Newbie has questions re ball wheezing

[ryeguy5875]

Hi,
I have a few questions to ask and would appreciate any help.
I just got a ball about a day and 1/2 ago.
I think I've done something wrong, because he's making a little but noticeable wheezing sound.

I'm hoping I set up his tank right. I read all the posts and threads on here before I got him and I thought I understood everything.

I had a 55 gallon tank, but after reading your threads, I went down and bought a 29 gallon tank. I have covered it all the way around except for the front. I have 2 hides (1/2 log and a rock mountain) and the water bowl is in the middle. Newspaper on the bottom.
I have 2 lights (daytime 100 watt and nighttime 100 watt). I not sure if those are too high of watts, that's just what the ladt at the pet store said I needed.
Thermometer says it's between 100-105 on hot side, and 92 on cold side and 98 in th e middle. With everything that everyone is posting it sounds like that is way too high. What do I need to do?

I have been misting the tank with a water bottle. The lady I got him from said to do it about 3x a day. Should I be doing it more?
Should I cover the lid with a towel to help humidity or will that make things worse?
Please help...I just got him and don't want to see anything happen to him.
(I also got a corn snake at the same time I got my ball from the same lady and no problems with him in his tank)
Thank you

[pslsnakes]

First of all, your temps are waaay to high.

You want it to be around 92 on the warm side, and about 80 on the cool side. What are you using to measure and regulate temps?

As for the weezing, it could be due to a respiratory infection, or is about to shed and the skin is in the nostrils, which has happened to me.

If you can, gently open it's mouth and see if there is excess mucus. If there is, bring the snake to a vet.

[ryeguy5875]

I have the 3 sticker thermometers (left side, middle right side) and
then I'm using my husband's thermometer he used to use at work. Not sure what they are called it looks like a gun sort of. He uses it at work to check temps in back of trailers with produce and other temp regulated items.
I'm just using the heat emitter (uses bulbs) on top of tank. I don't have a humidity reader yet.

[ryeguy5875]

The lady I just got him from said he just got done with a shed. He still has a couple of spots still that he hasn't shed off completely.
She told me to mist and then if I wanted to soak him and have him go through a towel.

[pslsnakes]

Ditch the sticker thermometers....They're crap.

That's a temp gun. Very accurate, I use them myself. And your husband's is probably very good, being it's used for food temps, most likely being calibrated by the FDA and Health DP, like mine is. I got mine from the Deli at my old job.

You shouldn't use the bulbs. Use an under-tank heater. Controlled by a Thermostat.

Go to http://www.thebeanfarm.com for that stuff.

[ryeguy5875]

Can I get one of those under tank heaters w/ thermostat at the local pet store? Or should I stick to buying one from the site?
Is there anything I can do differently to help with humidity? And the temp being too high?

Should I try to place the bulb further away from the top of the lid?

[ryeguy5875]

He let me open his mouth, no mucus that I can see.

I will get a under tank heater w/ thermo stat tomorrow.
I just seen a pic. of a tank that had some kind of temp. gauge that included temp and humidity.. are those better to have so I'm not having to use the temp gun all the time? They just had it lying up against the glass of one side of tank.
Thank you..you've been great help.

[pslsnakes]

You can get the stuff from a pet shop, but it's going to be alot more money.

For now, you can move the lamps further away.

You can mist, or get a different substrate.

I use Aspen, and don't have problems.

[ryeguy5875]

Thank you so much for helping me...I will get all that stuff tomorrow.
Lisa

[COLDBLOODED262]

you sshould lower to like one lite wit a little lowe watage and put a small heat pad under his tank and there is no need to mist because it can lead to a blister problem if you have a good size water bowl big enough for him to soak his whole body in every now and then plus the humidity from the evaporating water your buddy sould be good and comfortable