My first bp!

Hello everyone!
Tomorrow I'm getting my first ball python, well my first snake ever! I'm SUPER stoaked and cannot wait. He's a rescue, about 2 years old, super tame, almost 2 feet long and eats one rat pup a week. I just wanted to make sure my new little dude's going to be as happy as possible with the least amount of stress involved. I have a 10-15 gallon tank with a UTH with aspen substrate. I know everyones housing preferences are going to vary but my priority question is do I NEED to get a heat lamp for him if i have an UTH? I really would prefer not to get one due to the possibilities of burns and/or a fire. My second question is once I get my little man home I'm going to have to restrain myself as long as possible, however when do you think would be an appropriate time to start handling him? He's very tame but I dont want to stress him out with me handling him while he's trying to get accustom to his new situation.
More questions to come :-)
thanks everybody!

First off welcome!

Heat lamp isn't needed and generally frowned upon due to them burning off the moisture & reducing the humidity. Bp's prefer belly heat so a UTH is all that is needed, just make sure you are at the correct temp range of 88-92.

As far as holding the usual response is 7days. I have held them sooner with no ill effects though. I have recently acquired an adult female & I was waiting for the normal 7day period. She was restless day & night for 5 days, so my wife finally got her out & held her for an hour now she's very content.

As far as the heat lamp, that all depends on the temp ofthe room you are keeping him in. I only use a Ultratherm UTH on my glass tank but then again my room temps stay around 80 all the time. If the room temp is low I would get a CHE instead of a heat lamp because the lamp will suck the humidity.

As far as handling him I would give him at least five days to settle into the new digs...just my opinion. It will be over before you know it..:D

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Originally Posted by Salab10

Hello everyone!
Tomorrow I'm getting my first ball python, well my first snake ever! I'm SUPER stoaked and cannot wait. He's a rescue, about 2 years old, super tame, almost 2 feet long and eats one rat pup a week. I just wanted to make sure my new little dude's going to be as happy as possible with the least amount of stress involved. I have a 10-15 gallon tank with a UTH with aspen substrate. I know everyones housing preferences are going to vary but my priority question is do I NEED to get a heat lamp for him if i have an UTH? I really would prefer not to get one due to the possibilities of burns and/or a fire. My second question is once I get my little man home I'm going to have to restrain myself as long as possible, however when do you think would be an appropriate time to start handling him? He's very tame but I dont want to stress him out with me handling him while he's trying to get accustom to his new situation.
More questions to come :-)
thanks everybody!

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Once you get him settled in, you will want to bump up the prey size. There is no way a 2 year old BP should be eating rat pups. Should move up to small rats as soon as possible. You will need to check temps, as if the room isn't kept warm enough you may need a heat lamp. But they do kill the humidity. Just keep a watch on the ambient temps in the tank. Good luck, it's s blast.

You dont need a CHE if the room temps are in the 80s BUT you do need a thermostat for your heat pad.;)

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Originally Posted by bivman

Once you get him settled in, you will want to bump up the prey size. There is no way a 2 year old BP should be eating rat pups. Should move up to small rats as soon as possible.

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Good point and not only is it a blast but it's also addicting..:gj:

Welcome to PB.NET and the addiction :) I second the UTH on a Thermostat and would also recomend a good Thermometer with humidity reading Acurite is what most here use and cant wait to see pics.

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

Good point and not only is it a blast but it's also addicting..:gj:

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Oh no worries, the reason why he is still on rat pups is because the owner I'm adopting him from rescued him and he was very thin so they didn't want to overkill it with the food, but instead gradually bring his weight up. He'll be plump in no time! Thanks everyone!

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Originally Posted by Salab10

Oh no worries, the reason why he is still on rat pups is because the owner I'm adopting him from rescued him and he was very thin so they didn't want to overkill it with the food, but instead gradually bring his weight up. He'll be plump in no time! Thanks everyone!

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I was refering to BP ownership bein addicting but have fun with him.;)