	AllExperts > Reptiles
	Search

About Tracie Kretzschmar
Expertise
I can answer questions pertaining to health, UVB specifics, overall husbandry care & supplementation, analysis of blood test results, and behavioral problems & handling. I can answer questions pertaining to bearded dragons, leopard geckos, iguanas, uromastyx & ball pythons. I can answer adeno virus related questions in bearded dragons, & then specifically about the testing methods as well. I am beginning an Pogona Adeno Testing Society in 2008 which will help to begin to start some standardization within the bearded dragon colonies of the breeders who choose to test.

Experience
I have been working with bearded dragons for over 5 years now, as well as leopard geckos, too. I am currently doing rescues, as well. I hope to be able to educate people prior to them purchasing an exotic pet in order to avoid any health crisis with them.

Education/Credentials
I have a master's degree in sports medicine & physiology, & 1 year of vet tech schooling, & am currently working on a reptile certification through the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council.

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Veterinary Medicine > Reptiles > my ball python wont shed (cont.)

Reptiles - my ball python wont shed (cont.)

Expert: Tracie Kretzschmar - 11/2/2009

Question
I'm back again to continue on what you were asking before. Well, stupidly enough, I had the thermometer too high in the tank, which is a ten gallon glass terrarium by the way, so I wasn't getting a bottom temperature reading. That's why she was climbing, because the top was fluctuating between 84 to 92. The humidity is fine, it hovers around 50 or so.

I did use an adhesive heating pad rated for a ten gallon tank, but the directions said that it should be side mounted because it could discolor my furniture from the heat, and since the package made it out to sound like this pad would get pretty hot and evenly distribute heat throughout the tank, i didn't know any better at the time.

I found out after trying the pad, that it didn't hardly affect the temperature, because my BP would constantly be pressed up against the glass to keep warm, (as opposed to climbing) and I don't know if i should mount it to the bottom, one, because it said removing the pad could damage the wiring which could short out (not sure if i should take stock in that, since Zoomed has successfully sold me several products that have so far proven misleading), and two, because it doesn't seem to make any difference anyways.

Right now I have a few friends, who work at a pet store I've trusted for a while, keeping her in one of their tanks to see if heat is the only problem, and to make sure there isn't something else wrong. I did have someone mention that it could be intestinal parasites or something like that causing the diarrhea and shedding problems. Do you think that's a possibility?

Answer
Hello Andrew,

Well, you could use a heating pad for now, if you want to. She really needs heating from below to help with digestion, etc.
I wouldn't mount the self adhesive undertank heater until you are ready to have her in a permanent tank, then, you can stick it on the underneath side without worrying about it damaging the tank if it is her permanent tank.
Yes, it is a possibility she could have parasites, or worms. You could try to get a fecal done on her to see if they are present. The rats that you get, are they frozen or do you buy locally? I am asking because if the rats are diseased that will pass down to her.

How is she doing today?
Let me know how she does with a different temperature, that may make a huge difference.

Tracie

Add to this Answer Ask a Question