Eternal Hibernation ?????

Hi all this is actually johnny131313's wife......and I have a question. Our first little corn is a month and a half old, really good temperment, eating well (every 4 or 5 days...f/t pinkies).
In his viv (20gal long) there is a half log hide over the hot side, and a small climb in back
In the center...a large water dish (put it there because it was frigid all the way on the other side), and a lg. grapewood gym in back
On the cold side...one of those full hide caves with moss in it and a silk vine climb suctioned to the glass behind it (that he loves)

So I have been worried about him this last week and a half or so. I never see him. I meen we take him out every two days to handel him, except for the day of and for two days after feeding him.

So he had a schedule up untill about 7 days ago.
About an houre before dark he would stick his head out of his cave and stay that way frozen for 40 min or so, then venture around.

Now literally I never see him unless I go in and get him my self.
What worries me isnt that, it is where he is every time I find him. The cave on the cold side, and he never leaves it. I am afraide that he will not get anough heat, but I read that enclosed cave hides should never be put on the heat pad side because they can hold to much of the heat.

I can tell he is going to shead soon due to his extream dulling over the past 3 days or so........
which brings me to my second consern, when I put him back in his home I sometimes hold him over his water dish, and he will drink like crazy while still in my hand, but I have had him for a little over 3 weeks now and other then that have never seen him at his water, ever.

Should I move things around next time I wash his home?
One other thing the water dish is way big anough for a yearling or older, could this be a proublem as well, for his feeling of secutity?

Thank you for all of your help, and I can post a pic of the viv if that would help.

Don't worry, your snake is not hibernating! It's perfectly normal not to see your snake very much. If I don't handle him, I can often go several days without seeing mine.

Also, it is very common not to see the snake drink... snakes are secretive and will drink when you are not there. I have not seen mine drink for over a month!

Relax

But if anyone can confirm, is that true that cave hides shouldn't be on the heat mat? I have cave hides over my mats :shrugs:

Wait until he sheds and then see if his activity changes. It wasn't uncommon for a few of mine to stay hidden for a whole week before a shed.

Not seeing the snake drink is perfectly fine and a common thing reported by many corn owners on this forum. He's probably just drinking when you aren't there, but many will drink when you hold them over the dish. No need to worry. I have heard some folks recommend moving the water dish close to the side of the viv. Snakes tend to make laps around the outside (next to the glass) of the tank, so they will be much more likely to come across the water dish.

A big water dish is ok as long as your humidity isn't too high. Open spaces inside the viv is what leads young snakes to feel insecure. As long as there are plenty of hides you should be fine.


I'm not sure if I've ever heard of the closed hide on the warm side deal on this forum. It does sound familiar and logical, but I could have just heard something similar somewhere else. I don't think you need to worry too much. I've always had some sort of hide that was pretty well closed on the warm side and they never trapped heat.
If you think about it, the snake is laying right on top of the aspen so they are likely going to trap and absorb more heat than the hide. If you are still worried, find an indoor/outdoor thermometer with a probe and stick the prober under the hide on the warm side and check the temps.

Thank you both. I will keep an eye on him to see if anything changes once he has shead. It will be the first time he has done so sence living with us, and only second in his life. Thanks