Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I changed out the substrate to sand and also got a smaller enclosure. 16 quart instead of 34. She is currently burrowing all throughout the enclosure. Lowered the temps a bit. Will try feeding in a few days.

Hey dude,

Send me an email at nasicus@hotmail.com with your phone number in it. I'll call you and talk you through this.

Dan

dan could probably give you some good info.

i re-read your original post. personally, i would not put an 8g hog that is not feeding well into an enclosure that big. i would take it out, and put it into a smaller tupperware container. i use 2.7 qt rubermaids. works great for hatchlings! 1/2" of wood chips, 80 ambient and 90 degree hot spot. couple of small plastic hides, small fresh water bowl, lights on a 16hr day timer, and good to go. not a beautiful setup, but easy to maintain. it also allows good access to them and to be able to monitor them until they are established. once it's feeding well, put it in something larger. this starter hatchling setup has worked for me for my dozen hogs....

Thanks for all that. I did move her into a smaller container and plan on attempting to feed her again tomorrow. I've given her a few days in her new container.

For what its worth, its all about the conditions of the cage, not the size. Snakes are prone to dehydration. With larger cages, they most often have lots of air space and ventilation. Which causes dehydration which effects feeding.

Those smaller plastic containers, do indeed fix that problem, but its not about the tiny box. Remember, in nature, they are not confined by any walls what so ever and they feed well.

I live in the desert and the room my hogs are in is heated and air conditioned, both make the air even dryer then normal, so for me its a constant problem.

There are many many ways to prevent dehydration. First limited air loss, that is, there is normally no need to ventilate a cage, a crack here and there, is enough, remember, these animals live IN the ground. Not in holes, but more like an earthworm. Moisture boxes in the cage. Use that plastic box in a larger cage and put moist sand in it. Or use deep substrate, which is most natural to hogs. Keep 1/3 of it moist and let the rest be fairly dry, the snake will take care of the rest.
I wish you the best of luck