Rookie walking

[IMG]<a href="http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o309/dmcminn1/Austins%20diggs/?action=view&current=CIMG5761.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o309/dmcminn1/Austins%20diggs/CIMG5761.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/CIMG5761.jpg[/IMG] So I figured it out. (posting pics. that is)... This was taken a couple of days after I picked up Austin... I had to place him in a temp. digg.

[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/CIMG5740.jpg[/IMG] Like I said TEMP. I did NOT no how big he was when I picked him up!

So, I spent many hours/days reading(BP.net) watching(you tube)on what to put Austin in. I went out and bought a 50qt. tube to place him in. I also picked up an UTH some Aspen bedding... and some gauges. [IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/CIMG5765.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/CIMG5775.jpg[/IMG]I haven't had him quite a week.. He will let me hold him for quite some time.. Last night was probably the longest i have held him. He did hiss, but as soon as i was able to get ahold of him, he turned into a big Baby. He sat with my little ones and myself as we watched a little boob tude. This last Sat. I wanted to see about feeding Austin, I went to to local market(pet store) to see about getting Austin a meal. I chated with to cat who seemed to know alot about BPs. I picked his mind and shared with him the Austin story. He had told me to wait untill he finishes his sheading cycle before he eats. Fair enough. I went out and bought a smaller tub to soak Austin in. Well, Yesterday I soaked him for 20min and today for 30min.... check this out!:D

[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/CIMG5791.jpg[/IMG]My 7yr. old wanted me to get Austin out so that she could hold him....Dinner...Shower.... etc. etc. I went to chek on Austin and saw that he had began his sheding cycle this evening.[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/CIMG5792.jpg[/IMG] ? Should I feed him soon?

Is that an old school thermometer I saw in the background?? You really should ditch that and pick up and accurite at Walmart -- it will measure your warm and cool side temps and your humidity.

Also, am I imagining things, or in the last pic is that a thermostat probe just hanging on the side of the tub??

As far as feeding... make sure all the husbandry is spot on, and stop handling the snake!! It's hard, but leave him alone for a few days, let him settle, and stop the intense handling until he gets a few meals in him under your care.

[QUOTE=chapskis1;1339709]

Also, am I imagining things, or in the last pic is that a thermostat probe just hanging on the side of the tub??
QUOTE]

Yeah...I looked again...it's a probe hanging on the side of the tub.

I think you said you are using a uth. You need to mount the themostat probe outside of the tub -- tape it directly on the uth (between the uth and the tub).

You want the thermostat controlling the temp of the uth -- not trying to raise the ambient air -- which it would do the way it is set up now.

Also, get an accurite and place the themometer probe inside the tub directly on the plastic above the uth -- you want that spot to be 92 at most.

I have gage that messures humidity, The old school was to messure the hot side and the probe is on the cool side. I drilled a hole big enough to run the probe threw, so that the lid will not kink the wire. :gj: I will do as you say, Thanks for the info. I need all the info. I can get.

Check this out http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=tub+setup

It gives some pretty good pics and info about tub setup. It's not perfect, but should help.

As far as thermometers and humidity gages go -- most people on here agree that if it's not an accurite it is garbage. You can pick one up at WalMart for about 12 bucks.

Good luck!!

I have 2 accurites and i swear one of them is wrong. Is there a better one out there? It always measures my hot side above what it is. I can tell by touching it. My UTH only has a dimmer on it at the moment but I swear the thermometer is off. I don't know. Also a 50watt red lamp with a dimmer that stays on all the time. I've had him for a month and so far he has eaten, basked, and pooped regularly. I am definitely more stressed than he is (which is fine with me, I want him to be happy) He has 4 hides and uses all of them and hides a lot! :) He hasn't gone through a shed cycle and honestly I'm a bit terrified because I'm constantly battling with the humidity. Money is not an issue, any suggestions?
hot side thermometer says 95-98 (like I said, I don't think it's that hot)
cool side- 82
humidity usually around 40% 30 gallon tank with screen top
I feed him live in a separate enclosure.
This is my first reptile so I will take any and all advice that you've got! Thanks in advance!