First time snake owner- just a couple of questions....

[ScarlettLove]

I'm a long time lover but first time owner of a Ball Python. I have a 3 yr old female named Scarlett. After I got her and got her all set up, I went to my local pet store to ask a few questions. One of the things I was wondering about was her light on the top of her tank. The guy told me to turn it off when I go to bed and back on when I get up in the morning. Easy enough. Problem is, I'm noticing a pretty dramatic temperature drop by turning off this light. Am I doing the wrong thing? Should I be leaving it on all the time to keep her temperature from dropping?

Also, in all the research I've done, it's quite unanimous that misting the tank is a good way to keep humidity up. My question here, is should I actually be misting Scarlett directly too, or just the tank around her?

I'm pretty sure based on her cloudy eyes, dullish looking skin, and newly developed habbit of hissing at me every time I open her tank, that she's going to go into her first shed since she's been with me. I've stopped handeling her completely as to not upset her (even as hard as that is), but if anyone else has some advice for a first timer, I'd be unbelievably appriciative. I just want to make sure I'm doing everything on my end to make sure she has an easy shed.

Thanks, from a girl that loves her snake more than she ever knew she would!

[iCandiBallPythons]

have a read over this http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

[PitOnTheProwl]

The care sheet will answer all of your questions

What are you using to measure your temps and what are your temps? (air, hot, and cool side)

[BHReptiles]

What are your temps like normally? (hot spot, cold side, ambient temp, and your humidity) This will help us give you some better advice. I'm assuming your lamp is your only source of heat. Is it regulated by a dimmer? If not, you need to get one. I paid about $10 for mine from Home Depot and it helps me keep the temps constant. I wouldn't worry about turning off your lamp. If the temps drop too low, you can put your snake at risk for respiratory infections. You might also invest in an infrared bulb. That way it won't be bright during the night (if the snake is in a bedroom). You can also get a ceramic heat emitter in place of a heat bulb.

Ball pythons really need belly heat, so you might want to consider using the lamp just to raise ambient temperatures and investing in an under the tank heater. Just remember to purchase a thermostat for it because they tend to get too warm on their own and can burn, potentially kill, your snake. Here are a few options for thermostats, starting form the least expensive to the most. But remember, the more expensive ones are much better at maintaining temperature:

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S
http://www.helixcontrols.com/DBS1000.htm
http://www.reptilebasics.com/ve-100
http://spyderrobotics.com/products/herpstat1Basic.html

It does sound like your snake is going into shed. I would make sure the humidity is around 70%. Now, with a heat lamp, that will be pretty hard to keep since heat lamps suck out the humidity. I would mist several times a day (you don't have to mist her, just the tank) and even place a damp towel over the top of her cage leaving just a small spot for air and the lamp. You can also buy some sphagnum moss and put it under one of her hides and keep it damp. This will raise the humidity in her hide and help her shedding.

[ScarlettLove]

I've got stick on thermometers on either end of the tank. The hot end stays right around 90 degrees and the cool end rests around 80 degrees. I'm going tomorrow to get a humidity gage, but since I think she's going to shed soon I'm doing what I can to raise the humidity for her.

[ScarlettLove]

She does have an UTH as well. I'll definatly look into getting her lamp onto a timer.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I've got stick on thermometers on either end of the tank. The hot end stays right around 90 degrees and the cool end rests around 80 degrees. I'm going tomorrow to get a humidity gage, but since I think she's going to shed soon I'm doing what I can to raise the humidity for her.

Stuck on thermometers SUCK, the temps are not correct at all. You want a digital indoor/outdoor style and it will humidity too.

She does have an UTH as well. I'll definatly look into getting her lamp onto a timer.

Are you using a thermostat too?

[ScarlettLove]

Looks like I'll be getting new thermometers for her tomorrow too! And no her UTH doesn't have a thermostat. It's a small 8 watt terrarium susbstrate heater that says it distributes heat even and safely. Should I be getting a thermostat for it?

[ScarlettLove]

Looking back at a previous response, obviously I should be getting a thermostat for her UTH.

[PorcelainxDoll]

Yes you should. Uth can get over 100° that can easily burn or kill a snake.

Try to find a thermometer with a probe. And that measures inside and outdoor temps.

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk 2