Pre-shed soaking?

[Norm66]

I've got thermometers on the floor on both sides. The warm side has, at its highest point been to 92 (per the min/max function). It's surely hotter up on the perch closer to the lights of course but I though the temp should be taken at the substrate. I know carpets have no real humidity needs, but my house is heated by forced air and gets really, really dry so I've been keeping it up between 50% and 60% since he's been in his water bowl. Before I was getting it up to 70% and letting it drop down to 30% or so to keep nasties from growing.

Could mites have not been in evidence but 3 weeks later hatched (or whatever mites do)?

And if I'm to check for mites in the water and he's still in the water do I break my 'hands-off until he eats' thing to check? Hopefully I'll get home today and he'll be obviously in blue or maybe mid-shed or something.

Thanks again for the input.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Norm66

I've got thermometers on the floor on both sides. The warm side has, at its highest point been to 92 (per the min/max function). It's surely hotter up on the perch closer to the lights of course but I though the temp should be taken at the substrate. I know carpets have no real humidity needs, but my house is heated by forced air and gets really, really dry so I've been keeping it up between 50% and 60% since he's been in his water bowl. Before I was getting it up to 70% and letting it drop down to 30% or so to keep nasties from growing.

Could mites have not been in evidence but 3 weeks later hatched (or whatever mites do)?

And if I'm to check for mites in the water and he's still in the water do I break my 'hands-off until he eats' thing to check? Hopefully I'll get home today and he'll be obviously in blue or maybe mid-shed or something.

Thanks again for the input.

i would break your not handling rule to make sure there are no mites present,mites can cause a snake stress to the point of not eating and defensive biting.it would be good to rule them out

The Life History of Snake Mites | Vida Preciosa International, Inc.

my carpets are at uk room humidity ,which is 40 to 60 % and have no issues

my basking spots are 86f to 90f

it may be a case of a carpet that likes a soak

if you find any full stop sized dots in the water or on the snake,squish them between your finger tips and you will see blood (the way i identify mites)

all the best shaun