as 'whoosy' as I think it is and probably can tolerate a greater degree of temp difference or being cool longer.

 

[disasterpiece7.0]

I've got a jungle who is a bit like this, being a north queenslander I was a little concerned, but realistically the snake will know what it needs, if it decides it needs somewhere warmer it'll go looking.

I fed this jungle on sunday night and only saw him curled up on the cool side of the cage all week, wasn't until this arvo that I caught him getting some warmth. He hasn't regurgitated his quite sizable meal so he has obviously managed to digest it fine.

I suspect he sneaks on and off the heat while I'm at work during the day, and probably during the night too.

 

[FNQ_Snake]

haha, mine is on the move too, wrapping around her branch and going through the toilet roles etc. They prob don't feel as threatened in the night then in the day.

They are nocturnal by nature... hence more activity at night.

 

[Ramsayi]

Hi, I just brought my first snake home (6mth old MD), and set it up in a click clack with heat mat below, but it is only staying at the cool end. :?

I've checked the temps (31-32C at warm end and 15-16C at the cool) so its not too hot. Is this normal? There are hiding places at both ends and I've darkened off the click clack by partially covering it to help him/her get over stress. I'm only concerned as he/she was fed this afternoon (small feed of one pinky mouse so he/she would cope with the car ride better), and I've heard that they need to be warm to digest. I tried to gently guide him/her to the warm end but Snakey chose to return to the cooler end and only hissed at me when I tried again so I left him/her. I don't want to cause stress.

Would any experienced keepers know if it would harm its digestion/health if it stayed too long in the cool end? And am I worrying for nothing (just like a new parent). :lol:

Thanks for advice that would put my mind at rest

For juvie snakes to keep feeding strongly over the cooler months you should keep the cool side temps at least 25C.
15-16C is way too cool to keep their metabolism ticking over at a decent rate.Im surprised it is even willing to feed at that temp.

Not sure what time you are checking the temps but do yourself and your snake a favour and take a look around 6-7am as that is usually the coldest part of any day.

 

[Slytherin]

Snakey was up and about as soon as the lights went out. (Kept me up too! :lol During the night, I saw him/her sitting down at the warm end, but it spent most of its time actively exploring the branch.

Ramsayi, my little MD was fed one pinky prior to leaving the breeder so I'm not sure if the cooler temps are effecting appetite. Snakey is currently in the hide cave, (due to temps or nervousness, I don't know). The cave is in the mid section and towards the cooler end. I'm using a 13 watt heat mat and could slide it along to cover more of the floor area, but it is already covering aprox half of the tank and I'm unsure about moving it further as the instructions say not to. Its real cold in SA today and my room tends to be around 12-13C. I partially covered the click clack at night and this helped raise the temp at least 2 deg. I'll check the temps earlier in the day and see what it reads. I'll try boosting the temps a little, thanks.

 

[Dave]

Yeah, my bredli is in the hot hide, going to attempt to handle her tonight! Mine woke me up last night too, I can hear her in another room lol.

 

[dodgie]

As long as he/she has access to the correct temperatures he/she will choose where it wants to be.I would crank up the cooler end just a bit.