First ball python! Could use some guidance.

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Originally Posted by liv

she's already stressed now, so i'd just do everything now instead of letting her settle and then stressingher out again :gj:

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x2 :)

Ok, all changed over to paper towels. :) And she is so sweet. She was scared but was never aggressive. Just kept her head tucked in most of the time. So, I should still change her over to the ecoearth tomorrow?

And here's a photo I got of her while she was out for the cleaning. I can't get over how adorable she is. :D

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...ps4cb785ef.jpg

Either substrate is fine, but ecoearth may do a better job of helping with the humidity. It may work better than paper towels since lights tend to dry things out.

I use eco earth for my hoggy, pacman, and mix it with repti bark for my gtp. I like it for them but not my ball. It becomes dusty as it dries out. I prefer cypress mulch for my ball. I use forest floor and really like it.

Anytime I get a new addition its home gets a compete cleaning and usually many upgrades before I let it settle in. I have never had any issues doing this and personally believe that stressing them out a bit in the beginning but giving them the best home possible let's them settle in much easier and faster.

a BP will always appreciate hides :) especially when stressed

Ok, I got the new substrate today. I did decide to get the cypress mulch, but I got it from home depot and the mulch was a bit wet (it had rained today and the bags were stored outside at the store). I am really hoping the mulch will dry out? I also got a humidity gauge and a temperature probe, and now have two identical hides for her. The only thing I couldn't find was a thermostat for the heat pad. Does anyone have any suggestions on where I could get one online for a reasonable price (not really looking for anything too fancy, just something that is reliable and will do the basics)? I'm still really worried about the temps... Ambient temperature is 78.5 degrees at the moment and I figured that under all of the cypress mulch that the UTH wouldn't burn her, so I did plug that in and turn it on. But it's not even heating up the substrate yet and it's been over an hour? How long does it take? The temperature probe in the area above the UTH only read 76 degrees. I know it's working because I can feel the heat underneath the bottom of the tank.

Thank you again for all of your help!

The most inexpensive thermostat that is still functional is the Hydrofarm. It's about $30. Here's a link:
http://firestormreptiles.com/weblog/...hermostat.html

Well sounds like your on the right path to giving this snake the proper home. :thumbup: I get real annoyed when I see these types of ads on Craigs list. Never understood why people get animals without doing their homework first.

I use a hydro farm thermostat with no issues yet for $35, it's better then a rheostat or nothing at all.

Get a accurite digital thermometer/hygrometer. Put the probe in the glass under substrate above uth. And the unit on cold side. Could take up to six hours to reach full heat potential.

Good luck!

Sent from my N861 using Tapatalk 2

The Forest Floor cypress mulch from the pet shops come damp in the bag. That's not a problem.

To utilize a uth your substrate needs to be thin. Less than a 1/2 inch. I use about 1/4.

78 is fine for now and I would hold off until you get a tstat before using the uth. Your snake can burrow trying to get to the heat and a unregulated uth can really harm your snake.

Ok, thank you so much everyone! :) I just unplugged the UTH and won't resume using it until the thermostat arrives in a few days. Didn't really think about her burrowing down into the mulch. I'll keep this updated!