Getting a ball python tomorrow!! Advice??

[vintageflow]

Hey guys! I'm new here and looking for some advice.
I'm getting my first ball python tomorrow (actually, my first reptile! I've had fish, cats and dogs but never a reptile!) and will also be getting my setup tomorrow.

I will be getting this aquarium from petsmart: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInUS%2FNo
I figure since it is low but wide and long it would make a good home for my new snake! I will be using a screen top and know that it might be difficult to maintain humidity, but I read online a method of putting a damp towel on top of half of the screen to help maintain humidity. Would this be a good long-term home for the snake? I am hoping to buy something big enough for him (I don't actually know if I'm getting a guy yet but i hope to!) to grow into, rather than having to buy new housing and move him every time he grows.

Also, with where I am living now, I can't use a UTH. I've seen a few instances of these burning wood when the enclosure is kept on it, and since the only place I have to keep him is on top of a dresser that my grandmother has owned since before I was born, I absolutely can't risk burning the wood. I was planning on using black heating lamps and changing out the wattage until I can get the proper heat gradient going. Would this be sufficient, as long as I can get the temperatures appropriate? I will be able to get a metal stand for the terrarium when I go to grad school next August and move out, but until then I don't have space. I've also heard stories about malfunctions causing the UTHs to get really hot and burn the snake, so I'm very wary of using one if I can get away with not using it.

I am planning to get reptile carpet for the enclosure (http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInUS%2FNo) It seems like the best option to keep the substrate clean and avoid impaction or substrate getting into the digestive tract during feeding. Since I will be feeding him in his enclosure (I've done a lot of reading about this and unless I'm having real problems with feeding him in the enclosure I don't plan on moving him to feed to avoid the risk of a regurg) it seems like the easiest option for me. Has anyone used this or something similar? Is it a good idea or are natural substrates better?

Is there a certain size his water bowl should be? I want to get a larger one to help maintain humidity (obviously still small enough that he could hang out on the cool side without soaking) but I know their hides should be just the right size for them and am not sure about the water bowl. Could I keep another water bowl on the hot side? It seems like keeping water on the hot side (which would obviously result in more evaporation) would definitely help in maintaining humidity since I am going to have a screen top. Would that make a problem for the snake? I am very concerned about humidity because I am not sure how well the reptile carpet will retain/evaporate water.


Phew! Ok that's all I can remember right now. Any advice you guys can give me would be greatly appreciated!!

[KING JAMES]

Best advice I can offer is read read and read some more. Esp. the stickies on this site. Good luck and I am sure you will love it...but beware its hard to have just one.

[Sgpython]

Noo you need a heatpad with a thermostat to control the heat it woud not burn wood heat belly is a neccesity for ball pythons they dont need heat lamps at all and if would recomend geting a smaller tank if ur getting a baby theyll get really stressed out if their enclosure is to big if u have anyother questions feel free to ask

[Expensive hobby]

As far as UTH go, they are safe for both the snake AND the wood dresser! As long as you use a thermostat(which you should anyway).

Think about how hot that thing would have to get to burn wood, like 180-200°F? How would that feel on your snake?

If you are going with a glass aquarium, and a screen top, you'd be cheating yourself if you didn't do some type of under tank heat.

As far as substrate, people use everything from newspaper, paper towels, Cyprus mulch, potting soil, aspen shavings or chips, coconut husk etc etc. personally I use Eco earth in some enclosures and pine shavings in others. Basically as long as it isn't cedar you should be ok. Obviously research whichever substrate you choose to use.

As far as tank size, there is no such thing as to big. Busy it up a bit when they are younger and take stuff out as they grow. They need to feel secure, but give them the option to venture out if they want. Africa is a big continent and they seem to do just fine there haha.

Sent From an Enclosure

[Stewart_Reptiles]

My advice is delay your purchase when it comes to the animal.

Ideally you really want your setup up to be up and running and stabilized prior to acquiring your animal, BP can are easily prone to stress while adjusting to their new environment and trying to have an animal adjust to a new an environment that may still need days of tweaking may slow down it's progress causing other issues.

You may want to do a little research to make sure that the setup you are actually thinking off is the best for your animal and will allow you to maintain proper temps, but will also provide optimal security.

Here is what I would recommend you to read

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...e-Basics-*DUW*

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...p-w-pics-*DUW*

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Hey guys! I'm new here and looking for some advice.
I'm getting my first ball python tomorrow (actually, my first reptile! I've had fish, cats and dogs but never a reptile!) and will also be getting my setup tomorrow.

