Fluffy's staying on the cool side-alot!

[Snakewife]

My ball, Fluffy, seems to be staying on the cool side of his tank almost all of the time. ??? He ate normal this week. but I noticed that his last bowel movement started firm, then became very soft. this was about two weeks ago. His last shed was not very good either. :-[ Even though I misted him and watched the humidity, it still came off in pieces. I did notice that he was in his warm hide this morning, but this is the first time I've seen him in it in a few days.
Could something be wrong, or am I just being paranoid?

I know I get paranoid at every little thing that seems out of the ordinary, because I almost lost him when he was a little, (and because he was my first baby!) but thanks to a good vet, and Fluffy's determination, he made it.

Also, I have a large python(4.5 ft.), who has been fine since I got her-about 9 months ago. (she was a rescue who had been attacked by rats left in the cage, but she has healed fairly well-minus the end of her tail, and a few scars.) but every once in a while, she will wrap around or next to something (water bowl or hide box, and part of her body will be upside down. and she will just stay that way, even if i "tickle" her belly. but if I purposely lay her with part of her body upside down, she will turn it over upright. is this just a lazy snake or should I worry?

Anyone with any suggestions, please let me know. ???

[mltc78]

Re: Fluffy's staying on the cool side-alot!

I wouldn't worry about them. I personally don't have any pythons, but my boa will occasionally do things "out of the ordinary" as well. I used to get paraniod too, but have just learned to not worry so much

[Snakewife]

Re: Fluffy's staying on the cool side-alot!

Ya, I checked everybody last nite, and they all seemed fine. Fluffy's back in his heated hide. so I'll just keep an eye on them for a while. I'm just really concerned about that BID, especially since my kids were around other snakes and then we brought a new one home(though still in quarentine). And I've just recently started letting all of the pythons interact. (quarentined the 2 rescues for about 8 months) then that weird Stubby started sleeping half upside down periodically. but otherwise everything seems to be fine, he eats good and he is my finicky eater. so I'm sure I'm just overly protective. (obsesive s26.gif )
Lisa

[mltc78]

Re: Fluffy's staying on the cool side-alot!

Yeah, I can see how you'd be worried about that IBD, that's some bad stuff. Well, it sounds like all is well for now, hope things stay that way for ya.

[LORI]

Re: Fluffy's staying on the cool side-alot!

Ok first off. What are the temps and humidity in the cage ?
Also most snakes if their temps are a bit on the high side will go and stay at the cooler end of the cage. It's like a "clue" they give off at times that the temps are too high for their liking.
Also. This is a ball python. I have noticed on my ball pythons that they will spend more time on the cooler side of the cage from about November through April. They also will go off of their normal feeding schedule during this time also possibly.

As far as the other snake.. is it a ball python or what type pof python ? If it is a ball python.. take into consideration that ball pythons are the snakes that are used by some to check if other snakes have IBD due to their rapid decline from IBD than other snakes such as boas. There also are many other symptoms for IBD other than the upside down lieing. BTW.. That is really when they can NOT right themselves at all that it gets related to IBD. From what you say about that snake.. i wouldn't go jumping to IBD myself at all. I would however think that I had a snake that acts weird at times though. I had a childrens / spotted that would just lie there with half her body upside down just for the chance of doing that. I used to freak when she first started doing it also. lol.

[Snakewife]

Re: Fluffy's staying on the cool side-alot!

I have decided that these snakes are just becoming weird! Now Fluffy is acting just fine. ;D He is going back and forth in the cool/warm. I have double checked the temp. and humidity. the humidity was a bit low, so I am watching that, but other than that, he's doing well. (He will eat like a pig if I let him!) As for stubby, when I turn him over, he does right himself, so I have come to the conclusion that he is just too lazy to move sometimes. his temp and humid. are perfect. and he is eating well. My concern came when I brought home the new bci. The children and husband have a hard time understanding what quarentine really means. s3.gif And it seemed like they all started acting weird about a week or so after the bci came home. And quite a few of the big snakes at the serpentarium (where I got the bci) looked like they had a ri, so I was kind of on high alert. And with this many snakes, the thought of a disease is frightening s35.gif especially because I have two BP's to a tank (And my daughter gets a kick out of taking all 4 snakes swimming in the bathtub with her! cwm12.gif-she kinda beats to her own drum). But I'm trying not to worry so much, and to stress the dangers of not quarentining the new snake to the husband s3.gif
Hopefully, when I figure out how to scan and post pictures, I can put a picture of them all on the forum.

Lisa

[diablo]

Re: Fluffy's staying on the cool side-alot!

My ball, Fluffy, seems to be staying on the cool side of his tank almost all of the time.  ??? He ate normal this week.  but I noticed that his last bowel movement started firm, then became very soft.  this was about two weeks ago.  His last shed was not very good either.  :-[ Even though I misted him and watched the humidity, it still came off in pieces.  I did notice that he was in his warm hide this morning, but this is the first time I've seen him in it in a few days.  
Could something be wrong, or am I just being paranoid?

I know I get paranoid at every little thing that seems out of the ordinary, because I almost lost him when he was a little, (and because he was my first baby!) but thanks to a good vet, and Fluffy's determination, he made it.  

Also, I have a large python(4.5 ft.), who has been fine since I got her-about 9 months ago.  (she was a rescue who had been attacked by rats left in the cage, but she has healed fairly well-minus the end of her tail, and a few scars.)  but every once in a while, she will wrap around or next to something (water bowl or hide box, and part of her body will be upside down.  and she will just stay that way, even if i "tickle" her belly.  but if I purposely lay her with part of her body upside down, she will turn it over upright.  is this just a lazy snake or should I worry?

Anyone with any suggestions, please let me know.   ???

well ball pythons nead a basking spot around 90 degrees and if you have it over 90 my ball goes to the cool side so you might want to check the tempeture and if its over 90 try dropping it to 88 and see what he does...good luck!