My First BP + Critique My setup

Hello all,

On Tuesday I picked up my first ever snake from the reptile store, my Ball Python Samus.

I've read all I could find on the internet and have ordered a book on amazon, and now I want to ask the real experts to make sure I have everything right.

Samus seems to love the hide on the cool side (opaque tupperware container), she'll sit in there for most of the day. At night she seems to like to sit on top of the log underneath the lamp. Samus also wanders around, I guess to check out the cage, before returning to the hide. She has never used the warm hide (the log) so I guess she doesn't like it much.

I'm using an exo-terra brand UTH, but it didn't seem to be enough heat so I'm also using the lamp on top which has a 50 watt red bulb on 24/7.
The accu-rite reads 81 degrees cool side and 92 under the log, 57% humidity.

The substrate is cypress. I am planning on feeding for the first time next tuesday, 1 week for acclimation.

please yell at me if I have anything wrong, samus takes priority!
Thanks

here are pics:

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...0/DSC00055.jpg
going out exploring
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...0/DSC00051.jpg
in the hide
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...0/DSC00049.jpg
the tank
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...0/DSC00053.jpg
zoomed out
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...0/DSC00054.jpg
top view minus towel

First of all, congrats on getting Samus and welcome aboard! This is a great community with lots of friendly, helpful people. I'm certainly not an expert, but I've been browsing this forum pretty thoroughly since shortly before getting my BPs, so I'll share what I've learned.


Your temps & humidity seem fine. The only thing that leaps out at me is that you've got two different hides -- the plastic on the cool side and the log on the warm side. She'll probably use the hide she prefers, regardless of which side its on -- BPs prefer security over warmth, it seems. It's generally a good idea to have identical hides on the warm/cool sides of your setup, so the snake can use the hide she prefers, rather than picking between comfort & security.

Try placing an idenitcal plastic hide on the warm side and see what she does then.

Oh, one other thing: it might be a good idea to resize your images to make them a bit smaller. If even I'm having to scroll to left/right to see the whole thing, it must be a pain for others. ;-)

Again, welcome aboard and best of luck!

Congratulation on gettting your bp and welcome to the madness. I can see a couple of issues that need to be addressed with the setup.
1)What are you using to control your temps? Thermostat other device etc.
2)The hides are way too big for a bp. They need something small enough where they have to cram themselves inside of it. So I would advice that you use those two hides for something else and look for something a little more suitable.
3)Make sure the hides are identical so that they do not have to choose between the temps and security.
4)How are you controlling ur humidity? Are you using something to cover a portion of the lid?

BP.net caresheet

I have a similar half log hide for my BP and I don't think he ever uses it. I'm sure when he gets larger he will be more inclined to go in it but now I am sure he doesn't feel snug enough in it. Definitely recommend a ceramic saucer for a little guy, here is a link on using them. Good luck and enjoy the site. Everyone is extremely helpful here.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ht=clay+making

Looks pretty good. Just one comment in addition to what was already said: the hides. Besides getting identical hides, you might be better off getting one that isn't translucent. It sort of defeats the purpose of the hide if you can see through it. :P