BP newbie, still preping for my first.

[BassZ1890]

I have been lurking on the forums for a while and finally made an account, hoping I could get some help. So I am working on Preparations for my first Ball Python and am trying to get everything as perfect as I can. I got the Zilla Delux snake kit/tanks which has...
+A 30x12x12 tank with clamping screen top and a place for a pad lock.
+A Water bowl(I want to get a bigger, heavier one.)
+1 hide(going to get a second one)
+Zilla Bark Blend(says fir bark)(Currently in the freezer for over night because I want to make sure the chances of mite in the substrate is as low as possible. This will be a temporary substrate as I plan on switching to aspen in time)
+Zilla Tropical Mist Humidifying Spray? (anyone know if this stuff is really all that safe?)
+I super cheap looking Thermometer/humidity gauge which I plan to replace.
+2 Lamps which I plan to replace with a UTH heat pad... (Seems to be a big theme here with me XD The tank was a steal though, 50% off so it was cheaper than the plain tank they sold.)

With that out of the way, I come here to ask for the wisdom of you guru BP owners out there. There are several questions I have and I want to make sure my set up is well... well set up XD

Question 1: First of all, Like I mentioned, I plan to use the substrate it came with for a little while. Will Switching from one type of substrate to another cause much stress or irritation in a BP?

Question 2: I mentioned that my Thermometer is junk and want to get a better one. I have seen several posts saying that the Acu-Rite is a great thermometer and readily found at Walmart. I did not find any at my Walmart :S I also found a post giving an Amazon link but the main picture did not match that pictured I have seen on these forums thought the sub pictures for the product did. My biggest concern is if I DO have to order it off the internet, I do not want to get the wrong product.

Question 3: I have seen those thermometer gun things(?) that you point and press a button to see the temperature. How accurate are those and can you get an accurate reading from outside the glass tank?

Question 4: About where should thermometer probes, if using a probe based thermometer, be placed if the tank is using a UTH? I assume that ideally you want one for both the warm and cool side of the tank? Do the thermometers have two probes or switchable probes?

Question 5: Should I plan on needing a bigger tank in the future or will 30x12x12 be big enough for an adult?

Question 6: The BP I will be purchasing is, according to what I was told by the employe, about 6 weeks old. I have been going to the store and checking regularly on the BPs during the day and evenings to see how active they are. I have read that an actively exploring snake shows good health? This true or not? There are four Ball Pythons in the cage and out of the several times I have come to check only one of them has been active. The rest all lay pretty much in the same spot every day and don't really move.

Question 7: What is the best way to keep humidity up? A spray bottle of water on fine mist? Also, does the mist bother a snake?

Any other tips you can give would be greatly appreciated. I want to make sure that my snake will have a good home to come home to. This is my first real pet and I want to make sure its as happy, healthy, and comfortable as I can possibly make it. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

[DooLittle]

I have been lurking on the forums for a while and finally made an account, hoping I could get some help. So I am working on Preparations for my first Ball Python and am trying to get everything as perfect as I can. I got the Zilla Delux snake kit/tanks which has...
+A 30x12x12 tank with clamping screen top and a place for a pad lock.
+A Water bowl(I want to get a bigger, heavier one.)
+1 hide(going to get a second one)
+Zilla Bark Blend(says fir bark)(Currently in the freezer for over night because I want to make sure the chances of mite in the substrate is as low as possible. This will be a temporary substrate as I plan on switching to aspen in time)
+Zilla Tropical Mist Humidifying Spray? (anyone know if this stuff is really all that safe?)
+I super cheap looking Thermometer/humidity gauge which I plan to replace.
+2 Lamps which I plan to replace with a UTH heat pad... (Seems to be a big theme here with me XD The tank was a steal though, 50% off so it was cheaper than the plain tank they sold.)

With that out of the way, I come here to ask for the wisdom of you guru BP owners out there. There are several questions I have and I want to make sure my set up is well... well set up XD

Question 1: First of all, Like I mentioned, I plan to use the substrate it came with for a little while. Will Switching from one type of substrate to another cause much stress or irritation in a BP?

