Howdy all, Found this site while doing a research on my Ball. I was wanting to ask a few questions. I am on my second ball python. The first one died and the shop I bought it from told me the whole shipment had died. They told me they had some sort of virus that caused them not to eat. but mine was eating fine. then one day he was gone. they replaced the one I had with one about twice the size. I'm getting a little nervous because he hasn't eaten in the 10 days I have had him and I don't want him to die.

First off my enclosure is a 20 gal screen toped glass tank
I cleaned the tank , hide and the water dish with 5% bleach and water. I waited a week after that before I went to pick up the new Ball and this time I'm using news paper for the bottom not the substrate they sold me the first time. I have a 60 watt heat lamp. I also have a under tank heater which I have not installed yet because I am using news paper and I don't want him to get burned. The water dish is a plastic container that is large enough to soak in and I have one hide

I know I need a second hide and plan on buying a thermostat for the uth. also I cant seem to keep the humidity any higher than 45%

Please feel free to flame away I'm looking for any advice I can get. I'm feeling pretty bad about the death of my first ball and don't want it to happen again.

sorry for the long winded post but I'm trying to offer all the info I have on my situation.