First-Time BP Owner Need Assistance !

[brandonsavone]

I just purchased my baby BP (Zeus) a couple days ago. I currently have a 10G Terrarium with mesh lid and clips with carpet liner, tub of water, a hide, a humidity/temperature gauge from zilla, an UTH and a heat lamp that is kept on top of the cage. I understand I need to purchase a thermostat to correctly monitor the temperature of the UTH. I've done some research to try and set up my Terrarium however, most do not answer my questions so I have a couple.

1. I recently purchased some cypress mulch, is it required to have both the carpet liner and cypress or can I just use the cypress ?

2. The humidity/temperature gauge is somewhat accurate, however, I have read that an accurite digital thermometer is better so I should purchase 2- one for cool and hot side of the tank correct ?

3. I have heard that Terrarium's do not hold humidity that well, however, the sticky thread that had a tutorial for glass tank setup is currently down so what is the best way to keep humidity within the tank ?

I'm very excited about my first BP purchase and I treat it much like a baby lol. Any help would be great

[royal constrictor]

ok so first off a 10g will only last you until adult hood then a 20g is a bare minimum. then, yes i would use both the carpet liner as well as the mulch seeing as though you do not have a thermostat or even just a lamp dimmer would work. once u get that then u can just use one or the other. and yes if you want to read cool/hot temps simultaneously get two. if not u have to bother zeus everytime u want to check the other side. and best way to keep humidity in is put ur water bowl under the lamp(probably ur hot side) and mist the cage, then place a damp towel, tshirt, or watever u have on top of the screen leaving only an opening for your heat lamp. if u want u can use a damp hand towel to place inside the terrarium or get some moss from the store. hope this explains what u r after for. welcome to being a snake owner and good luck with zeus!

[Dark Lady Kat]

I just purchased my baby BP (Zeus) a couple days ago. I currently have a 10G Terrarium with mesh lid and clips with carpet liner, tub of water, a hide, a humidity/temperature gauge from zilla, an UTH and a heat lamp that is kept on top of the cage. I understand I need to purchase a thermostat to correctly monitor the temperature of the UTH. I've done some research to try and set up my Terrarium however, most do not answer my questions so I have a couple.

1. I recently purchased some cypress mulch, is it required to have both the carpet liner and cypress or can I just use the cypress ?

2. The humidity/temperature gauge is somewhat accurate, however, I have read that an accurite digital thermometer is better so I should purchase 2- one for cool and hot side of the tank correct ?

3. I have heard that Terrarium's do not hold humidity that well, however, the sticky thread that had a tutorial for glass tank setup is currently down so what is the best way to keep humidity within the tank ?

I'm very excited about my first BP purchase and I treat it much like a baby lol. Any help would be great

You can use one or the other not necessary to use both so long as you have a themometer with the cypress remember to spot clean daily and if you choose to continue to use the carpet you will need to completely remove it any time urates or fecals are deposited

yes or get one that has a probe and does indoor / outdoor feature put the thermometer on one side and the probe on the other or buy separates your choice

you need to cover 3/4 of exposed mesh to hold in the moisture

[greg728]

Good luck with your new snake!

Okay, you said you had a hide.. Your snake is going to need two identical hides on each side of the tank so it can choose between the warm side and cool side.

Go out to Home Depot and get 2 light dimmer switches they're between 8-14$ and hook it up to your Uth and your lamp. Then get a digital thermometer to read the temps at the bottom of the glass where the Uth is, the middle of your tank (ambient), and the cool side. You can get one thermometer with multiple probes or two whatever you prefer. Use the dimmer switches to get the proper temps: 88-92 at the Uth, and control the lamp so gets the ambient around 82-85 and this should create a good temp for the cool side. Make sure it doesn't get under 78 degrees or your snake could develop a respitory infection.

To keep in humidity, try buying moss from the pet store and roll them up in balls and put them in the tank. Put some moss inside the warm hide too (just a little bit) and mist the moss and the inside glass of the tank. Make sure you have your water bowl filled and put Saran Wrap on the top of the cool side half of your screen top. This should hold humidity a little, try to aim for 40-50%. Ball pythons are from the sub Saharan regions of Africa, and it is not a rain forest atmosphere and they don't need more humidity than that unless its in a shed.

As far as your question about using carpet and cypress, you'll only need one form of substrate once you've established proper temps. I found coconut husk (most pet stores carry it) to be a good substrate and it holds in humidity much better than cypres or anything else that I know of.

This all probably sounds overwhelming, but you'll get the hang of it in no time. Good luck and let us know how your snake is doing!

[greg728]

Also, heat lamps kill humidity. I don't use one in the summer time because I can get the right temps without one. For its next enclosure try a tub or a custom enclosure made out of melamine, you won't ever have to worry about humidity again.