I'm a Newbie BP owner, and I got a few questions

[valhalha30]

Ok, I got my little girl, Monty, about a week ago, and I just want to make sure I'm providing the best for her.
She's only a few months old, and about 16 inches long. I was given a 40 gallon breeder tank to house her in (I know, it's probably too big for her, but that's the tank I got her in). I've got a very sturdy foot long, 3 1/2 inch deep water dish for her to bathe and drink in. I've got about an inch and a half of Aspen bedding as substrate, 1 hide barely over-lapping undertank heater, and a paper towel roll resting on the tank's right width-side near heater. Also, I've already fed her once, she took down a smaller medium sized hopper just fine.
That's pretty much the layout of my tank, I know that there are some things that need added such as another hide. I'd absolutely appreciate it if somebody could give me an idea on what a layout that an expert would use.. what key components am I missing? Is there anything to avoid putting in her tank? What specific hides are best for her? Ect.... general advice on BP's would be useful as well as advice on advanced tank setups.... but really, any advice and tips are useful and very much appreciated

[I-KandyReptiles]

Do you have a thermostat for you heating pad?

How and what are you using to monitor temperatures?

Can you get a weight on her? Ball pythons can eat hoppers no problem right out of the egg so she can probably take a bigger meal

[barbie.dragon]

I would section off one part of the tank to make a tighter enclosure, second hide, thermostat to regulate the UTH, thermometer that measures humidity (a popular one is an accurite from Walmart), a temperature gun (well it's optional but I highly recommend one since normal thermometers are quite inaccurate).

Go to the sticky section and read the ball python care sheet first.

[Rob]

Personally I would get it out of that giant tank, go check out animal plastics, reptile basics ect. Until then a Rubbermaid tub would be a better set up for your animal. There is a ton of info on bp Care on this site, check out the care sheet.

[SylverTears]

I agree with Rob, a 40 gallon is large for a hatchling BP Plastic tubs are easier to keep the humidity up and they are cheap and easy to find. I found my 34qt bins at Walmart for about $10 dollars each. They sell lots of different sizes, too.

[captainjack0000]

I am not an expert.

I think a 40 gal is not to big considering wild balls have much more room than that. But a ball needs to feel secure. Black out 3 sides of the tank, put in some fake plants. 2 hides are the minimum, but there is no maximum. Fill that tank with hiding spots. Keep the humidity up too.

[greg728]

You can get light dimmer switches from Home Depot dirt cheap and they are much more affordable as a thermostat. You're going to need a reliable digital thermometer to get the right temps in your tank. Check the care sheet for proper temps. I just moved my ball into a tub and she loves it. I highly recommend it, but if you don't then definitely get a smaller enclosure to put your snake in or it's gona feel very vulnerable and insecure in that open space. Another identical hide is a must, and to keep in humidity in a screen tank, use coconut husk, must the cage and cover half of the screen top withSaran Wrap.

[valhalha30]

Thank you all for your responses. I definitally need to do more work to her tank. Excuse my long post in return.

As of Current:
I already added 2 more paper towel rolls to her tank and a long wrapping paper tube, so she can go to one side of the tank to the other without worrying about being spotted. Which she adores. I put a hide on the cool side and still have the other one near the heater, but she tends to use those rolls as hides instead of using the actual hides in her tank. She seems to really enjoy that lol.
I'll also get her a smaller water dish on top or near the heater so the humidity is at the proper level and so she has access to clean drinking water at all times.
I don't have a thermostat as of yet, I know you all advised one, Barbie.Dragon recommended one, so I'll grab that. I have no idea where to find a temp gun, so I'll need to track that down. ... but I just don't see the need for a thermostat... it stays nice and warm in there during the day with her basking lamp on, and stays slightly cooler at night when the light is off, she seems to be doing fine without a thermostat but forgive my ignorance if I'm missing the big picture or if I'm in the wrong. I feel the top of the substrate as well as the bottom of the tank and even Monty herself to gauge temps. She stays pretty warm when she's on the "hot side" of the tank and her entire tank feels nice. With a slight change in temp from "cool" to "hot" sides of the tank. So far it seems that she's healthy and fine with the current heat setup. BUT I will buy a thermostat since so many of you said I should.
She weighs 2 1/2oz, which is about 75g if my conversion is correct. I will most likely pick up bigger mice for her at the next reptile show... I know she could probably use an upgrade as well as my hybrids.
I put her in a tub to test it out. She absolutely hated it. She was climbing the sides and was restless for nearly 4 hours. I put her back into her tank and she was perfectly fine. She laid under the light for about 10 minutes and then went into one of the tubes near the heater and then came out 2 hours later to drink and went back into that same tube. Needless to say, I'm a little suprised because I thought for sure she'd like being in a smaller enclosure that's also more private for her.
I will get her some fake plants and a sturdy climbing branch, and I like the idea of covering 3 sides of the tank. I put in a ton of hiding spots for her, by adding paper towel and wrapping paper rolls.
She seems content and healthy, hasn't shed for me yet however, but I've only had her for 3 weeks, yesterday.... I'll get onto my to-do list and I'm going to get what I need at the next reptile show coming up on the 16th.
OH! Also, is she just a Normal? I think she is, but more eyes are better than 2.
I uploaded a pic of her somewhere lol

[spud6]

welcome to the bps world

[valhalha30]

Thanks!
Last month or so I picked up a same age male Pastel, which I named Benny, to share the 40gal with. They get along more than well, in fact I believe they are becoming friends.
Both have shed, and both are fasting... but haven't lost any weight. I imagine it's because of the weather, it's winter up here. They have a imitation plant and a basking rock, and they also have a piece of driftwood near the light too, in case the basking rock isn't warm enough. Both show activity during the day on occasion, and they are both active at night. They love the empty towel tubes and I'm going to change the substrate to coconut bark as soon as I run out of aspen. They are doing great, and I cannot wait till they are of breeding age. Awesome snakes, great personalities
I figured I'd catch you all up on how she, and he, are doing. Thank you all for your help and advice.
I currently bought an Indonesian Garter snake that I'd like some advice for... I have open posts in "General Colubrids" and in "Venomous Animals" that have yet to get a response. Any help on that would be majorly appreciated!