Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a female baby ball last week from a very reputable reptile store. I was told that all I needed to heat the tank is a heating pad, so I bought that. After a few days, I wondered why my snake never hung out on the side of the tank where the pad was underneath. I felt the glass and it was burning hot. I picked up my snake and she was ice cold! After a call to the store, new heating pad, and finally lifting the tank up on pieces of cardboard, the glass seemed to be an acceptable heat. However, my snake still doesn't like going on that side of the tank and she feels rather cool to the touch.

Should I be worried? Does a healthy snake feel cold, warm, or hot? I feel really silly in not knowing this but I've never had a reptile before so I have no prior experience to go on. Thanks to anyone who can help me out.

get thermometers, a thermostat for your heat pad, and most importantly get a TEMP GUN!!! it allows you to spot check surface temps very quickly, and you can check your snake's temp to see if it's thermoregulating the way it should be.

check out www.proexotics.com as a place to start looking at temp guns. this is NOT an ad, but they have a reliable, inexpensive model.

it's worth the price to keep your ball healthy. do it!!!!

bc

...for the most part a BP will feel neutral to slightly warm. The preferred body temp is usually in the mid to upper 80's so at first touch you'll detect the warmth but as you handle the snake it becomes less obvious.
Your snake will tell you what it likes as to temp by its behavior-in this case he's telling you it's still a bit too warm over the pad. But don't guess-get a thermometer. A temp of low to mid 90's over the pad is good. The snake will do the rest.
Good luck. Scott J. Michaels DVM