Just got a ball python - how am I doing?

[turkspartan]

Okay so last Wednesday I got a nice ball python. I didn't exactly measure it, but it
is 3 feet or so. I was told not to really handle him for a week. The store I got him
from said to feed him around Saturday, but I fed him yesterday and it took down the
mouse the second I dropped it in front of him. I put him in a big box to feed.

So here is my setup:
-2 identical caves
-1 big bowl of water
-1 digital thermometer, which also measures humidity
-1 laser thermometer so confirm both temperature readings
-100W ceramic heat emitter

I just need to add wallpaper around the tank so it looks more secure for him.


Hot side temperature:
Digital thermometer - 88.2
Laser thermometer - 88.5 to 89

Cold side temperature: (This shouldn't be a problem since my house temp is like 77)
Digital thermometer - 78.8
Laser thermometer - 79.5

Humidity is around 35% under the hot cave and 45% under the cold cave but but I heard
I don't have to worry too much about that and that if I just spray it once a day when he
starts shedding that should be fine.

QUESTIONS:

***So when I first got him he moved around a lot, but recently he has stopped
moving (I know they are nocturnal) which should be good since I read that a hiding
python is a happy python, BUT he was in his cold side until he hate, than when he
ate he still went to the cold side.... I am guessing he will move his ass to the warm
side if that's what he wanted. So I guess that's not an issue?

*** I went to go get his first meal. I wanted to get him a very small rat, but they didn't
have that so I had to get the biggest mouse I could find. Here is a quick video of his first
feeding. Can someone tell me if that is a decent size meal for him? I think it should be a
little bigger next time.



***Please point out if you think I am doing something right/wrong. Any advice is appreciated
and if you think I am doing well with something, (ex: temperatures) than let me know too so I
can start to feel comfortable with all of this....

Thanks guys. Oh and his name is Crixus!

PS: I think he is about 3 years old... Not sure.

[Capray]

Sounds good!
Put a wet towel over the screen, humidity is still important for their overall hydration.
I think he could take 2 mice if there are not rats around.
Maybe try switching the caves in case he prefers one?
You should cover the back and sides of the tank to make it seem more secure to him.

[BeccaBurrr]

Looks pretty good. Covering the sides would be a good idea. Also, I didn't see you mention this, so I'm curious if you have an under the tank heating pad for belly heat? As far as the meal size goes, I would definitely say increase the size a bit. That mouse looks pretty small. I feed my 9 month old BP bigger meals than that. You should aim to get a meal that's about the same size as the thickest part of their body, or just a tad bigger. Other than that and the heating pad, everything seems good. Welcome to the addiction!

[turkspartan]

Sounds good!
Put a wet towel over the screen, humidity is still important for their overall hydration.
I think he could take 2 mice if there are not rats around.
Maybe try switching the caves in case he prefers one?
You should cover the back and sides of the tank to make it seem more secure to him.

Yeah I will be buying wallpaper first thing in the morning. Should I try to feed him in 7 days? He is about 3 years old I think.

[turkspartan]

Looks pretty good. Covering the sides would be a good idea. Also, I didn't see you mention this, so I'm curious if you have an under the tank heating pad for belly heat? As far as the meal size goes, I would definitely say increase the size a bit. That mouse looks pretty small. I feed my 9 month old BP bigger meals than that. You should aim to get a meal that's about the same size as the thickest part of their body, or just a tad bigger. Other than that and the heating pad, everything seems good. Welcome to the addiction!

No I do not have a heat pad. I heard that the thicker bodied snakes can get themselves burnt or something by trapping the heat. I just have a ceramic heat emitter.

[Capray]

Yeah I will be buying wallpaper first thing in the morning. Should I try to feed him in 7 days? He is about 3 years old I think.

7 daqys is good. The heat pad thing is not true, if he is hot he will move to the cool side. Get a rheostat and a heat pad, set it to 85º F.

[turkspartan]

Will 85 be enough? I have atleast half an inch of bedding.

Petsmart sells heatpads but they dont have a temperature control and I dont know what you mean by rheostat or how it works... Does that control its temp or something?

[bfirecat]

I would suggest an UTH (under tank heater), as belly heat is more important to ball pythons.

Other than that, nice set up!

Do you happen to watch Spartacus?

[turkspartan]

I would suggest an UTH (under tank heater), as belly heat is more important to ball pythons.

Other than that, nice set up!

Do you happen to watch Spartacus?

Yeah I got pissed off when the show ended, but lucky for me Crixus also plays in Arrow in a similar role

- - - Updated - - -

So since it looks like I under fed him, should I feed him again, or should I just wait for his next meal time which is in like 6 days and feed him properly?

[BHReptiles]

I would offer food the following week and feed him a small rat. He can eat that weekly.

As for the lamp, while it can work and be successful, we usually recommend a UTH. You can use the ones at Petco/Petsmart you just have to have a thermostat to regulate the heat so it doesn't get too hot. Here are some options that are all function, the last one being the best and most highly recommended. I have one myself and LOVE it.

Budget: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S
Mid-grade: http://www.reptilebasics.com/johnson-a-419
Best: http://www.spyderrobotics.com/store/ (you can use the Intro, Intro+, Basic or the Herpstat 1 for just one cage. I have the Herpstat 2 - that's an option if you plan to run both the CHE or lamp with your UTH)