New User-Feeding Help Please!

Just finished covering the cage in black poster paper. I attached the front piece with Velcro so we can take it on and off easily to check on her, mist and feed. Since the controller didn't come with a thermometer I put one in with the other probe to monitor. Newspaper is on the list for tonight. I also got a smaller container that I'm gonna cut a hole in so we can leave live fuzzies in and let her poke her head in the top if she wants to without worrying about bites as much. Keep u guys updated. Again, thanks for all the advice!

If you haven't already, replace both your hides with identical ones. If she's not feeling secure in the half-log she's not going to use it and isn't going to thermoregulate properly. These snakes will choose security over their own health! They know they should go in the other hide but they don't feel safe so they'll stay too warm/too cold.

You should be able to leave live fuzzies loose in her tank, but don't leave them in there too long. Pups would be a better choice until she's feeding more consistently because they're old enough to wriggle around but aren't really moving and still don't have their eyes open so they're not a threat. The most important thing is to make sure she's eating. If she's eating she's not stressed and if she's eating she's gaining weight. I bet she's really skinny if she's been kept in conditions like you described and hadn't eaten for several months before you rescued her.

If you have them, post pictures! We'd love to see her!

Smaller identical hides is on the list for tomrrow. She has probably lost a little weight since these pictures were taken a month ago but probably not much. She hasn't really been that active since we got her at the beginning of May.
http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/.../WP_000178.jpg
http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/.../WP_000175.jpg
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She's gorgeous, I'm glad she's in good hands now! It always seems like people are rescuing nice reduced pattern females!

You don't necessarily need smaller hides - ball pythons need to feel secure in their hides, they should be able to touch all the sides while curled up inside. Your girl will definitely be needing bigger ones once you get her on a good feeding schedule and she starts putting on weight. If you want, check out the Reptile Basics hides. They're a little pricier than just cheap bowls and probably a little less than 'decorator' hides (especially of the size you're going to need), but they're durable, easy to clean, and seem to be loved by lots of snakes. They're not as pretty as fake rock hides, but they get the job done.

Find a digital scale as well. You'll be able to track her weight accurately and the best way to know just how big of a rodent to feed is to go by weight. You won't know if she's losing or gaining weight pretty much any other way and it helps you take the guesswork out of 'is this too big or too small for her?'. Digital scales are $20 at Walmart, but I guess I'm partial to my $30 one from Target.

Here are some pics of the new set up. I also picked up a scale at target so we can weigh her tonight. I'm actually terrified of snakes, but this BP is helping me get over my fear. I don't mind keep track of temps, humidity and feeding, I just havn't been able to pick her up or hold her yet, just touch her while my girlfriends holding her. I know it sounds funny but im working up the courage! After she takes her first meal with us ill probably give the whole handling thing a first try.
http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/.../WP_000219.jpg
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Just don't hold her too much until she's settled in and eating! Handling stresses them out and she's not going to eat if she's stressed out. Once she's eaten at least twice (or more) then you or your girlfriend can start handling 5-10 minutes a day taking off the 48 hours after feeding for digestion, of course. You want to reduce stress as much as possible until she's eating regularly.

You said you had a thermometer with a probe, correct? Does that thermometer also measure ambient temps and humidity? Seeing stick-on analog gauges is worrying, but I know you mentioned buying a thermometer with a probe for your thermostat, so I'm just asking. If you're not using those stick-on gauges, then remove them. The last thing your girl needs is getting stuck to one of those and losing scales as a result.

We haven't been handling her very much at all. Those pictures were taken when we first got her. Waiting for her to start feeding. We did take her out tonight to weigh her. I'm estimating she's about 2.5 ft and she's coming in at 223g. Can anyone weigh in (pun intended) as to if this is a good weight for her size. Will continue to get weight records and get more temp and humidity equipment.

She looks good... She could put some weight on but nothing to be worried about.

Awesome! The only question I have left (for now) is in regards to the AcuRite thermom/hygrom. Since its used to measure humidity, warm side and cool side, I'm assuming I leave it in the tank. Where is the best place to put the unit and the probe for the warm side? can i mount it to the back glass?

the probe needs to go directly over or under the heat source, and the unit goes on the cool side.

The probe will tell you the hot side temperature, and the unit will tell you the cool side temperature/humidity

Like so:

Probe goes on hot side directly over the UTH

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0451.jpg

Unit is mounted to the cool side wall

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0452.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0453.jpg