My first snake!

Hello everyone!

I just got my first Ball Python last night, I bought the 20g tank that they sell at pet smart from Zoo Med. I also bought a night light and a little thermostat with the humitidy reader.
My question is why is he moving so much, I don't think I have seen him in a ball. My roommate also got another bp but his is always in a ball and hiding.

oh and also he pooped in the glass last night I tried cleaning this morning but is really stuck in there... any ideas of how to clean the glass?

Thank you for help!

Welcome. I just joined today too. I use baby wipes n scrub really hard haha. Or use a hard object like fork pen ect wrap in moist tp or paper towel or wipe n tha force should get it off. Just spray w water after for any residue. And the movement is just him exploring his new home haha. He ahs a hide right? Hell end up relaxing after a while. Sorry for long reply

Well we will need to know more about his set up before we can give you any real advice. What are the temperatures at? Do you have a hot and cold side? If so do you have hides on both sides for him? Any greenery? What exactly is the humidity? Stuff like that.

Movement means that he is stressed out. Like your friends ball pythons will spend most of their time balled up and hiding, only coming out to move around a bit at night. It might just be the move and new place that is stressing him out but like I said, we'll need to know more about the setup before we can come to any real verdict on that.


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congrats on your first snake! and welcome!

first off, sorry to say but you got screwed buying that "comes with everything" tank because everything it comes with is basically garbage and inadequate for keeping a beep properly, except for the tank itself.

ALL heat sources must be regulated by a thermoSTAT. there is no exception to this rule. a thermoSTAT and a thermoMETER are two very different things. you need to buy a thermostat. you also need to buy a DIGITAL thermoMETER and hygrometer. $10 at walmart.

you should have done your research before bringing an animal you have no clue how to care for home. luckily, you found us.

start reading here and make the necessary adjustments, yes you're going to have to spend more money.

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Originally Posted by BluuWolf

Well we will need to know more about his set up before we can give you any real advice. What are the temperatures at? Do you have a hot and cold side? If so do you have hides on both sides for him? Any greenery? What exactly is the humidity? Stuff like that.

Movement means that he is stressed out. Like your friends ball pythons will spend most of their time balled up and hiding, only coming out to move around a bit at night. It might just be the move and new place that is stressing him out but like I said, we'll need to know more about the setup before we can come to any real verdict on that.


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the temperature is between 85 and 95
I have one hide and water bowl
humility is between 40 60

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Originally Posted by serna2791

the temperature is between 85 and 95
I have one hide and water bowl
humility is between 40 60

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Okay, the temperature for the hot side is a little too high, you don't wanna go over 90. Now ball pythons are cold blooded which means they cannot control their body heat by themselves, so they need a temperature gradient, a hot side and a cold side, so they can move to one side or the other depending on how hot or cold they are. Like move to the hot side if they are too cold and cold side if they are too hot. You'll need to look up more on your own to get a better understanding, I would recommend going to the husbandry section of this forum and reading all the sticky posts, not just for this but for a better understanding in general. But the basic idea is you move the heat source to one side, I would put your hydrometer/thermometer on that side then you will need a regular thermometer for the cold side so you can make sure the cold side doesn't get to hot or too cold. The hot side should be around 85 - 90 and the cold around 80. You will also need another hide for him to go into on the cold side so he will feel more comfortable. If you haven't already I would also suggest getting some clutter for your tank, some fake greenery and stuff like that just so he wont feel so exposed. The humidity seems mostly fine but I wouldn't let it go below 50. Like I said, I would look up some set ups for examples and look through the husbandry section of this forum. I can also send some pics of my setup if you would like.

I hope this helps


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I'm trying to update a picture so y'all can see it but idk how from my phone

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Originally Posted by serna2791

I'm trying to update a picture so y'all can see it but idk how from my phone

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You'll need the app Tapatalk. There is a sticky thread on how to do it in the Ball Python Pictures section


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Originally Posted by Reptile luver1

Welcome. I just joined today too. I use baby wipes n scrub really hard haha. Or use a hard object like fork pen ect wrap in moist tp or paper towel or wipe n tha force should get it off. Just spray w water after for any residue. And the movement is just him exploring his new home haha. He ahs a hide right? Hell end up relaxing after a while. Sorry for long reply

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^ This. ^


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Update!
he's more comfortable after I bought him that new skull cave, he was exploring it last night and finally decided to go inside the cave.

I just order a CHE with a dimmer and a Acurite for the temperature and humidity. I should have it by Friday.

the temperature on the log side is around 78 and the one with the skull is around 88 with 55% humidity.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5ba4edeed3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a732d9feef.jpg

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