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I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT MY SET UP. ALL MY BALLS ARE KEPT IN VISION CAGES WITH HEAT TAPE UNDERNEATH AND FLOURESCENT LIGHTSTRIPS ON EACH ONE. THE HOT SPOT IS HITTING THE 95 DEG MARK ON THE SURFACE AND THE COOLEST SPOT IS 75 DEG. THE HUMIDITY SEEMS TO FALL IN THE 30-50% DEPENDING ON THE DAY. DURING SHED CYCLES I DO MIST THE CAGES TO BUMP UP THE HUMIDITY. THERE ARE NICE LG DARK HIDES IN EACH CAGE. ALL MY SNAKES USED TO HANG OUT NEAR THE HEAT IN THERE HIDES AND WOULD EAT EVERY SUNDAY NO PROBLEM. RECENTLY THEY HAVE ALL FAVORED STAYING ON THE COLD SIDE OF THE CAGE AND EAT VERY SPORADICALLY. WEIGHT WISE THEY SEEM TO BE HOLDING THEIR OWN BUT THEY ARENT GROWING LIKE THEY USED TO. SHOULD I CHANGE ANY THING I AM DOING OR SHOULD I JUST CHALK IT UP TO CHANGE IN SEASONS. I AM IN SOUTH FLORIDA SO WE DONT REALLY GO THROUGH THAT MUCH CHANGE. HOW OFTEN SHOULD I OFFER FOOD. THANK YOU FOR ANY CONSTUCTIVE HELP YOU HAVE TO OFFER.

JOE

Beautiful snakes. But please don't type with caps lock on, it makes it really difficult for people to read.

This is the time of year when Balls will go off of feed, so it could be that. But I think your temps are just a little off. Depending on what size enclosure you're actually using, you've got too big of a temperature gradient and you're hot spot should be 90-92 at most. Try to bring that down a couple of degrees and bring the cool side up around 80-85. Sometimes all it takes is a little fluctuation in the temps to makes Balls get screwy. And do they have hides on each side of the cage?

yes they have hides in the cool zone as well . i will try lowering hot side and raising cool side.

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I believe your hot spot temp to be satisfactory. Anywhere in low 90's to mid 90's should be fine. In fact, The Snake Keeper keeps hot spots at 95F during the day, but drops this at night somewhat. Understand that in order for your snakes to achieve a body temp of 90F, the hot spot should be greater than 90F. My personal rule for my snakes is always less than 100 and always greater than 90. The hotter it is the faster they warm up... they'll just spend less time there.

Cooler side should ideally be low 80's if you're keeping it at one temps at all times. I keep mine from 80 to 85 during the day with a large hot spot at mid 90's. I let the night temp drop to high 70's to very low 80's.

Considering that Balls have virtually no ability to feel dangerous heat with their ventral scales, that's kind of a dangerous way to look at it. I'm a firm believer in the fact that just because it works for a major breeder doesn't mean it will work for the person with one or two animals. And there are still more keepers who stay under 92 than go over it. Just my $.02 though.