Predicament

Hi All,

So I've got a new tank for our BP and I know i need to monitor temp and humidity for him, so he can reside in a nice environemt. Here's the but....I live in Indonesia (central Java (near enough)) and the people I have spoken with here have said there is no need to buy any such equipment because on the environment here already, humid and warm all the time. However, I have noticed the tankhe's in now can go from 27c to 30c through the day but I am unsure of night times....I magine they drop to about 25c. I have no clue about humidity ( saying that, I do as a human though). I have noticed since taking ownership of Felix since June he has only shred 2 skins, in 6 months. I have read elsewhere they shed about once every 4/6 weeks when young'uns. So my thinking is I should get a hygrometer to monitor and help improve the humidity situation....Not sure about the temperature one yet, as I think he may need a heat pad and possibly a cool tile to lay on.

Does anybody know if the monitoring of his environment is required here in Indo?

Shall look forward to any response +/-

Iain

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallpythIndo

Does anybody know if the monitoring of his environment is required here in Indo?

---

Yes. You need to monitor his environment. You created his environment, so you have the obligation to ensure that it meets his needs. Without monitoring it, you can't know that. Now, I agree that maintaining temps and humidity where you are will undoubtedly be easier than doing so in a cooler, dryer climate, but you still have to do it.

While proper humidity can make sheds easier for a snake, the humidity has nothing to do with the rate of their growth, which is evidenced by sheds. Do you know the true age of your BP? The infrequent sheds by your snake most likely are the result of you not feeding him enough. A snake that isn't shedding is also not growing. How often are you feeding him? What size prey are you feeding him? What does he weigh? & what is the average weight* of his prey? (*Terms to describe the size of prey often varies & are unreliable.)

Since we're not seeing either your snake or the prey he's eating, photos showing them both could also help, along with something for size reference. You could trace the outline of the rodent (to show the size) & put your snake next to that diagram, rather than expecting your snake to lie there next to a rodent for a photo shoot. ;) Most hatchling or neonate snakes are feed weekly, on appropriately-sized prey, but as the size (& maturity) of prey they consume increases, they need a little more time to digest it, so the time between feedings gradually increases also. Many BPs are started (as hatchlings) on "hopper" mice. Since your snake is at least 6 mos. old, he should be eating nothing smaller than hopper mice at this time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallpythIndo

I have noticed since taking ownership of Felix since June he has only shred 2 skins, in 6 months. I have read elsewhere they shed about once every 4/6 weeks when young'uns.

---

At 11 months, Felix may no longer qualify as a young'un.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...130_113434.jpg

As long as you're feeding him appropriately, I wouldn't worry about the frequency of his sheds.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Do you know the true age of your BP? The infrequent sheds by your snake most likely are the result of you not feeding him enough. A snake that isn't shedding is also not growing. How often are you feeding him? What size prey are you feeding him? What does he weigh? & what is the average weight* of his prey?

---

Hi,

There was a sticker on the original tank we bought him i and it stated 10th Jan 2022 (guessing he's about 11 months) so I can only go by this. Since we've bought him, we have fed him every 7 - 10 days, with a rat at approx 25-30gr. Once he went for about 1.5 weeks without food but other than this we've fed him all the time. Last measure he was 90cm and weighed 65gr. We only fed him yesterday so I am leaving him to digest before I disturb him, shall re-weigh and measure him on Saturday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

At 11 months, Felix may no longer qualify as a young'un.

---

Very true, not a young'un anymore but......I still call my 2 yr old child a baby

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

Yes. You need to monitor his environment. You created his environment, so you have the obligation to ensure that it meets his needs. Without monitoring it, you can't know that. Now, I agree that maintaining temps and humidity where you are will undoubtedly be easier than doing so in a cooler, dryer climate, but you still have to do it.

---

I had a sneaky feeling this was going to be the response about measuring temp/humidity.....So I shall get a piece of kit to do this!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallpythIndo

Very true, not a young'un anymore but......I still call my 2 yr old child a baby

---

My point is that those that said young'uns shed every 4-6 weeks may have been talking about younger snakes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallpythIndo

I had a sneaky feeling this was going to be the response about measuring temp/humidity.....So I shall get a piece of kit to do this!

---

I don't know what a "piece of kit" is, but a thermometer/hydrometer and a heat gun would do the trick.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Homebody

My point is that those that said young'uns shed every 4-6 weeks may have been talking about younger snakes.

---

Ok thanks! I was assuming he is still young and would therefore shed more frequently; he appears to be fine and growing.