Newbie.... ned help and advice

Oh yeah, the ball python addiction has claimed another victim!

First of all welcome to BP.net. Secondly, congratulations on overcoming your fear and taking the plunge into the wonderful world of ball pythons! Thirdly, you have already received lots of sound advice, so I just want to add this: It can be a little overwhelming at first. That's normal. Take things one step at a time, tweak it here and there until you get it right, then you have a head start on setting things up for another.

I'm guessing your guy is pretty young and small, and a 29 gallon tank is going to be mighty big to him for a while. Unlike the bigger species of pythons, or other types of snake who need lots of room, ball pythons do well in more snug accommodations, which is helpful for us owners. Truthfully for your little guy, even a 10 gallon would be plenty for now. As time goes by, you will find tanks can be tricky to maintain. It can be done by all means, but it does take more effort on your part. If you only have one or two, or even three, it's not so bad. Once you get one right, the others are easier to setup correctly. However, when the addiction reaches a more advanced stage like mine, finding room for 26 tanks is not feasible, so you'll start looking into a rack system and discover they have a lot of advantages and only a few disadvantages.

I look forward to getting to know you and your snake better.

Gale

Okay, here is where I'm at now. I got a thermostat, better thermometers and two heat bulbs. One black and one blue. I have the thermometer set for 90 on the warm side. It took awhile but I finally have the temps at 90 on the warm side and about 80 on the cool side. It takes the two heat lamps to get it there along with the heat mat under the tank. I put styrofoam (black) on the three sides and covered the top with foil, leaving about an inch on either side for ventilation. With hte heat lamps I have trouble with humidity. I have the water dish on the warm side and I put to very wet sponges in the cage. I mist a couple times when I am home. I can get the humidity up to 50 or 60 but it doesn't stay there long. Any ideas? Am I missing anything else?
Last night after the temps got leveled out, Watson came out of his hide, climbed for awhile on his branch, got a drink, then spent most of the night laying on a sponge in the front of the tank. When morning came he went back into his cool side hide. Is this normal actvities? I also saw him yawn. What's that all about?
He still has not eaten which has me paranoid. I offered him a thawed mouse last night. I made sure it was warm and dry. I dangled it in front of him and he showed alot of intrest. He would even follow it around a little but other than rubbing against it and staring at it, he did not eat. I left it in the cage for 30 min. No luck. I refroze it since I have a limlted supply and have already thrown away 2. Is this okay? I will not refreeze a second time. Should I try again tonight?
I will try to get pictures next time I post. I think he is looking skinny but not sure what a skinny snake looks like... I think I am making progress if he will just eat I can sleep again at night!!
I really appreciate any and all advice !! Thank- You

Yeah, tanks are a real pain to get right. Humidity and heat lamps are pretty well mutually exclusive. Even infrared heat bulbs suck humidity up like a sponge. Right now it sounds like his cool side hide is where he feels the most secure. This is good and bad. It's good he's hiding and not stress-roaming. But he does need the warmth. Try not to panic over him not eating. Even the little tiny ones can go several weeks without eating with no problems.

I will let you know unless that thawed mouse is putting off a massive heat signature, he most likely won't touch it. What I do is get the mouse all thawed out, warm and dry. I grip it with my feeding tongs, and get ready right near the tank/tub. I hit just the head of the mouse with a hair dryer for at least 30 seconds to get it super hot, then offer it really quick while it's still putting out a lot of heat. Since they see in heat, they are way more likely to strike if the food is really good and hot and presents a clear target.

It will take some effort on your part to get the tank just right, but if you are patient you'll get it eventually. Or you'll get tired of the headache and get a tub like I did. :D

Gale