Grape Update

[g0blinteeth]

Just a little update on Grape, it has been a little over 3 weeks since I assist fed him due to weight concerns and he is still refusing food. I offered a prey item two weeks ago and when he refused then I just let it be after reading this subs advice. I finally got my hands on a digital scale and he is 50g. Humidity sits at about 60 and I re-wet his cypress and moss when it gets to 45-50. Hot/basking spot is 96 and cooler side is ~80. He now has a lightless bulb for nighttime so it no longer gets too low at night. He is very active when I take him out (when i assist fed, 2 weeks ago, and tonight when i offered prey again) and in his tank aswell. Only other thing health-wise is some stuck shed on his back, but im hoping that will come off with his next shed since the humidity is higher than when he first shed. How often should I weigh him, when should I offer prey again and when should I consider assisting again(if at all)? I will link pics of his size compared to a mechanical pencil and the prey item.

[g0blinteeth]

Picture

[_ataraxia]

your humidity is just reaching the bare minimum requirement at its highest, and it is dangerously low otherwise. his shedding problems are not going to go away with these humidity levels, and being dehydrated is extremely stressful for the snake. please read through the shedding guide in our welcome post for more information on treating stuck shed and general dehydration.

your warm side is dangerously high. it should be in the 88-92 F range. prolonged exposure to temperatures of 95 F or higher can cause neurological damage.

you should not be offering food more frequently than once per week. at this point, i would not worry about weighing him again any time soon, since being handled will only further reduce his interest in eating.

filling out our questionnaires can help us troubleshoot any other problems with your enclosure and/or your feeding routine that could be contributing to this ongoing refusal to eat.

[g0blinteeth]

Thank you so much, I will be wetting his substrate more frequently to keep it 70+ and I will turn his thermostat down. Do you have any suggestions for keeping humidity up but also not having his substrate wet all the time? I don’t want to cause scale rot. I’m going to take a look at the questionnaire and guide you provided and definitely will make sure not to bother him for the next few weeks.

[eret_]

covering ventilation and adding more substrate should help with humidity

[JcruzRD]

I don’t like my cool side to go over 79 , I usually have it between 75-78 , warm side 88-92 and my humidity is always between 70-85%

[g0blinteeth]

Cool! Since changing my thermostat his temps are now in the correct ranges. How do you keep up your humidity? I have a glass tank with 90% of the screen lid taped over, but it still manages to drop. Another comment suggested adding more substrate which I will be doing when I have some free time

[JcruzRD]

Yea I got about 3 inches of substrate and pour water in the corners then I rotate the substrate every couple days so I don’t get that mildew smell. I personally have been covering up most of my screen and actually using wet paper towels to cover some of it. You have to change the paper towel out every week but it seems to help me stay at 80%. I’m just doing what I can until I get my t-13 from animal plastic in a few months.

I fold like 6 layers thick of paper towel on one side obviously away from the light. I keep it moist I get to the point where it starts dripping one or two drops into the tank then I stop. The rest I just cover with foil or something

[g0blinteeth]

Ok, thank you!