Ball python care

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Originally Posted by KMG

Mist according to what the tub needs. Most tubs hold humidity very well so misting will probably not be needed often, if at all. You may even need to let the EcoEarth dry out some before using it in a sealed tub. I would get that set up so you can start testing the tub before you get a snake.

If you put the Eco Earth in the tub and you start getting moisture collecting on the sides or lid try letting the substrate dry out some then try again. You may find that it just holds to much moisture for tub use. I use ForestFloor cypress mulch, which is moist in the bag. When i set up a huge tub for my blood python's temporary home I had to let it dry out before putting the lid on because i had way to much humidity. I let it dry out and keep 55 to 67 humidity now. I think you would have a much easier time just using cypress mulch.

I have never tried using the temp gun on water but i guess that would work. I have a watch with a thermometer i use. I try to keep the water 80-85. I haven't soaked for awhile now. I started keeping moss in the hides and just mist it every few days.

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ok gotcha . that actually makes alot of sense and your are right i will have to get my whole setup going, make adjustements to heat/humidity before i get the snake . im just honestly having debates about what heat source to go with. i read the caresheet on here says they require a heat graident . i was kinda leaning towards a red bulb and a uth or a just a uth or just a bulb im very confused on what to use. if i used a bulb i figured i could just cut a hole and attach a screen to rest the lamp on is this ok ? i was just always told that snakes use heat from the ground to help digest their food thats another reason im debating i want to do all this the proper way not some caresheet from a pet store lol i am going to try the eco earth let it dry out a day or 2 before i get it and make adjustments in needed.

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also im planning on getting a 32 quart what size UTH will i need if i got one ?

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Originally Posted by Parallels92

ok so a rat pup like once a week would be good for the BP ? and i didnt know that rats were a tad more nutritious thanks for telling me that

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The definition of "pup" varies greatly. A true pup is larger than a fuzzy, but smaller than a weaned rat. They are usually between 2-3 weeks of age. Their eyes will be open and they will be mobile, but they will still be dependent on their mother. The differences between mouse and rat nutrition may be negligible on paper, but most of those who have experience with both mousers and rat eaters will tell you there is some difference in growth rate and body mass. A snake can be perfectly healthy on a mouse only diet, but feeding multiple mice in a feeding can be a real pain and the costs can add up.

The general rule of thumb for feeding young snakes is 10-15% of their body weight every 5-7 days. As adults this can be cut back a bit. Most folks here recommend getting a cheap digital food or postage scale to weigh your snake and prey. This helps new folks get a feel of feeding appropriate sized prey as overfeeding and especially underfeeding is a major problem with new keepers. After a while you'll be able to eyeball it and be pretty accurate.

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Originally Posted by AK907

The definition of "pup" varies greatly. A true pup is larger than a fuzzy, but smaller than a weaned rat. They are usually between 2-3 weeks of age. Their eyes will be open and they will be mobile, but they will still be dependent on their mother. The differences between mouse and rat nutrition may be negligible on paper, but most of those who have experience with both mousers and rat eaters will tell you there is some difference in growth rate and body mass. A snake can be perfectly healthy on a mouse only diet, but feeding multiple mice in a feeding can be a real pain and the costs can add up.

The general rule of thumb for feeding young snakes is 10-15% of their body weight every 5-7 days. As adults this can be cut back a bit. Most folks here recommend getting a cheap digital food or postage scale to weigh your snake and prey. This helps new folks get a feel of feeding appropriate sized prey as overfeeding and especially underfeeding is a major problem with new keepers. After a while you'll be able to eyeball it and be pretty accurate.

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ok i see what your saying how big should they be becaue ive picked up mice and rat pups in the past and idk if the people will kno how old they are when i would pick them up i would just say i need 1 rat pup

If you rest the lamp on the tub it will probably make the tub to hot. Having the lamp on a stand or somehow hanging over the plastic lid will still allow heat to warm the tub.

You can use both. I keep a cold home and have a uth, ceramic heat fixture, and day and night heat bulbs.

What is the temp of the room you will have him? I need to know to tell you my best suggestion.

This is my forty gallon tank with the heat sources on stands.

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...g/eb6ed05a.jpg

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A uth that is 1/3 the size of the tub floor is common.

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Originally Posted by Parallels92

ok i see what your saying how big should they be becaue ive picked up mice and rat pups in the past and idk if the people will kno how old they are when i would pick them up i would just say i need 1 rat pup

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And this is the exact reason we weigh our prey items. Most people don't know the difference and even fewer pet store employees know the difference. What one place calls a small rat might be a pinky rat (5-10g) and another place might consider a weaned rat (30-50g) to be a small rat. Kind of a pain, right?

FWIW, 14-21 day old rat "pups" normally weigh between 20-30 grams, which are roughly the size of medium to large adult mice. These would be suitable for a ball python that is roughly 200g in weight.

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Originally Posted by KMG

If you rest the lamp on the tub it will probably make the tub to hot. Having the lamp on a stand or somehow hanging over the plastic lid will still allow heat to warm the tub.

You can use both. I keep a cold home and have a uth, ceramic heat fixture, and day and night heat bulbs.

What is the temp of the room you will have him? I need to know to tell you my best suggestion.

This is my forty gallon tank with the heat sources on stands.

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...g/eb6ed05a.jpg

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A uth that is 1/3 the size of the tub floor is common.

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Ok so i can go with a UTH and a blue night bulb ? my room temps hmmm well i have to keep my room cool all the times i run an ac all year around if i dont my room gets unbearably hot shoots my temps for my herps skyhigh.i tdont know if IR guns accurate but the highest temp im getting is 79 and the lowest 76. if an IR gun isnt the way to propely check room temp would my digital thermometer work ? if so where should i place it in my room

A temp gun is giving surface temps not air temp. You will need a thermometer for the wall of the cool side at least. Having one on both sides would be best. You will need to use the temp gun to check your hot spot (90-94) and then have the wall mounted thermometer to tell you the ambient (air) temp (low 80's). Also make sure you do not get a hot spot under the bulb that is to hot.

I create my hot spot with the uth and ceramic heater and had to add a cool side bulb to keep it in the 80's because my house temp stats around 68.

Digital or analog gauges will work for tracking the ambient temp.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMG

A temp gun is giving surface temps not air temp. You will need a thermometer for the wall of the cool side at least. Having one on both sides would be best. You will need to use the temp gun to check your hot spot (90-94) and then have the wall mounted thermometer to tell you the ambient (air) temp (low 80's). Also make sure you do not get a hot spot under the bulb that is to hot.

I create my hot spot with the uth and ceramic heater and had to add a cool side bulb to keep it in the 80's because my house temp stats around 68.

Digital or analog gauges will work for tracking the ambient temp.

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so my zilla digtial hygrometter that i will use for the BPwill that work to check my room temp ? them analog ones are inaccurate i found that out when i got my digital one lol would a blue night bulb be ok ? or is it true that those bulbs disturbs them if i need to add a bulb on the cool side i will but i think i may have to anyway had to add one to my beardies tank to keep the cool temps in the low 80 "s also where should my humidity be at ?

That thermometer will tell you air temp.

Red or black bulbs can be used for any hours. The blue day bulbs bulbs should only be used for daytime hours. They can throw your snake of its day/night cycle.

I also suggest a red bulb

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