New ball python owner, PLEASE RATE my setup

http://i42.tinypic.com/ayltuq.jpghttp://i43.tinypic.com/2qk8agy.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/jtmao2.jpg


I just got my ball python 2 weeks ago, this is how I set his tank up with 3 thermometers monitoring temps and a heating pad under left side. Please let me know what you think and any advice at all is considered thankful :) temps are 90 under his hide from heating pad big enough to cover one third (left side), the ambient air temp reads 75-80 on top of the bedding from the acu-rite on cool side. And 80-85 in the middle where light is towards the middle plus the heating pad from under. Acu rite probe is right on bottom middle near water dish . And the heating one is on the tank floor. Humidity stays between 60-80 depending whether or not the light is on should I also put the acu rite probe on the tank floor towards the middle? Or is on the very bottom near bedding ok getting 75-80 reading? Thanks in advance for any advice!

:welcome:


Temps look OK...I'd make sure you got a thermostat for the heat pad and a lamp dimmer for the heat lamp (if you haven't already)

humidity is a little high from what I keep mine at, but I think is ok-ish

Thermostat is hooked to the pad, regulating temps and the lamp is turned all the way down

7/10
Since it looks like your bp has plenty of secure places to thermoregulate, probe temps don't matter quite as much, as in by the degree. as long as the snake has a way to get to all the temps it wants he is fine. Looks awesome!

Awsome! Thanks alot for the input if you could leave me some advice what I can change or add to make it more suitable thanks ;) yea I love how he will either go in his warm hide or around it.. Depending how hot he wants, then goes to the top branch in the cool corner, after feeding yesterday afternoon ( 2 fuzzies ) he went straight inside warm hide and hasn't came out now for 36 hours, besides for a drink I think he's heathy and happy so say.. Very friendly as I hold him before and after feeding.

Tempting though it may be, try to avoid handling during feeding times... They're fairly nervous eaters as is. Handling them before can stress them, and cause them not to take the meal. Handling them after can cause them to regurgitate. :P Just stuff to keep in mind. Welcome to the forum, and enjoy your new best friend!

For a tank setup, this is actually one of the best I've seen. Kudos to you. :gj:
The only thing I would suggest is to ditch the light/heat lamp. It's only going to dry out the tank. UTH is all you need.
TBH, I highly doubt the humidity stays 60-80% consistantly with the light and all. Not to sound harsh or anything.
I had my first BP in an almost identical setup to yours. He fasted for 8 months until I gave in and put him in a sterilite tub...Now all of my BPs are in a rack system. :P From your post, your guy is already eating which is a great sign. As long as he eats and sheds well, you're doing just fine.

Great looking setup. Just a note: both of your hides should be identical in size and shape so the animal doesn't have to choose comfort over temp. Some snakes will stay hot or cold unnecessarily because they only feel secure in one hide. And while that polyresin tree log hide looks nice, your snake can get wrapped up inside and you won't be able to get him out. Also the snake will grow to a point where it can get stuck inside the tube and you will have to break it to get him out risking injury to yourself and the snake. Does this sound like experience talking maybe? Not mine, but it is.

10/10 fancy

I want to take the heating lap out but if I do so I'm worried my cool side temps will drop to the mid and even low 70s in the very cool end. Would that be ok if he has constant hotspot of 90 provided by a med uth ? The lamp was keeping cooler temps around 78-80