Hello and a little first python help

:-O That is waaay too big, haha. a bp that size needs a 20 gallon, max...or else that cage should be very cluttered up with stuff. A active ball python isn't a happy ball python, unfortunately. But I'm sure he has to get used to the new surroundings. Thanks for taking him in. :)

Generally speaking a hiding BP is a happy BP, Excessive activity during the day can be a sign of stress, but when a BP is introduced to a new cage it is normal for the snake to explore.

Some signs that you are doing everything right are:

• Your snake regularly eats
• Your snake grows at a steady rate
• Your snake sheds in a single piece

Cool, right now we have the tank set up for him on end so it is not so huge to him. And we are going to set up anything we missed tomorrow. Hope we can do right by him, we are very animal friendly here.

Good luck with your new member of the family! I know the feeling of suddenly acquiring a new snake! I had wanted snakes for a few years but didn't broach the subject as I thought I would get a flat out no, turns out most of my family weren't as against the idea as I anticipated (I actually live away from home for studies) A week later I was buying my little girl (Pastel Royal/Ball Python) and now three weeks later I have myself a 700g 100% het albino! They're addictive!

As has been said, a happy BP s a hiding BP but my little girl spent her first few hours roaming around her vivarium before spending her first night or two actually curled up behind her hide rather than in it! I would personally leave your new member a full week before feeding regardless of when they were scheduled by Petco. It may seem cruel but it will not harm your new addition at all, in fact it may help to speed up the settling process as you aren't allowing them to get stressed. And of course hides are important. With my new one he came in a rub without a hide so first thing today I have went and bought him one, my rub isn't big enough to house two but I thought one was better than nothing until I could house him in a slightly bigger enclosure.

I think everything has been covered very well and I wish you happiness with you new family member! :D

Well after spending some time on here reading ( there is a lot left out in general care sheets, till you get here) I have come to the conclusion that s/he is starting to shed. our threads are awesome, and the pics invaluable. he eyes are slightly bluing, and cloudy, so I am not gong to feed him or mess w/ him the rest the week. I'll keep changing water and checking temp and all that. We made a temp hide for the night and will get started on making one tomorrow. I work w/ coral reef tanks and am good w/ DYI projects. Have a moray eel, which isn't the same but they have a couple common traits. Any way after putting in a hide for the night,s/he seemed to settle right into it. Came out once as if to tell the cats to back off ( I promise they can't get to the snake) went back in and stuck its head out. Hubby who was the one to say no for so long even seems to like our new charge.

I think hides make all the difference in helping to settle! There are so many threads for shedding as well which I found very useful with my little one as she had a bad shed in her settling period! As long as your temperatures and humidity are correct and they are relatively stress free you should have a seam-free shed :)

Sorry to say it twice if it has been said already, but I read in your second post that your house humidity is average of 60% so the tank will be around the same. Be careful as the light you have shinning down dries out the air in the tank. so even though you may have 60% in the house, the tank itself may be a lot lower because of a heat lamp.

Good luck.

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Originally Posted by trevo

Sorry to say it twice if it has been said already, but I read in your second post that your house humidity is average of 60% so the tank will be around the same. Be careful as the light you have shinning down dries out the air in the tank. so even though you may have 60% in the house, the tank itself may be a lot lower because of a heat lamp.

Good luck.

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No that hasn't been pointed out but I did consider it. I am thinking of going the under tank heater for this reason....is there any reason I couldn't use one w/ an acrylic tank? I am also getting a humidity meter first chance. You guys are all very helpful. As the profile says it is Kim and Donna, if the forum is kid friendly (seems to be so) I would like to let Donna on here to pick your brains, as she will be the main care giver soon.

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Originally Posted by Kim and Donna

No that hasn't been pointed out but I did consider it. I am thinking of going the under tank heater for this reason....is there any reason I couldn't use one w/ an acrylic tank? I am also getting a humidity meter first chance. You guys are all very helpful. As the profile says it is Kim and Donna, if the forum is kid friendly (seems to be so) I would like to let Donna on here to pick your brains, as she will be the main care giver soon.

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A uth will not keep your ambient temps up so if you keep your house cooler than 75 you may need the lamp also.

Edit... after rereading the size of your tank... you will probably need the bulb
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Originally Posted by Crazymonkee

A uth will not keep your ambient temps up so if you keep your house cooler than 75 you may need the lamp also.

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Oh no, 75-80 through and through, no one likes the cold in my house. Misting and lamp? Saw the meter at wal mart that did a couple of the different things on a start up thread here, so I will be checking into one of those. Very cool, from the other end of the hobby world I mush say this is not as easy as I figured it would be.