HELPPPPP NEWBIE

[RKRMC4]

Hey i got a ball 3 days ago and had a enclosure set up by a friend. It is a 66 qt rubbermaid in which we cut out the top and used zip ties to fasten on .25 inch hardware cloth on for ventalation. I am using a 100 watt heat lamp right now and my bp doesnt seem to like the enclose too much. I am thinking i might have to switch to a heating pad of some sort. I kind of jumped into this quickly bc i got excited. Can someone help me out here as to what i should do with my enclosure?

[oorob00]

what do you mean by he doesnt like the enclosure too much? do u have at least 2 hides a water bowl and the correct temps? Keep the ambient temperature of the cage at 85 degrees. With a basking spot always available of at least 90 degrees. The cool end should be around 78 degrees, but never should it go below 75. also the humidity should be around 70% but not lower that 50% i keep mine at around 68%

[Cody]

Answer a few questions first, so I can hopefully pinpoint what's wrong a bit easier.

What are the temperatures in the warm side, and cool side? Humidity?

Do you have adequate hides for your ball to feel secure in?

What is the substrate you're using?

What exactly is he doing that makes you think he's not liking his cage?

[Super_Smash]

hmmm.... you dont have a heating pad?? you need a heating pad. it's a must. the heat lamp will keep the air inside the enclosure warm, but NOT the bottom. ball pythons are cold blooded so the air isnt going to give them the warmth they need. you should even have 2 heating pads, one kept on the warmer side that has the heating lamp and one kept on the cooler side with no lamp. keep the heating pad on the warmer side turned up higher, and the other cooler. the warm side should be around 90, and the cool side should be around 80. how's your humidity?

[RKRMC4]

ok thanks for the response...ok well i have a 100 watt bulb and thats it but im going out to get a human heating pad tomorrow...is there any suggestions as to which brand i can get or where i can get one without the atuo shut off...or which has a good thermostat on it...my temps are being monitored by 2 thermomoters i got at the pet store...hot side is about 98 just above the substrate and the cool side is just above 80

[RKRMC4]

i have a hide on both sides and a water bowl in the middle

[RKRMC4]

if anyone has AIM and would be willing to talk to me on there i would love to...my screen name is RmKlotz4

[Cody]

Look for the Dunlap human heat pad. You can find it at Walmart and Target and other places like that. Usually costs you around 10-15 dollars. It has 3 temperature settings(low-med-high) but no thermostat built in.

Also if you're using thermometers from a pet store, it's most likely the crap stickons. While you're at Walmart getting your human heat pad, look for the Acurite digital thermometer and hygrometer with probe. Then you just have to put the base unit on one side, and the probe on the other side. It'll provide you accurate measurements of your warm side, cool side, and humidity.

Also you didn't mention what kind of substrate you're using. For a new snake, best thing to use is newspaper or paper towels for the first few weeks so you can easily monitor for ticks, and watch for runny or unhealthy bowel movements.

[Marla]

hot side is about 98 just above the substrate and the cool side is just above 80

I didn't see a response to this part of your post, so I will jump in here to let you know, if that thermometer is remotely accurate (the analog ones can be off by as much as 20 degrees F or so in either direction), your snake is far too hot because air temp is going to be generally around 5 degrees cooler than surface temp. That means your surface is most likely at least 103F and needs to be dropped by ten degrees right away.

Welcome to the site and please do ask questions if there's anything you need to know and can't find the answers already in other posts. This is what we're here for. Also, congrats on deciding to go with a Rubbermaid enclosure. Once you get your temps and humidity right, they tend to be a lot easier to maintain in plastic than in glass.

[padiente]

Don't laugh, I have been having problems with temps in kitty's new enclosure, the cool side is too cool for my liking, but kitty keeps hanging out over there,the dope, and I don't want to raise the other side too muc, becuase then it will be too hot. I have been so flustered I didn't even think about putting a heat pad on the cool side, set on low to make up for some difference