New python owner, with question

[tmaggieb]

Hi,
I just got my very first ball python today and I am so psyched. I bought an all inclusive snake kit. It came with a basking light and black light. I have a question The cage is only 70 degrees right now. ( hes only been home for 4 hours) Should I leave the basking light on over night so he does not get cold. Tomorrow I will pick up an under cage heating mat but I am concerned about leaving just the black light on tonight

Also any other suggestions you have for me I'll take em
tmaggieb

[AkHerps]

Yes, leave the night time bulb on for now. They do not do well with bright white lighting since they are nocturnal.

What size is the tank? How big is the snake?

You need a light dimmer or a thermostat for the under tank heating pad.

What do you have in your tank, hides, etc.?

What is your substrate?

You also need a good thermometer to check your temps.

[tmaggieb]

Thanks for the information about the thermostat for the heating pad. My tank is 20 gallons, My baby is small. He / She arrived at the store June 30. He has just graduated to fuzzies, My kit includes the tank, a ceramic hut / rock, ceramic water dish, and a thermometer/ humidity, It is reading 40% humidity and 70 degrees. I have Douglas fir bark as the substrate.

T

[EvesFriend]

If that ceramic rock is a ceramic heat rock, get rid of it.

Also, increase the humidity to 50-60%, and strive to raise the temperature(s) as well.

[AkHerps]

Yes, the snake needs a hot spot of around 90-95. Thats the temp you want your under tank heating pad to be, with the cool side being in the 80-83 range. You NEED some sort of light dimmer because the heating pads can get 110F+ without being regulated.

That tank is also too big, it would be better to use a 10 gallon, but, you can make some sort of divider and put it in the tank to make it smaller.

Ball pythons like small, secure spaces to live.

And fuzzies are too small for almost any ball python, he should be eating hoppers or very small adult mice.

Tanks with lamps are going to suck all the humidity out of its environment so its going to be very hard to get the right humidity.

Most ball python owners keep their animals in sterilite type tubs with a hide or two, water dish, a heating pad/heat tape. Tubs hold heat and humidity perfectly.

[tmaggieb]

Thanks

The ceramic rock is not a heat rock.

Another really stupid question. I have a Humidifying spray Tropical Mist. Should I use that or is plain water good.

T

[AkHerps]

Plain water is good.

[tmaggieb]

I just picked up my baby and she is so cold. Her tank in 60 degrees. The basking light is off and the night time light is on. Any suggestions??

[AkHerps]

Where are you keeping her, its super cold in your house!

You can turn on the basking light just to see if it will get the temps up, or go out and get some hand warmers from walmart or something like that, or use a human heating pad for right now.

In the future, you need to be a lot more prepared, read up about the animal you want and set up the enclosure a couple hours before getting your animal.

[Kaorte]

If you are using those round dial gauges then you aren't getting an accurate reading of the temperature.

You need something digital to measure temps. I like to use the accurite thermometer/hygrometer combos. You can buy them at home depot, lowes, or walmart.

Until you can get your setup done properly, just leave the night time light on 24/7. The snake will be fine.

Also, you do need to upgrade your prey size or your snake will slowly starve to death. Hatchling ball pythons are offered hopper mice (larger than fuzzies) right out of the egg. After a few meals they move to small adult mice.