New owner, kinda long....

If you decide you want to give plastic a try - give a holler! Many of us use plastic and have tons of pictures. I've got pictures for my baby set ups and my yearling and adult set ups that I'm happy to share!

I started in a glass viv with my first - it now houses mice and all the scale babies are in plastic tubs or a rack. Even if I scaled back (no pun intended - well, maybe it is) to just one ball python - I'd still choose my plastic tub over the glass viv any day! LOL

Congrats on your new baby and welcome! It looks like everyone's got you well covered!

Out with the shelf, did not know that about pine. Would cedar work? Looks like I am off to do some shopping today. Plan spending the day getting temps set just right. Let you all know how it goes.

Cedar is just as toxic, I wouldn't use it. That's why the only wood substrate you can use is aspen and cypress. Your best bet for a shelf or any cage decorations is hard plastic like the rock bowl. It's much easier to clean too. :)

gotcha, thank you.

So went and got the shopping done and got everything set up in the tank, so here is what I did. Bought 2 digital thermometers and placed probes on the cool side and warm side of tank in the substrate. Then added a 2nd larger UTH with the zoo med thermostat on the warm side with the probe in the substrate near the thermometer. Added a dimmer slide to the smaller UTH to controll that heat. Dumped the 1/2 log and added 2 6" terra cotta pots, one over each heat pad. Kinda messed up the openings and may have made them to big though. SO as of right now I have temps of 91.5 in the warm side, 85.5 on cool side with ambient air temp of 75-80 degrees depending on where I put the thermometer. Humidity is 70% so will have to adjust that.

So got all that done and went to get Sally and she was not happy being in her feed box while I was working on her tank, hissed at me while trying to pick her up. Must be pretty stressed. SO put her back in her tank and will keep things quiet around her for the next couple of days. Hopefully after that will try to get her to eat.

Sounds great! And yes, she's probably just a little stressed...give her a few days to relax before handling or trying to feed her. =)

Good stuff. Since it's a large tank, I would also advice adding more fake plants to try and fill up the space. More clean up work for you, but will defenitely make the baby feel safer. :)

Sounds good. Give her a good week of no fussing at all other than a quick water change and a peek for feces or urates but no handling or such. She needs time to get to know her new home and feel safe in it before she'll likely want to eat. Remember when a snake eats they are terribly vulnerable to being preyed on themselves so if they don't feel safe they are just likely to refuse to take prey.

Good info everybody, yes I will definatly leave her be for the next week and try feeding then. I have added a couple plants and will later add some drift wood for climbing, I know they dont climb a whole lot but need to add something to that space. If I can figure it out will try to get some pics of my setup tomorrow.

Zrock, IMO, you don't have to ditch the tank. Just pur multiple appriopriate-sized hides in there (like three or four) to make her feel more secure. I'm sure everyone else has already given you great advice regarding everything else.:) And Cass, LOVE the numbered diagram!!!! but.....does Cleo really need that hydrometer??? I didn't think BPs liked ocean water....:P