New Owner (Haha, sorry this turned out so long.)

Hi all. I've been looking over the forums for a few weeks now, but you guys seemed so friendly, I just had to join and introduce myself. Just a quick rundown. I'm Jess, I'm 13 (I know, I know, I'm young. Hehe.) I live in suburb NY. Ok. So. Onto the parts that actually belong on this forum.
I got my ball python Sunday. He's two weeks old. Just a normal, male BP- Vibes is his name. I got him from a breeder at the Westchester Reptile Expo. I saw someone mention it before, tsk on me for not catching the name, the one who had snakes hatching right there at the expo. Anywho. I've got him in the Exo Terra glass terrarium. Its 24" x 18" x 24". Its a fairly large tank, but its pretty much all in the height. I've got it bedded with that fancy mud brick, Eco Earth compressed coconut fiber expandable substrate. It seems to be keeping the humidity great, and I just have to spritz it lightly with room-tempature water when its getting a little dry. I've got a large bowl, a cave and branch. Today when we go out, I'm having my mom run me over to our Petsmart for another hide, and then to WalMart for a digital thermometer. Right now, the heat sources are an extra small substrate heater underneath his warm hide, and a 50watt halogen lamp up top, (yes, I know it dries the air. I'm going to take a look see at the ceramic heat emitters today. Knowing PetSmart, though, they'll run me ragged with their prices) that I turn off 8PM and turn on 8AM.
I didn't want to feed him until Thursday or so, but he was getting very active, and struck for my hand when I reached in to get the water. So I fed him a frozen fuzzie. (Which was what had been what he was eating, the breeder said.) I was dangling it with those long tweezers for a while, and he struck it twice, but didn't grab either time. So I decided it would be best just to leave him be with it for a while, and take it out in the morning if he hadn't taken interest by then. From what I see, the fuzzies gone. He doesn't really show any incredibly defined lumps, but I'm pretty sure I see one. I can't really tell right now, though, because hes sleeping against his branch where its nice and shady.
I was thinking I'd start handling sometime next week, once hes accustomed to his cage. At the moment, if I come near it, he'll watch me and pull his head back like hes ready to strike. I don't think I'll mind being bitten if it happens, from what everyone says, its not incredibly painful. I'd just like to avoid it, if possible. No sense in breaking the skin if you don't need to. (:
Anyways, heres some pictures of the setup now, before I get that second hide and thermometer and all.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...p/100_2049.jpg
The cage in an overall view.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...p/100_2053.jpg
A closer view. Note the lock to keep out curious, grabby younger siblings.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...p/100_2051.jpg
The water bowl. I think I might need to downgrade to a smaller one.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...p/100_2050.jpg
The hide. The first day and a half, he just kind of kept away in here, after getting up to the top of the tank and needing to be rescued.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...p/100_2060.jpg
Vibes himself. I'd have more pictures, but he seemed pretty snarky that evening, and I decided not to stress him further with the flash.

Welcome to the site! And congrats on your new bp baby.


The only thing I would change hun, is his enclosure and definately the light.. that exo terra is not meant for housing ground dwelling snakes, its great for small arboreal species (I house crested geckos in those) though.. a 10 gallon tank would have cost you less than that and been more appropriate.... although, a cheaper alternative is to get a rubber maid at walmart while you're there.

Thats a nice setup...though more appropriate for a dirunal species or a arboreal snake...but not ideal for a ball python. Here's my critique:

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I've got him in the Exo Terra glass terrarium. Its 24" x 18" x 24". Its a fairly large tank, but its pretty much all in the height.

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The floorspace will be ok for a male for quite some time. The height of the cage however, will affect the temperature gradient in the tank. All of the heat it going to rise to the top of the cage, creating a vertical thermal gradient. You want a horizontal thermal gradient, since your ball python will not be able to access the top of the cage.

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50watt halogen lamp up top, (yes, I know it dries the air. I'm going to take a look see at the ceramic heat emitters today. Knowing PetSmart, though, they'll run me ragged with their prices) that I turn off 8PM and turn on 8AM.

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Bright bulbs are not appropriate for ball pythons. They are nocturnal and live mostly underground. Also, turning the light off causes a drop in the ambient temperatures overnight- something not recommended for a baby ball python and will ultimately result in him refusing food, most likely. You can fix this problem by switching to a red, black bulb, or ceramic heat emitter as you mentioned. Leave these heat sources on 24/7.

Also, is the substrate heater controlled by a thermostat? If not, watch out, these can develop hot spots that can burn your snake.

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

Also, is the substrate heater controlled by a thermostat? If not, watch out, these can develop hot spots that can burn your snake.

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Alright, I'll look into all that, thanks guys. (:

No, its not. Its one of those sticky back ones mounted on the outside underneath of the tank. Should I remove it?

Its defintely a hazard...serious, maybe not right now, but I've seen more than a few snakes burned by uncontrolled heating pads.

Those ET tanks are expensive, its a shame you spent all of that money for a ball python, which really doesn't benefit from something so elaborate. Who told you that would be a good way to set up a ball?

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Originally Posted by Rocketship

No, its not. Its one of those sticky back ones mounted on the outside underneath of the tank. Should I remove it?

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Just make sure the temp on that side isnt over about 92-94 degrees and youll be fine.

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Originally Posted by Rocketship

No, its not. Its one of those sticky back ones mounted on the outside underneath of the tank. Should I remove it?

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No, just buy a thermostat to plug it into...the thermostat will regulate it and keep it from getting too hot. :)

Actually, it wasn't incredibly expensive. It only ran $130. I didn't catch who, exactly. I just remember this guy pulling me and my mom along and showing us what we'd need.

And I'll be sure to buy that thermostat and keep an eye on the tempature.

Hm...I mean, a 20 long, heat pad, bulb and substrate might retail at around $80...and be better suited for a ball python. I guess the salesman got you!

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

Hm...I mean, a 20 long, heat pad, bulb and substrate might retail at around $80...and be better suited for a ball python. I guess the salesman got you!

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Huh, I guess so. Haha.