Help Please!!!

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Originally Posted by Draculasgirl

Thank you Smulkin and Marla.


Do I need a digital thermometer on both sides of the tank and where do I set it? What is a hygrometer?

What is the proper wattage for the heat bulb and where do I get a reptile heat bulb?

The humidity in the tank stays about 55%, what is it suppose to be?

What can I use for the hide spots and my tank is not big enough for two hide spots and a water bowl... Sorry for all of the questions, I just want to make sure everything I do for my BP is correct so I dont end up hurting her. How can you tell if it is a boy or girl?

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A hygrometer is just a device for measuring humidity. If you buy the unit that many of us here have, it will measure temps on both sides and humidity at the unit placement, and one is just fine for the entire cage.

Proper wattage for the bulb depends on enclosure type and ambient (room temps), but most people in homes with central heat and air will find that it takes a 60watt-100watt bulb to get what they need. However, using light bulbs will dry out your air more than other heating methods, and you may end up having to provide a humid hide as the only way to provide adequate humidity for the snake.

Humidity should generally be 40%-60% except at shed time, when a boost to 70% or so can be useful. However, as I mentioned, the dial hygrometers are often waaaay off, and if that's what you're using, your humidity could easily truly be 35% instead of 55%.

If your tank isn't big enough for 2 hide spots and a water bowl, you need a new tank, seriously. However, I think you'll find that your nearest dollar store or WalMart will have pet food/water dishes with spaces at the ends intended to make it easier to pick them up, that make a great combo water dish and hide, and they're only $1. The snakes want hides that are snug, so you don't need some giant petstore type hide. Another good hide option is the classic clay/terracotta plant pot dish, chipped at the side with a hammer.

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Originally Posted by Marla

Adam, this is already a situation in which the temps are significantly lower than optimum. As you should be well aware, ceramic and stone retain heat a good bit longer than glass, paper, and most plastics. Without a constant source of heat from underneath, a heat-absorbing and radiating rock or tile or similar can be useful in increasing comfort and promoting healthy metabolism. Is it a necessity? No. Is it a good useful strategy? Yes. The ball python, as a cold-blooded creature, relies on its environment to provide it with the temperatures it needs.

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Marla, my issue certainly wasn't with your strategy ... I understand how someone could come to the conclusion that you have .... my issue was with your statement that ball pythons "use belly heat for digestion" .... that is simply untrue. As you know, I am a stickler for debunking myths about ball pythons and their husbandry and when I see something that is less than accurate, I feel that it should be clarified so that newer keepers don't propagate it as fact.

-adam

Hope that helps, draculasgirl - the derailing is unintentional I am sure.

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

.... my issue was with your statement that ball pythons "use belly heat for digestion"

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Ok, if it please the court, I'll rephrase.

"Ball pythons rely on external heat sources to provide a species-appropriate temperature gradient in order to perform and maintain metabolism-related functions, such as digestion and fighting infections."

That seems like an awful lot more words to say essentially the same thing. Does it have to actually touch the belly? No. Is it more likely to get the warm side hide into the right temperature range if the heat comes from underneath or the hide is or is on a heat-absorbent material such as terra cotta? Yes. Is the warm side hide temperature generally relevant to discussions of digestion and metabolism in captive ball pythons? Yes.

Go to your rooms - both of you. :P

PMs or a new thread por favor.

Just a couple more questions...

Where do I get the reptile heat bulb at?

Do I put her in another tank to feed?

She also hisses at me when i take her out of her hide box, Why?

How can I tell if she is a boy or girl?

Thanks

Hi.. I'm coming in this late, but I'll try to help too. :)

You can get heat bulbs at the pet store.. petsmart usually has them. I haven't read the whole thread, but under tank heaters are preferable because of humidity.. lamps suck it right out of the air. If you use and UTH you NEED either a thermostat or a rheostat to control temperature.

2) I feed all ten of the snakes in my care inside their tanks. Especially for a BP, who is easy to stress, it's best to leave them in their normal home. As long as you open the tank for things other than feeding time on a regular basis, the snake will not associate the lid opening with food.

3) she is scared of you. time and patience with gentle handling is the key here. Get her eating first though.

4) Have a good reptile vet probe the snake for you. There are no reliable external differences.

First my little rant....damn pet stores that sell snakes with specific needs and don't even give a person a care sheet! Drives me nuts and I feel so sorry for this poor girl trying her best.


We are new so nothing in the following is gospel, in fact I hesitated to even post in this thread but thought since we've just gotten done a week of checking stores for stuff maybe it might help somewhat. Hit Wal-mart, Home Depot or Lowe's -- we've been pricing stuff for our new snake and you can get pretty much everything you'll need for around $75.00 or less.

Here's my own short list if it helps

1) Rubbermaid or Sterlite tub....approx. 36 x 24 x 6...with clipped down lid included (a must snakes escape easy)...should be big enough for your snake, two hides and a water dish....we've been advised to get a tub with lots of floor space but not so much height....room for hides and easier to keep temps and humidity under control...less than $15.00 (not sure how escape proof the clips are so ask the experts here about that)

2) Soldering iron to make holes in tub for air exchange....about $11.00 (or borrow one even better - ask folks here for help on how many holes and placement and do hole melting outside due to fumes)

3) We've been told to start a new snake on either newspaper (free) or paper towels (cheap) to see mites, poop, etc. easier than other bedding...later we will use cypress bedding....Lowe's or Home Depot....big bag around $5.00

4) Heating pad for under tank heating (some like that some don't but I'm thinking cost effective, and easy to find)....without autoshut off option....around $15.00 (Dunlap I think is the brand Walmart sells)...ask for advice here about how to place heating pad to get warm/cool side right

5) Thermometer/hygrometer....$15.00 at Walmart (some Walmarts don't stock this we've found but if they do it's in outside thermometer section...just ask Customer Service)

5) Hides/water bowl....all these stores have great gardening sections with dirth cheap terracotta pots with bases....read threads here about this as far as how to make a holes properly and disinfecting them first...but we priced out two hides made from the biggest bases (the bit that holds the water overflow) at about $10.00 or so for both...low heavy bowl for water so snake can't shove it over...look in gardening or pets area for something...should be less than $5.00

We've found that pet store stuff is way over-priced mostly and the hides they sell are so flimsy they are mostly worthless for a snake.

The above list is NOT by any means perfect or complete or expert. The experienced breeders/owners here are you're best resource. Just hope it helps you if you need to get some things to make life easier for you and the snake (and save you time and cash running around to locate stuff). It adds up to less than $75.00 for all of it, much less of course if you just buy a few things to make your current enclosure work better.

Best of luck!

Thank you to everyone that has offered me help. I will try everything that I was told. If anybody else has any useful tips that could help me, please keep them coming. All is appreciated...:)

I am also a new bp owner, have owned corn snakes before so I have a few helpful hints for you. First, the best way I find to raise humitity is to put a warm wet towel on the top of the tank screen, only on about half of the screen so to leave proper ventilation. Second, the best heat source for me has been the under tank heat pad. Do not use a heat rock in the tank with a bp, they can burn themselves on it. I have only had my bp for 2 weeks and she has not ate yet either, but I have been told not to worry. She just shed today, so I am figuring that to be why she has not eaten. You mentioned that you bp is dull, sounds like she is going to shed as well. Snakes will get dull and then for a day or two or three they will clear up again, then shed their skin. Feel free to email me at dagenwilhelm@sbcglobal.net anytime. I agree about everything you read on these guys is contradicting. Hope this helps.