New Ball Python

[Spike4179]

Hi I'm new to owning ball pythons and I just got my new ball python yesterday this is my first time ever owning a snake and I have some questions about her behavior. She has aspen as substrate with a UTH on one side with the temps hovering around 88-90 and the cold side being 10 less, the humidity it around 55% but has been difficult to maintain. When I moved her from the box to her new enclosure she seems perfectly fine and content and didnt try to strike at me then about 5 minutes after I put her in she started to explore. I noticed that she was up by the lid a lot and climbing the walls is this normal for a new ball python? When I woke up this morning she was in one of her hides and was asleep and she hasnt moved since then from what I can tell it's been about 8 hour should I be worried at all. Thanks in advance.

[Craiga 01453]

Congratulations. Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping.

That behavior sounds perfectly normal. Being a nocturnal animal BPs will hide most of the day and only explore at night. Nothing at all to worry about.

As for humidity, Aspen unfortunately stinks for holding humidity. You may want to use a different substrate. I use a blend of Eco Earth and ReptiBark. It holds humidity well, spot cleans easy, absorbs odor and looks naturalistic.
Any of the coco coir substrates will be better than Aspen.

Is your UTH regulated by a thermostat??? EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

Also, how and where are you measuring your temps?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Usually upon arrival they will sluther around and inspect their new environment for a while so this is normal, a BP that is hiding for long period of time is also normal, they are nocturnal and spend about 80% of their time hiding, it's when they don't that you have to question it.

[Spike4179]

Yes my UTH is regulated by a thermostat and I'm measuring the temperatures with a temp gun. I also have cypress mulch just as a back up if my humidity gets too low ,but it's been super humid these past couple of weeks where I live so that's why I got aspen. Thanks for the help and quick responses.

[Craiga 01453]

Yes my UTH is regulated by a thermostat and I'm measuring the temperatures with a temp gun. I also have cypress mulch just as a back up if my humidity gets too low ,but it's been super humid these past couple of weeks where I live so that's why I got aspen. Thanks for the help and quick responses.

Awesome! Sounds like you're off to a great start.

Are you measuring the substrate or the actual surface temp?

[Spike4179]

I'm measuring the actual surface of the tub not the substrate

[Craiga 01453]

I'm measuring the actual surface of the tub not the substrate

Awesome again!!! Sounds like you did your homework!!

Don't be afraid to ask any questions you may have. We're happy to help.

[Spike4179]

Yeah I've tried to make everything perfect for the new member of my family. Thanks for all the help and support