Re-New to snakes... and Just got a Ball python

[snomoon]

Went to pick up my youngest son's birthday present today, a Ball Python. It has been years (about 25) since I have had a snake I know things will come back to me in time but really would appreciate any advice now. I know I will have TONS of questions.... Please bear with me.... This is like having a baby all over again! I don't even know if the snake is a male or female! LOL I guess time will tell. S/He is home. In a 55 gallon tank, I have to get a smaller tote or something. It has a heating pad, a hollowed out 1/2 log, a tree branch type thing and a heat lamp with a 200 watt bulb. I put one of my incubator thermometers in the tank to keep temperature at about 84° F. The guy said s/he is 15 years old, I measured him/her and it was 60" long {5 feet} Is that about how long a 15 year old should be? We are not handling it too much today so it can get acclimated to our house. The guy we got it from just fed yesterday and gave us 1 med frozen rat for next time. He also gave us what looks to be a controller... I guess I have to do some research on it... The name on it is "Zoo Med" and it says reptile temp control.... Well I guess that just about says what it is, but now to find out how it is used! LOL The kids got home from school and were VERY happy the snake is here! We are going to have to take it one day at a time, LOL tomorrow I have to go back to the guys house and pick up the tank stand.... it did not fit in the car LOL!

[TheSnakeGuy]

Wow that sure is a great present. And a big one too. Pretty snake. Just make sure to set the temp properly and check it often. I could be wrong, but a 200 watt bulb sounds like it's going to be too hot. I hope that device you mentioned is a thermostat and you will have it hooked up to your Under Tank Heater. These can get very hot so be careful. I hope you have a locking screen top or something similar. Anyone else? Sound off.

[RestlessRobie]

Good looking snake They grow to about 5 feet so everything is good there. Take a look at the care sheet and let us know if you have any other questions

[Faerie]

I would definitely say from what I've learned, you're on the right path by getting him a tub or something smaller.
Do some research on what the ZooMed thing is for, I usually just google what I can find on the device for labeling and go from there.
He looks like he's in great health, which is good news. Too often, I see people selling their snakes thinking they're selling a healthy one and it's actually underfed.

[ballpythonluvr]

If I am correct that temp controller thing is actually a rheostat. I had one of those at one time and I have to say, it was pretty much junk. You would be better off getting an actual thermostat to control the heating pad. There are many good thermostats available depending on what your budget is. I have the basic herpstat and I love it.

[Kaorte]

:Welcome:

Is the temp controller a little black box with a dial, a place to plug stuff in, and a probe? If so, you have yourself a thermostat. Probably not a very good one, but a thermostat none the less. Stick the probe on your under tank heater on the outside of the cage. Put your thermometer (hopefully digital with a probe) under the substrate right on top of the UTH to measure the hottest point the snake can reach. Adjust the dial on the thermostat until the thermometer reads around 90-92º.

Looks like you are off to a good start! It looks like he or she might be having a bad shed as well. A bad shed means that the skin didn't come off in one piece. It isn't a huge deal, but the skin does need to come off at some point.

Good luck with your new pet! Snakes really make great pets

[snomoon]

Did do some research and found out the zoo med thing is pretty much ... well Junk.... I will be going to the pet store or looking on line for something that regulates the temperatures and turns off and on automatically. Right now I do have the temperature stabilized at 90° F according to my good thermometer, It is for a chicken egg incubator and I know it works real well for that. There will be several things I need to buy, to make ours and the snakes life a bit easier, but it will all come in good time. I only paid $50.00 for the snake, tank (including all in it, heat pad and heat lamp), locking screen lid, a bag of Repti bark bedding, the tank stand, and the extra rat for the next feeding so I thought that was a good deal. Heck, I did not even TRY to talk the seller down LOL

As for the 200 watt bulb.... I know it may seem like a lot, but we live in New York and night temperatures are down to the upper 30's low 40's already. We still have our windows open and have not yet turned on the heat so for right now it is just right. I know I have to figure out something for humidity but have not done enough reading/research yet to know exactly what yet.

Thanks so much for all your replies, it feels good to affirm what I am doing so far is, for the most part, right.

**Kaorte.... It does look like s/he shed in pieces... from all the little parts strewn all over the litter... Not sure what happened there, but s/he does look to be completely shed out right now. Skin is "as smooth as a baby's bottom"

My son is ecstatic with his new friend, here is a picture I took of them this afternoon when he got home from school!

[PorcelainxDoll]

Just try to give him a week of no handleing to get used to his new environment.

Here is a decent thermostat for a decent price.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NZ...7579253&sr=8-1

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[ktaylor89]

Just try to give him a week of no handleing to get used to his new environment.

Here is a decent thermostat for a decent price.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NZ...7579253&sr=8-1

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Not to hijack, but can this t-stat be used with flexwatt as well?

[Gene Collins]

Do not under any circumstances buy a thermostat from a pet store. They are usually over priced and junk just like that ZooMed you have. The link above someone else posted is perfect for a cheap simple one. I have two and am hoping to get a nicer one soon. Everything else is on the right track though. You've definitely come to the right place for information though. Grats on the new family addition. Can't wait until mine ster that big

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