I have been MORE than helpful with you, Jennifer
I have six emails where I asked you what the temperature IN the hide was (INSIDE) and six times you told me the temperature. I kept saying that the only way to find out was to put a thermometer IN the hide. Finally the seventh time, you confessed that you were measuring temperatures ABOVE the hide and that was surely close enough (while you were wondering why the snake would not stay in the hide). When I asked why you had sand in the bottom of the cage you said your last snake died of aspen impaction. I told you that your hide was "cavernous" and that the snake was probably not staying in it for many reasons (including the absence of a fluffy substrate matter that would have made the inside of the hide cozier and darker inside). I mentioned a UT heater several times in our 25+ emails and FB messages and you never bothered to correct me to say you use a light over the cage. Reading this thread is the first time I discovered you were using an OT light. The bottom line is that I can only help people who answer questions honestly, and who are forth-coming when I keep asking questions about their cage. In my last email, I told you that I cannot help you since you insist on withholding information that was crucial to the welfare of the snake. Now, the six weeks you have wasted via not co-operating has probably jeopardized the chances of saving this snake.
Generally, if a snake is not spending at least 75% of all daytime hours IN the warm hide, the warm hide is WRONG; too hot, too cold, too cavernous, not dark enough, etc. Because the hide you showed me has a large opening that faces the light in the room and because there is nothing in the hide other than 1/2" of sand beneath the snake, the hide was not conducive to "hiding". If they are not staying in the DARK hide with a temperature conducive to appetite and digestion, they will likely not eat (or will puke what they do eat). In one of your emails two days ago when I questioned why you were using sand for a substrate, you said, "to each his own". You never once told me you were using sand, until that day. I agree that you can set up that cage in any fashion you desire, but not when you are expecting me to replace a snake that has an inadequate cage because you declined my advice. In fact, you didn't decline my advice. You just didn't bother to tell me you were ignoring it.
You only paid $35 to cover shipping for this free snake that I sent because the other one died from aspen impaction (after you successfully fed it many times). I did not have to replace the other snake since you had it so long and fed it so many times. The snake you are referring to in this thread ate for me for many months without refusing a single meal, prior to being shipped to you. Over 30 emails back and forth between us, Jennifer, and a FREE SALMON SNOW MOTLEY does not justify you saying that I have not been helpful.
