First time snake owner... Lots of questions

Ok, so I bought a ball python. Not sure how old it is or even what the sex is. I was always intrigued by the ball python. Just a beautiful animal. Now I have one and I want to make sure I am doing my "husbandry?" correct. I have it in a 10gal glass terrarium. I have two lights one for day and one for night. I have a reptitherm uth heating pad and a small hide and a faux tree plant and a watering rock. I am using ecoearth as a substrate. I am having lots of trouble keeping the ambient temps up and the humidity. I have a screen top and I have tried covering most that I can with towels to try and keep everything in. How can I fix this? I have thought about just going to plastic tubs, but how would I set that up and is it a good choice. There is a lot of controversy over that issue I am seeing. Also, I tried doing the F/T route for feeding but he/she just wasn't interested. I did a live yesterday and it took it within less than 10 seconds. Also, I keep seeing people posting things such as pastel .1, what does this mean. I am very interested in delving deeper in so i can properly care for my new friend.

1. Is your UTH regulated with a dimmer or thermostat?
2. Cover your screen with aluminum foil. It'll hold heat and humidity in.
3. Anything before the decimal point indicates male, anything after indicates female.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

First thing's first, do you have a thermostat for your UTH? If not, you need to get one ASAP. The purpose of the thermostat is to regulate the UTH and keep it from getting too hot; just do a search for burns on this forum if you want to see what can happen without one.

Second; are you using those circle/dial thermometer and hygrometer sets they sell at petstores? If so, they are incredibly inaccurate. You'll want either a laser thermometer or temp gun and a higher quality hygrometer (you want humidity 50-60% normally and a bit higher before a shed).

I personally prefer tubs. They keep humidity in better. You can also pick up some sphagnum moss and spritz it and put it in a hide. That keeps the humidity in really well.

The decimals and numbers indicate male/female/unsexed. So if someone has 1.4.2 ball pythons, they have one male, four females, and two unsexed.

A tip for the eco earth... Mix it with some tropical jungle bedding. About 40/60 ratio having more eco than jungle. Moisten with water once or twice a week. Holds amazing moisture without being yucky.

Combine that with a nice foil top or like me make a nice one, and you should be pretty good

My Uth is not regulated, it just stays on.
I will add the foil tonight.

How can I sex my python?

Regulate your UTH right now. Those can jump up to over 120 degrees easily. They need to be regulated to 91f. Go get a dimmer from Home Depot or something like that. They're like $7 and you can adjust the wattage that is going to your UTH so that it can be regulated down to 91f. And make sure when you tape the foil to the screen, tape it on the outside so your snake doesn't get stuck to the tape.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Have a breeder sex your BP. It's hard and I've never done it myself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Seconded about the UTH. Long-term you'll want a thermostat though.

Yeah, only way to sex a BP is probing or popping, both of which can be dangerous to the snake if they're being done by someone who doesn't know how to do them. Either a breeder or vet could show you how.

Thanks for all your helpful info.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk