How to tell if my snake is overheating from a new heating mat?

If you are using a heat lamp, move it farther away (raise it up) from the surface of the tank until temps are appropriate. If you are using a heating pad or UTH (under tank heater), they should be used with a rheostat or thermostat so that you can adjust the temperature. Make sure the enclosure is large enough to provide a warm side and a cool side. If Egon gets too hot, he can move to the cool side until he wants to bask again or warm up.

Under a surface heat pads are good for helping them thermoregulate. There is only a risk of being burnt if directly exposed to the heat source (i.e. hot rocks). It's important that the heat pad is only under a portion of the enclosure not to exceed 50% of the surface. You always want a cool side of the enclosure and a warm side, so Loki go where is best for him. Make sure the heat pad is not too hot (if it's too hot for your skin, then it's too hot for him). I've found they do well when the heat pad is on a medium, or mild setting depending on the ambient temperature and eclosure. It may take a little experimenting to see what temperature seems best for him. I hope that helps and all is well with Loki.

The changes to his enclosure may have caused stress. Low temps can affect digestion in reptiles. If temps were down, this could affect defecation. Try soaking him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes. This will provide warmth and hydration. To stimulate defecation, gently massage the belly from front to back during the soak. If the behavior persists, consider an exam with your veterinarian or vet experienced in treating reptiles.

Thanks for your question about Smaug, and thanks for the photo as well! I think that you have a good start to your set up, and that we can tweak a few items. First, your lighting situation appears adequate - I see a UVB light (please change this bulb every 4-6 months), a basking light, and a ceramic heat bulb. I would ensure that your temperatures are appropriate for this species, and that you are monitoring them using digital thermometers (I think that you see both a digital and analog thermometers currently) at the level of Smaug. Analog thermometers are inaccurate, so I don't recommend using them (also, they are high up on the sides of the enclosure, so they wouldn't be giving an accurate temperature read for Smaug). For the cage furniture that you have, I like that you have places for Smaug to climb and hide. However, I would recommend having a hide on both the warm side of the enclosure and the cool side so that Smaug has choices. Same for the climbing structures. I may have missed a food and water dish in the enclosure - I would recommend that both of these be shallow, and be large enough for Smaug's entire body to fit within them. I cannot tell what type of shavings that you have on the bottom of the enclosure, but the only wood shavings that I recommend are aspen shavings. If they are pine, these can be irritating to the respiratory system. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Ideally, the UVB light source should run the entire length of the tank. A thermometer/hygrometer should be on each end of the tank to confirm cool and warm sides. Use a digital thermometer to verify temps. Those little ones you have can be inaccurate. Provide a hide on both sides as well. Personally, I would remove the fake grass as it has the potential to cause eye injuries. Your tank looks good otherwise.

Thanks for reaching out about Sushi. Adding a heat lamp to bring the temperature the rest of the way up is recommended. This should be put on a rheostat so the temperature can be fine tuned. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Diablo. As long as still eating, defecating and acting normal, there is minimal concerns. Is he hanging out in the water bowl? This could be an indication of a parasitic enteritis. If still worried, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic plan. Good luck.