Here is my setup - Tell me what you think

OK. So I adopted this Sweet Girl last week and she is about a year old. Previous owner is a very nice young man going away to college who needed to find a new home for her. Lucky for both of us, I was looking and we crossed paths. Here cage is a 20 Long which he had basically set up as it is now. There is an UTH onder the half log, which I am putting a Slide Dimmer from Lowes in the next day or two. I have added a 60W red heat lamp on the log side to help with the "warm side of things [on a timer to go on @ 6 and off @ midight - 6 hours]. Also added the Accurite Temp/Humpdity sensor with the outside lead on the glass inside the half log. The main unit is mounted on the other side over the water. Temps stay around 77-79 on the cool side and 81-85 on the warm side. Humidity stays a constant 45-55%. I did foil the lid to help up the humidty a little so this is still a work in progress. I also re-arranged her log to open up the floor a little and now noticed she likes to hang out over the water if you will from time to time. I alos got her a little larger water bowl as the one that was in there was a little small and she knocked it over all of the time.

Big question here is this: I understand everyone's desire to have two hides, but if my little girl is doing well, and appears to be regulating her temps on her own as she moves around her tank all throughout the day, is another hide really a must have? She moves in and out of the log [which is blocked on the glass side by a background], on top of the half log, on the tree and sometimes just hangs out in the center of her cage in the open. It has been years since I have has a BP and herp knowledge has developed far and beyond what it was so all opinions are welcome. Be gentle though, my ego is brittle. :-)

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...e/100_0936.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...e/100_0937.jpg
Chuck.

Also just wanted to add that she feeds like a monster. Previous owner fed her weekly on live rat pups and two days after bringing her home, because she appeared to be looking for a meal, I fed her on her normal day and she barely let me get the feast into her enclosure. Just thought this might help. I believe she has been in the same enclosure since the previous owner had her when she was new to the world.

Ok, im just telling you what the knowledgable guys are going to tell you anyway.

The temps are too low, they should be: Cool side = 82F.
Warm side = 92F. Ambient air = 78-85F, this is from the glass tank sticky on this site.

They WILL tell you that 2 hides are a must have. The snake will take security over heating. They will probably tell you that you don't need a night drop in temps, and some might say that the red light is fine 24/7 it doesnt bother the snake, apparantly they cant see red!? Also, both heating devices have to be plugged into a thermostat to be able to switch it off when it's too hot, dimmers are ok, but not as trustworthy, because no matter what, the electricity is still flowing!

And this thread might be recommended by some: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=56846

Hope i didnt get to your ego:confused:

P.S. some might say a branch isn't necessary because they not good climbers. And maybe the tank is a little big.

nice setup ! gotta up the heat alil...

It seems to be working good for your snake,so its all good.Temps should be up a few more degrees though.Get a dimmer for the red light too if your going to use it.

Looks good, I think one thing that is misunderstood most on this sight. Is that not everyone is trying to get you to change something when it is working, unless they feel there is some danger to the snake. The only thing that I noticed, and you have already said that you are trying to fix, is that the humidity is to low. Which can be seen in your picture by the fact that your BP seems to have some shedding problems.

the only thing that i would add is that i was under the impression that ball pythons are generally not active during the day, so the fact that yours is active and hanging out high in the tank may be a sign of stress or insecurity. i'm no expert, so if this logic isn't correct please tell me. i know that as soon as mine got acclimated to the tank, he rarely left his hides in the middle of the day. even now the only way i know he is regulating temps is when i open the tank and he is in a different hide.

A 20long can be a great tank for even a youngster...if you do it right. Here are a few suggestions:

-Cover BOTH sides. I see you have one side and the back covered, but not the other side.

-Place the thermometer closer to the ground. You need to know the temp where the snake spends its time.

-TWO hides, and not those half logs. Yes, if placed against a wall they can be seen as surrounding on all sides...BUT they aren't really snug because of the length. Better to get two small plastic bowls or flower pots and cut them down to size.

-Smaller water dish and placed in the middle of the tank. Ceramic cat dishes and small rodent dishes work wonderfully for smaller BPs.

-Add LOTS of greenery or crumpled paper in there! All that open space freaks them out.

-And get a lower climbing structure or turn that one on its side. Though some (I have two) seem to be good climbers and like it...what happens that inevitable time they fall? Make any climbing decor wide and low for their safety.

-To raise the humidity, treat the screen with foil and duct. I can send you a step-by-step pictorial I did on it if you like.

And yes, if the snake is roaming during the day or looking for a 'way out', its stressed because something isn't right in its home. Good luck! :)

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Originally Posted by patb201985

nice setup ! gotta up the heat alil...

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Quick question. My temp is being read on the probe from the glass right @ ground level inside the log. I just moved it to half way buried in the substrate [aspen] and it is quite high right this minute [almost 100deg] and the ambient is still 79 [measured right above the water bowl]. I also have a dial temp gauge [left over from the previous owner] and it is over the hide in the front corner. I know the 100 deg inside the hide, belly temp is too high, so I am running down to get a slide dimmer right now. Is this where I should be getting this reading? In the substrate? If so, what should my target temp be for this setting as well?

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Originally Posted by WickedBalls

Get a dimmer for the red light too if your going to use it.

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What should my target temp be on his basking surface when the light is on?

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Originally Posted by snakecharmer3638

The only thing that I noticed, and you have already said that you are trying to fix, is that the humidity is to low. Which can be seen in your picture by the fact that your BP seems to have some shedding problems.

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Humidity levels right now stay a constant 45-55% but I just foiled the lid and it now looks like it will stay around 51-59%. Noticed with misting, I should be able to meet the 70% during shed. The left over shed has been resolved using this site and I think it had more to do with the previously small water bowl, which he kept tipped over.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gmcclurelssu

the only thing that i would add is that i was under the impression that ball pythons are generally not active during the day, so the fact that yours is active and hanging out high in the tank may be a sign of stress or insecurity.

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He is usually inside his hode or on top of it during the day which I assume is whathe does to regulate as the heat lamp is not on till about 6pm. Late afternoon, nightime is when he seems to be a little more active. Up in the branch over the water, basking in the heat lamp, under his hide. Don't get me wrong, she does not dart all over the place. She appears very 'at home' in there which is actualy why I put off changing her substrate right off the bat. Figured it would help her feel at home in her new home.

[QUOTE=Argentra;868833]
-To raise the humidity, treat the screen with foil and duct. I can send you a step-by-step pictorial I did on it if you like.
QUOTE]

i would like that :)
haha ive tried the whole towel thing on top it doesnt ork great for me so if you would post that i would appreciate it too :)