I will be getting this aquarium from petsmart: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInUS%2FNo
I figure since it is low but wide and long it would make a good home for my new snake! I will be using a screen top and know that it might be difficult to maintain humidity, but I read online a method of putting a damp towel on top of half of the screen to help maintain humidity. Would this be a good long-term home for the snake? I am hoping to buy something big enough for him (I don't actually know if I'm getting a guy yet but i hope to!) to grow into, rather than having to buy new housing and move him every time he grows.

Also, with where I am living now, I can't use a UTH. I've seen a few instances of these burning wood when the enclosure is kept on it, and since the only place I have to keep him is on top of a dresser that my grandmother has owned since before I was born, I absolutely can't risk burning the wood. I was planning on using black heating lamps and changing out the wattage until I can get the proper heat gradient going. Would this be sufficient, as long as I can get the temperatures appropriate? I will be able to get a metal stand for the terrarium when I go to grad school next August and move out, but until then I don't have space. I've also heard stories about malfunctions causing the UTHs to get really hot and burn the snake, so I'm very wary of using one if I can get away with not using it.

I am planning to get reptile carpet for the enclosure (http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInUS%2FNo) It seems like the best option to keep the substrate clean and avoid impaction or substrate getting into the digestive tract during feeding. Since I will be feeding him in his enclosure (I've done a lot of reading about this and unless I'm having real problems with feeding him in the enclosure I don't plan on moving him to feed to avoid the risk of a regurg) it seems like the easiest option for me. Has anyone used this or something similar? Is it a good idea or are natural substrates better?

Is there a certain size his water bowl should be? I want to get a larger one to help maintain humidity (obviously still small enough that he could hang out on the cool side without soaking) but I know their hides should be just the right size for them and am not sure about the water bowl. Could I keep another water bowl on the hot side? It seems like keeping water on the hot side (which would obviously result in more evaporation) would definitely help in maintaining humidity since I am going to have a screen top. Would that make a problem for the snake? I am very concerned about humidity because I am not sure how well the reptile carpet will retain/evaporate water.


Phew! Ok that's all I can remember right now. Any advice you guys can give me would be greatly appreciated!!

Al I know is you need to do way more reading. I did a lot before I bought my first and still,while all seems good,still a lot I need to learn. Don't rush,if you are going to get any pet make sure you have the time and money to take care of it. That's the most I can say at the moment.

[MootWorm]

I'd advise against using the carpet. I started out with that for my lizard, thinking it'd be easy to clean, cushion the impact of a fall, and all the other crap they'd like you to believe. It's more hassle than anything. You need to wash it anytime your snake makes a mess, meaning you'll need at least two pieces for the cage (one to use while the other is in the wash). You might even need 3 if your snake likes to poop right after you clean, which they WILL do. I'm convinced my snakes' main goal in life is to poop in a freshly cleaned cage Also, if you decide to go with an UTH, they do not transmit heat very well and you may struggle with both heat and humidity. If I could do it again, I'd save myself the 40 bucks and buy a $2 roll of paper towels if you want to go with a non-particulate substrate.

[MJT_23]

Noo you need a heatpad with a thermostat to control the heat it woud not burn wood heat belly is a neccesity for ball pythons they dont need heat lamps at all and if would recomend geting a smaller tank if ur getting a baby theyll get really stressed out if their enclosure is to big if u have anyother questions feel free to ask

Belly heat a necessity? I use radiant heat panels in my t8 and it works more then perfectly with no belly heat, and he's 100% healthy over a year old

[vintageflow]

Ok I have another question! I got all the stuff and am putting it together right now. Does the water dish have to be on the extreme cold side? Because even though I've got a 20 gallon long it seems like the warm hide and cool hide are close together. Alternatively, I could switch the cool hide and the water dish to give my lil guy a bigger choice in temperatures! I've attached a picture of the current setup, with the water bowl on the extreme cold side.
I've got cold to the left, hot to the right.
And I took you guys' advice and got a UTH. I have a black light on top in case I need to adjust the heat gradient but have it off while I'm testing the baseline with just the UTH on

EDIT: The water dish is kind of hidden in the plant vine thingy, but its in there on the left!

[mikoh4792]

Did you get a thermostat with that under tank heater? If not I wouldn't put any animal in there until you do. You NEED a thermostat for any heat source just to be safe and also to control the environment.

Water dish can be placed anywhere, so long as you change it when it's soiled/stale/evaporated.

I would recommend something other than carpet for bedding. Not good for humidity or cleanliness(unless you want to go through the hassle of washing it everytime it's soiled). It's easier to use disposable bedding such as newspaper, papertowel, or loose substrate.