how does this setup look,

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6156/...cb49208e_z.jpg
tank photo by kemplete media, on Flickr

Above is a pic of the tank that i have in my house, not sure what tank is actually built for but i use it for my two ball pythons i have changed the setup a little so that one hide is on the hot side and the other is on the cool side, i am using shreded paper for the substrate, using standard gauges for everything no electronics at all minus the heat rock, both tanks eat twice a week and have had no problems thus far with them scarfing down a meal, most of the time i must feed them two mice at a feeding to get signs that they are happy. was curious what this tank was really built for? and what you see that i need/may need to change so that i will haveBIGand happy pythons living here. Am also having issues with there shed recently and one still has most of his head shed on, what should i do? If someone could please show me or describe to me how to get and keep proper data of my snakes, so that i am the best armed for any kind of unfortuante sickness that may come there way. From what i have red sexing seems almost point less if males can probe like females and vice versa, so how do i tell what i have?

And Finally after my huge list thanks for the putting this forum and i hope to be contributing soon to make it bigger and better.:gj:

My first concern is housing 2 balls together in there. My second is the heat rock, those aren't great for anything, especially ball pythons. I would switch out the log hides for something more enclosed.

First things first, you should NOT be housing two snakes together in the same enclosure. You're asking for a long list of problems by keeping them together, but you can search the forum for threads on cohabitation and red up on it there.

Second, get rid of the heat rock. Heat rocks should never be used with ball pythons as they get WAY too hot and can burn your snakes.

Third, the issues you're having with the shed is due to low humidity. From your picture, it looks like you're using three heat lamps. Heat lamps will suck the humidity right out of the enclosure and you will be struggling with bad sheds forever. For that type of enclosure, I would probably recommend a radiant heat panel hooked up to a thermostat.

You should also get rid of the analog dial type thermometer and hygrometer. Those things can be VERY inaccurate and your temps and humidity could be WAY off without you even realizing it. Not to mention that right now you're measuring the temps and humidity toward the top of the tank, not where your snake is actually spending his time.

Look up the care sheet on this site, read through it thoroughly and adjust your setup accordingly. I don't mean to sound harsh, but there are several things wrong with that setup that you should fix ASAP for the good of the snakes...

I'd prioritize first. Jbean pointed out a few things, but with so many things seeming off I think it's important for you to make a list and go from there.

First, get a separate enclosure for each. I'm sure they're going to be fine for a short while, but as they get older you really don't want them living together; they just aren't that type of social snake.

Second is your heat source; those rocks are darn dangerous. With a short enclosure like that, I don't know what would be better for a gradient, UTH or a lamp, but pick one and go with that. I'd recommend the UTH, but that enclosure looks to be made from a really heavy plastic, and if it is, using a UTH might be more difficult. Check it out, ask more questions if you can't decide, but with two enclosures it'll be easier and save you money in the long run if you have two display tanks running on UTH instead of lamp bulbs.

Third is your shed. It's not life threatening but it probably isn't very comfortable, and it points to a few things wrong with their home. It's probably a humidity issue, stemming from your substrate and enclosure. That enclosure looks professionally made to display an animal, so I assume it is suited to something as simple as keeping a bp, so I'd wager your substrate is the issue. I'd recommend something like eco earth, 3 bucks and you have enough for two cages and then some, but others will recommend simple newspaper or paper towels; I have great success with eco earth as it keeps humidity very well with just misting and an occasional cup of water once in awhile.

And lastly, and I put it last cause your bp obviously feel secure enough to want to eat, different hides. Your half logs are fine for most bp, but ones with only one entrance and tight spaces are preferred. You probably have success with them though because you take out your bp often enough for them to be used to things like it and aren't scared as easily as others who wouldn't interact with them as much.

But yeah, you seem enthusiastic about your animals, and that's great! Just work on that and you'll be where you want to be.

edit: There really needs to be a message that pops up when you're typing a response that says "Recheck the thread! Some one is posting everything you're typing RIGHT NOW!"

When i get a pet I like to do things the right way because it makes there life 100 fold bettter and more willing to trust when they feel comfortable than some dude that just sticks the animal in some that will "sufice" <- really meaning wont get you introuble with the law. Thanks for the advice will get it done, the three lights are a heat lamp, and regular day light and the third light is night bulb. i have found that animals do better when they have some sort of light to mimic the night time look. The issue that i have right now is befor i got into the herp market i was a fish aholic. so i have tanks out the yang but from what i have heard fish tanks are not good for snakes or any other reptile to be in, the only thing i really have that might sufice for my second python is a 37 gallon tall tank but that seems kind of stupid since he is only going to be using 15% of the tank.

@Inknsteel - thakns for the advice i didn't even cross my mind to put them down low i guess my fish care abilities are just to strong lol.

@salodin- thanks for the advice as well, yea generally if they have been in the tank all week than they are scared to be picked up, but after they are out and (i guess realize dad has picked them up) they are fine with rubbing them and even seem to enjoy it greatly.

Then only thing i still need answered at this point is how to collect my data on my snakes i.e. wheight, length, and anything else that is not obvious.

thanks for all the replys, if anyone wants to leave more about tank feel free

No problem. You can work with glass tanks, but they're a little tricky to maintain the ideal setup. There are some stickys in the forums about certain mods you can do to an aquarium to make it work well for a bp. Things like crafting a plexiglass lid with air holes that will help to hold in the humidity... Adding black contact or construction paper to the back and sides of the tank will help the snake feel more secure. If you're using a larger aquarium for a smaller snake, add a lot of hides so the snake has several options for a secure hiding spot.

With a glass tank, you can also use an under tank heater, but be sure to have it hooked to a thermostat or rheostat. Without regulating the heater, it can also get too hot and can cause burns. You can mist the tank to increase humidity, but putting in a larger water bowl and moving it partially over the heat source will also help.

I still say that you'd be better to get rid of the dial gauges and get something digital. You can find an Accu-Rite Weather Station at Walmart for around $12 that will measure cool side temps, humidity and has a probe to measure hot side temps.

As for light cycles, they are totally unnecessary for a ball python. Your bp will spend 90% of its time inside its hides, so they really won't even be exposed to the light. If you have your enclosure in a room with windows, the natural light that gets into the tub is more than sufficient...

I forgot to address the stuck shed issue in my earlier post. There are also stickys around on how to handle a bad shed. Basically, put them in a tupperware container of some kind with lukewarm water deep enough to come about halfway up the sides of your snake. You can put a washcloth in there and he might take care of it himself. If not, after 15 minutes or so, take the snake out and let him slither through a towel and he should be able to work the stuck shed off of himself.

Bah... I keep missing questions... Tracking info on your snakes can be done manually, or you can do it online through iHerp. I've just started using iHerp recently and so far I'm liking it. I only use it to track sheds and feedings, but it helps me keep my records somewhere I won't lose them.

If you're asking how you find out the length/weight etc of your snake, well, you weigh and measure them. lol. If you don't already have one, I would suggest getting a gram scale. You can find some online or you can go with kitchen scale from Walmart. Just make sure you get one that's digital, weighs in single gram increments and can go up to 5kg. You can put your snake into a bowl to weigh it on one of those scales. Getting a length measurement is a lot more tricky. My snakes generally don't cooperate and lay out straight right next to a ruler or tape measure for me. Length isn't really as important as weight, so I don't even worry about length personally.