probably being paranoid but (noob content)

i picked up my first ball python today (a pastel juvenile)

got him home and put him in the tank with the two hides water dish and under tank heating.

he spent the entire day climbing the sides of the tanks and sort of falling over once he reached the top.

now hes just sitting in the corner of the tank between the glass and hide. from what i can tell he hasent gone into either hides as of yet

now im probably just being paranoid but dont they prefer be inside a hide

Can you post a picture of the tank with the hides? That would really help us determine if there is a problem with them.

That behaviour doesn't seem too strange but a look at the set up would be able to confirm this.

Also, do you know what your temps are, and do you have any way to regulate the uth suvh as a dimmer or thermostat?

i dont have any pics i can post yet

basically i have a 30 gallon tank two small hides one in either end large cleaned piece of drift wood in the middle water dish on the side with the under tank heat source (i dont have control over the heating)

temp was sitting around 70 deg but i just brought it up to 80 deg by covering the 80 percent of the top of the tank and sides with "con-tact" shelf liner i still have to cover the back panel

If you're not controlling the UTH it's getting too hot. Please get a thermostat or at least a dimmer switch as your snake can be severely burned.

30 gallons is AWFUL large for even an adult BP...

i guess ill have to pick up a thermostat tomorrow then.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DHB

i guess ill have to pick up a thermostat tomorrow then.

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tstats can run you a bit much, if you dont have the money, go to home depot and get this:
http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical-...kuId=202887062
that will work for now

also, do you have a hrgrometer? if not your going to need one, but theyre quite cheap

There is a Hygrofarm( look it up on amazon) thermostat for around 25$ that works pretty well for reptiles. I have one that I'm using for the two female geckos. For the sand boas I got a dimmer at lowes for under 20$ and I'm in the process of setting it up ( they were ordered online, and will be here on Wendsday). The bp and male leo have a lamp that heats the whole room up to around 80 f and their cages at around 85f on the warm ends.

As everyone already said, please get something to control that UTH. Your snake's behavior is not all that uncommom considering you just got him. Give him some time to settle in and I'm sure you will find him in his hides. A thirty gallon tank can work for a small snake but you need to provide plenty of coverage and hides to make him feel secure.

like everyone is saying u need a thermostat also add more hides because your tank is huge for a small snake.bigger isnt better for snakes