Striking Question

[Outtkast]

Hello, new member here, got my first BP today. It is ok that the new girl is striking like crazy on her first day, right? She's 130 grams and arrived today via plane, so I expect her to be a little stressed and unsure of her surroundings. She's really going at it though. Every time I walk in front of the cage, she hits the glass, when she's not completely out of site in her hide. Should I just let this go and try to stay away from the cage as much as possible? Is there anything I can do to calm her down?

Thanks

[T_Sauer]

You are absolutely correct ... Stay away from her cage and do not hold her or bother her at all for about 7 days. There is absolutely nothing you can do to calm her she has to be aloud time to do that on her own. Make sure her water is topped off and her temperatures and humidity is correct and then just forget you have her except maybe a quick peek at the thermometer once or twice a day to make sure everything is still ok temp wise. This will give her time to relax and adjust ... Then on the 7th day (still not having handled her at all yet) you can attempt a feeding ... When you do try and be gentle and quiet opening her cage and then present the feeder. I know it's tempting to want friends or family to watch the feeding but there will be plenty of time for that later down the road after you get her established in her new home and eating regularly. During the 7 days you are letting her adjust and settle in, do as much research and learning about your new baby ball as you can. Congrats on the new lil one and welcome to the site

[T_Sauer]

Also if you get a chance to snap a picture of the set up you have her in and a brief description of your temps and type of heating your using that would help us with giving you any advice on anything that might help with you new slithery friend ...... Plus we just love pictures

[Outtkast]

Thanks TS, I'll leave her be. I'll try to get some pics. I have her in a 10 gallon now while she is small. I have a 75 gallon glass available for the adult home, but that seems like daunting task after the research I've done, I might end up going with a 30g, tub or something else, we'll see. I followed the glass aquarium sticky closely for the 10g. 2 hides, fine tuning temps but close to 90 hot side/80 cool side. Have a uth with a hydrofarm stat and its probe foil taped to bottom of glass with another therm on top of glass monitoring the temp there. Have another thermometer on other side with hygrometer on it. Aspen bedding and a water bowl in the middle under heat lamp. The real challenge will be humidity, that's way down on day one.

[LivingwithBalls]

One thing you could try is covering all sides of the tank including the front for a while to lessen stress. That way she won't be able to see anything outside of her cage and will feel more secure. You could do this by putting towels over the cage to block viewing or for a more permanent coverage get some aquarium backgrounds.


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[Outtkast]

Yea, I was just thinking that too. I put white paper on 3 sides, but I may put something temporary in front too.

[T_Sauer]

Sounds like you have everything squared away pretty good, yes humidity is going to be a battle. You could wrap the top with foil except where your heat lamp is and leave like a one inch gap in the foil on the opposite end to allow air flow/ventilation. As long as you keep a humid hide moist with some spagnum moss on your warmer end and remember to mist your enclosure once or twice a day you should do fine. Tubs make it easier tho