new BP owner

[bigben2390]

Hi all,

I'm a new member to these forums as well as a new BP owner! Just got the little guy yesterday from the local PetCo. I did quite a bit of research before buying the snake and now that I've got him I have a few questions (cause the lady at the petstore couldn't even tell me when the last time my BP had eaten. in other words, she was no help at all). The major problem I'm having right now is keeping the temp in the cage DOWN. I bought a UTH and a zoo med rheostat to control the temp. However even on the lowest setting, my thermometer still reads 96 or 97 degrees on the hot side. I know this is kinda high. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[51-50 Python]

Hi all,

I'm a new member to these forums as well as a new BP owner! Just got the little guy yesterday from the local PetCo. I did quite a bit of research before buying the snake and now that I've got him I have a few questions (cause the lady at the petstore couldn't even tell me when the last time my BP had eaten. in other words, she was no help at all). The major problem I'm having right now is keeping the temp in the cage DOWN. I bought a UTH and a zoo med rheostat to control the temp. However even on the lowest setting, my thermometer still reads 96 or 97 degrees on the hot side. I know this is kinda high. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

dont know about the temps but let ur BP get adjusted to its new place for a few days and then try giving it a mouse

[J.Bissell]

Hey,

First regarding the temps... That IMO is the most important. I'd say 96 - 97 is ok, as long as the cool side is low enough. If you can get a little more ventilation that would help get the temps down if you can't turn the thermostat down any more. I keep mine between 94 and 96 on the hot side.

It also makes a big difference if that 96 is ambient temp or surface temp of the substrate. If it is ambient, that means the surface is quite a bit hotter, which isn't good. To check surface you need a infrared Thermometer. PE-2 is very good. Pro-exotics, you can get them from ebay or their website.

Next I would worry about Humidity. A bigger water dish can help that if it's too low, or different substrate.

Then Hides.

Then feeding. Ball pythons can go for months without food, if they are adults. Not generally good, but if they're young they should be eating at least every week. Just keep a close eye on it, if it's body is rounded out it's good, if it's body starting to look triangular it's losing weight, and something should be done. I lost my first bp because it wouldn't eat, but I believe it had a RI from the pet store... very sad.

Sorry if you didn't need the rest of the info.

JB

[soy.lor.n]

What kind of enclosure are you using, what kind of heater, and how are you measuring the temps?
My solution would probably be to take the rheostat back and tell them it doesn't work, and then pick up a lamp dimmer at a wal-mart or a home improvement store. (I have one that you can plug your heater directly into, without doing any crazy wiring, and it cost me $10) When I turn my dimmer to its lowest setting, my lamp goes all the way off, so I can be pretty sure it's good.