Helpful advice for my first Python

I recently bought my first Ball Python. It has been in its cage for about 3 1/2 weeks. I am feeding it live mice since it didn't eat the frozen ones. It eats just fine. Attacks within seconds of seeing the mouse. I have a lamp keeping one side of the cage warm and the other side is cool with the water bowl. I spray water from a spray bottle into the cage twice a day for humidity. The snake stays in its hide for the majority/all of the day and often comes out at night/early morning. I just have a couple questions since I'm new at this….

- The main big question I have is that its almost Winter and its getting cold in my room at night. Should I invest in one of those under-cage heating pads? or keep the heat lamp on longer? or just leave it? I have a basking rock that stays warm from the lamp for a couple hours.

- Is it possible to put TOO MUCH foliage in the cage? I read they love to hide so i put 2 driftwood sticks and some leaves in the cage but it is very crowded. Today when he caught his mouse he accidentally wrapped up around a stick as well. So the mouse was between him and the stick. Should i take some out?

- Anyone know good places that sell 40 gallon tanks for low prices? Glass tanks with screen lids are fine but I'd really like one with sliding doors on the side. In the end the major thing i want is a cage with a lock. (So i don't have to use books lol)

The people on this site have helped me so much already. Im glad I found it. Thanks a bunch. please answer if you can

Winter/lamp: In most cases a lamp will be kept on 24/7used with a dimmer to dial it in or placed on a tstat. I would recommend getting one of those options so you will be providing heat constantly. As for a basking rock ball python do not usually bask and would benefit much more from a uth in a hide. A uth must be on a tstat as it will get way to hot without it and could cause serious harm to your snake.

I would recommend the Herpstat2 which has two outlets so you could control both a uth and your lamp with one tstat.

As for the foliage:http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...ps93d92ab4.jpg

The upper pic is more current setup for my ball and the lower is how it was just before I changed it. I had to take out some of the plants because my ball is so big now they started making the tank crowded. I moved them to the gtp and bought new plants that opened the tank up some. I wouldn't remove anything unless necessary. I would just make sure you leave an area big enough for your snake to handle its business for chow.

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...psa5797386.jpg

Caging: If you are wanting a new cage I would check into a PVC style. Animal Plastic is very highly recommended here. I have my tank in my living room and the sliding screen top locks tight and I like the way it looks in the room. They can be had at Petco and a couple times a year they get discounted.

I set up the foliage to provide cover around the sides and front of the enclosure. In front of the hide is some open space, so when I go to feed him he can stick his head out, get into striking position and wrap the rat without bumping into anything.

http://i57.tinypic.com/351hhmg.jpg

Really like this Atasuki enclosure. Sliding doors in front, with a grill near bottom. So cool fresh air can enter at snake level, it gets warmed up and circulates out of opening at top.

http://i57.tinypic.com/f06qkl.jpg

While looking around for something to use on top of screen for vinyl + tinfoil lid, found Reflectix at the hardware store, it's aluminum foil bubble wrap - very lightweight, and has good insulating properties. I used duct tape around the edges to make a sort of flap and force the air out of the opening.

http://i57.tinypic.com/2u72c7a.jpg


There's a good sized open area in back right corner on the cool side, covered by the branch and cork flat. Last night, caught Mr Burrows on video on his way to chill out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaDY...ature=youtu.be

so today i cleaned his cage for the first time. I put my snake (named Walker) into an old tank we once had a lizard in (I made sure to wash out it all out and stuff) I cleaned the cage and put him back in but after i put him in I noticed a red ball on the floor. I think he pooped blood. the ball part was like a small tiny grape-like thing. What color is snake blood? It was pinkish and light color red. I have no idea what it could have been other from him. The area around it was wet as well. Is this normal? maybe he was stressed from being moved for cleaning? I also bought a red lamp for night and a thermometer. As soon as I put him in the cage he went directly into his hide and curled up real tightly and hasn't moved

Have you fed him recently?

Umm, red. ;)

A pic of it might be better than us guessing.

I fed him the day before I cleaned the cage. and sorry, I am new to this site and can't figure out how to upload a photo. I click the icon but I can't select the file. dragging and dropping doesn't work either.

You have to upload it to a photo sharing site like photobucket.com and then post the IMG code.

http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2c197570.jpg

Ok here it is

It has eaten 3 mice total since I've owned it. They were all live. The pet store which I got it from fed it f/t mice. Also could it be possible that salt or pretzel is bad for BP? My sister felt bad about the mouse dying and gave it a pretzel as sort of its last meal kinda thing.