Question 2: I mentioned that my Thermometer is junk and want to get a better one. I have seen several posts saying that the Acu-Rite is a great thermometer and readily found at Walmart. I did not find any at my Walmart :S I also found a post giving an Amazon link but the main picture did not match that pictured I have seen on these forums thought the sub pictures for the product did. My biggest concern is if I DO have to order it off the internet, I do not want to get the wrong product.

Question 3: I have seen those thermometer gun things(?) that you point and press a button to see the temperature. How accurate are those and can you get an accurate reading from outside the glass tank?

Question 4: About where should thermometer probes, if using a probe based thermometer, be placed if the tank is using a UTH? I assume that ideally you want one for both the warm and cool side of the tank? Do the thermometers have two probes or switchable probes?

Question 5: Should I plan on needing a bigger tank in the future or will 30x12x12 be big enough for an adult?

Question 6: The BP I will be purchasing is, according to what I was told by the employe, about 6 weeks old. I have been going to the store and checking regularly on the BPs during the day and evenings to see how active they are. I have read that an actively exploring snake shows good health? This true or not? There are four Ball Pythons in the cage and out of the several times I have come to check only one of them has been active. The rest all lay pretty much in the same spot every day and don't really move.

Question 7: What is the best way to keep humidity up? A spray bottle of water on fine mist? Also, does the mist bother a snake?

Any other tips you can give would be greatly appreciated. I want to make sure that my snake will have a good home to come home to. This is my first real pet and I want to make sure its as happy, healthy, and comfortable as I can possibly make it. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Ok-

Q1. Every snake is different. Any change can stress them.

Q2. We have two different looking Acurites. I think maybe there is an "old" one and a "new" one. They are not even where you would expect to find them. We found them by the fans and stuff I believe it was.

Q3. Temp guns are way more accurite than stick on thermometers. There is also a big variety in temp guns too. As for going through the glass, I don't know. I always open tub (or your tank) and shoot directly on the spot I want to check.

Q4. I set the thermometer itself at the cool end, and the probe would go on the glass above your uth, so you are measuring hot spot temps with the probe, and the sensor on the unit reads the cool side.

Q5. I keep mine in 41 qt tubs. It's early and can't picture how many gallons that size tank you have is. Is it 20?

Q6. The saying goes with bps that "A hiding bp, is a happy bp". Typically with ball pythons (especially young ones) if they are up, active, and roaming, they are stressed. Normally you don't see much of bps, as they are usually in their hides. If I were you, I would not buy a bp from a pet store. I would buy a nice healthy snake from a dependable breeder. There are lots here on bp.net, you can also go on kingsnake classifieds, or fauna.

Q7. A larger water dish over your heat source can help keep up your humidity. Also different substrate hold humidity better. I use tubs and have no humidity issues. As for misting, I can't say because I have never had too, but I would imagine the snakes don't much like it. I wouldn't spray the snake itself.

Other stuff- You need a thermostat to regulate your uth. The best out there (imo) is a herpstat by Spyder Robotics. They can be a bit spendy. The cheapest you could get away with is a hydrofarm. While they work, they aren't really ideal.

Check out Reptile Basics website for any supplies snake related you need.

Again, I would buy from a breeder, not the pet store.

This link may also be helpful for the basics-

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1410665

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

[BHReptiles]

I couldn't have said that any better!

Definitely go with a snake that's not from a pet store. You'll pay $90 or more for a baby normal when you can get a normal from a breeder for about $30. Even if you have to pay shipping, it comes to about $80. Plus, with buying form a breeder, you'll know exactly how old it is, what's it's currently eating, and it's overall health.

[barbie.dragon]

I used paper towels for a few weeks. Changed to aspen, it was way too hard to clean. Changes back to paper towels and never looked back. Now I have around 18 qts of aspen not doing anything

[BassZ1890]

Awesome, thanks guys for the info.