caging/feeding questions

Adult Ball (3' 10" 1187grams) former stray, have had for 1 week. 40 gallon breeder tank (36"x18"). substrate is forest floor mixed with ecoearth. 150 watt CHE plus UTH. currently his warm end, with probe on top of the substrate, is 80 degrees (yes, I know, not good, working on it) humidity is 80-90%, again with the probe on top of the substrate. Right now his hides are card board boxes.


1. I know humidity should be 50-60%, but at what level in the cage do I measure that? Do I put the hygrometer at ground level or about halfway up?

2. What size hide would I use for an adult (3' 10")? I see people using these

https://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Rep...GB0EZRV7CDHBAA

I have the large size for my corn snake and, even though I know they like it snug, I can't imagine the ball fitting in one (maybe extra large?)

3. I have seen that the way to use a thermostat is to put the probe in between the UTH and the glass.
A. This will not be possible for me, would putting it right against the glass be sufficient?
B. Why put it right against the heater anyway? I mean, if I need to keep the tank at 80, wouldn't it make more sense to have the thermometer measure the ambient tank temperature?


4. My first attempt at feeding him was a flop, but a week ago he was roaming around the mean streets so I wasn't surprised. I think next I'll try a rat, but at what point do I get worried or give up on FT and go with a live meal? should I wait to try again when I get his conditions right?


P.S we named stray snake Sterling Archer, we just call him Sterling though.

My 4ft ball is in this:

Exo Terra Reptile Cave, Extra Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AR5BA..._C4Sayb285BHJR

I could maybe get away from the large, but he is pretty happy with the extra large.

You want your thermostat probe between the UTH and the glass to prevent the UTH from getting too hot and burning your snake. Do NOT use the thermostat probe for the UTH for ambient temps. You will end up with a cooked snake.

You do have a thermostat for the UTH, right?

I'll probably go with that one then and just order the extra large. Stick with what I'm more familiar with. And no I do not have a thermostat yet, if the probe has to go between the UTH and the tank for it to work properly, then I probably won't be getting one.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Erikamc

I'll probably go with that one then and just order the extra large. Stick with what I'm more familiar with. And no I do not have a thermostat yet, if the probe has to go between the UTH and the tank for it to work properly, then I probably won't be getting one.

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Check out the hides on reptilebasics as they're more practical, and way easier to clean.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

I'm not a big fan on eco earth, I would prefer CoCo Husk over that stuff, but even for a BP I personally wouldn't use that. Aspen to me has always been the best choice for BP's for me, not saying this is the best for everybody but I'm sure most would agree they use aspen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neal

I'm not a big fan on eco earth, I would prefer CoCo Husk over that stuff, but even for a BP I personally wouldn't use that. Aspen to me has always been the best choice for BP's for me, not saying this is the best for everybody but I'm sure most would agree they use aspen.

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Aspen is a humidity-keeping nightmare for me. It was hell keeping it over 30%. I switched to coco husk.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by melcvt00

Aspen is a humidity-keeping nightmare for me. It was hell keeping it over 30%. I switched to coco husk.

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Yea, if you live up North it can be hard to maintain humidity with Aspen, especially if you use a glass tank with screen top. I live in Louisiana so it was never an issue with me. That's why I recommended CoCo Husk as a better option than eco earth.

what's the difference between coco husk and eco earth? they look identical to me, compressed blocks of coconut fiber? I had aspen, it was highly recommended I remove that and switch to something that would hold humidity better.