New snake owner, specific questions.

[sevenlilies]

Hey all! My fiance and I have just adopted our newest family member, Andromeda. She's almost two years old and is a firefly ball python. Hoping y'all could help me on a couple things I could not find information on elsewhere (and I've read all the stickies that are relevant to me!)

Questions:

• She's currently being fed live pinkies, one every Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Is this an appropriate feeding schedule? Everywhere we've read says once a week, but the breeder said to do twice because she's growing.

• We want to train her onto frozen - should I do a couple live while she's in her new home as to not change too many things at once? I plan on feeding her this Sunday evening (8/6) and we brought her home yesterday (7/31).

• With her red heat lamp, it's currently only 80°F on her hot side and probably around 70°F her cool. Humidity is holding steady at 60%. I have a heating pad coming in to warm up her hot side, but is she going to be okay for the next couple of days? Is there anything I can do in the interim?

• If I put her water bowl on top of her hide but obscured the edges so she still felt safe, what is the likelihood she would use a substrate-covered hill to get to it?

• Does she need a water bowl on her hot side?

• Would she benefit from a basking spot under her heat lamp?

• I've read that she does not need UV light or any other kind of light and that it might even be NOT recommended. Could someone please verify this?

Currently:
1. How long have you had your ball python?
Just one day.

2. How old (or how big) is your snake?
She's 1 year and 7 or 8 months. She is probably 1.5 feet long - I'm bad at spatial recognition though, so take that with a grain of salt...

3. Does it eat on a regular schedule?
The breeder says she's a great eater and eats every Sunday and Wednesday evening.

4. How long since its last meal?
I imagine she was fed on Sunday - but the breeder had her in a store and she was handled the Monday after. So far she shows no signs of distress or illness and I have not seen any regurgitated food.

5. What type/size prey is being offered?
She was getting live pinkies.

6. How often do you offer food?
I need help on this one!

7. What type and size of enclosure does it live in?
She has a 40 gal glass tank with a screen lid. I think I might want to get some plexi-glass or something to sit on top to help keep moisture in.

8. What are you using as substrate? If it has depth, how deep is it?
Eco-earth, probably 2 - 3 inches deep.

9. What type of heating do you use?
Heat lamp, 60W. New Fluker's lamp coming soon that has a dimmer switch, and also an UTH pad coming soon.

10. Do you use a thermostat to control temperatures?
Thermostat is coming for both a new lamp and a new heating pad!
11. What do you use to measure/monitor temperatures?
The heating pad I ordered will have its own digital thermostat, and there is currently one Zoo-med combo humidity/temperature analog gauge on her hot side. Another of the same is coming for her cool side, but I am open to suggestions for a reliable digital thermometer. I have one for my hedgehog, so I might just get another couple of those or try to find one with a hygrometer in it too.

12. What are the surface and ambient temperatures in the enclosure?
The thermometer stuck to the back of the glass tank reads 80°F on her hot side so I'm really looking forward to that UTH pad!! I am worried for her.

13. What is the average humidity level?
Staying level at 60%. I misted her enclosure this morning anyway since I would be at work all day.

14. How many and what type of hides does the snake have?
One big plastic hide on her hot side. I want to make her another hide for her cool side.

15. Is water readily available at all times?
Yes. She has a big dish on her cool side.

16. Does the snake live alone or does it share the enclosure with anything else?
She lives alone.

17. How often and for how long is the snake typically handled?
She was handled for probably an hour or hour and a half yesterday (between taking her out at the store, taking her home, and setting up her tank). She was super chill and didn't seem anxious to leave. When we put her in her tank, she stayed out in the open for several minutes before going into her hide. We don't plan on handling her again until next Tuesday (if we feed her on Sunday).


18. Does the snake have any medical history (old injuries or illnesses)?
I asked the breeder and he said no; the only thing to watch for would be a wobbly head that pastels are prone to.

19. Do you have any other reptiles? Have you brought in any new reptiles recently?
No other reptiles at present, but we do hope to get a bearded dragon and maybe another BP in the future. It wouldn't be until probably the late winter or next spring, though.

20. Is there anything specific or unique about your situation that we should be aware of?
I have three indoor cats and a hedgehog! The cats have investigated Andromeda and tried to rub on her, but no one was aggressive and we didn't let them interact too much because... well, it seems like a dumb idea! We'd love for them to be friends, though, lol.