Newbie!

aww don't stress, it'll be fine :)
Lots of good advice on this forum, nice people!

I've been reading like crazy.

Do you think I should just wait until I get to Chico to fine tune his viv? I leave on Saturday. With the light on relaly low the cool side is 80. Irwin is still sitting on the thermometer of his warm side, but it was 90 last time I looked. He hasn't moved so it can't be too hot.

I miss Ziggy :(

Having it be around 80F on the cool side and 90 on the warm side is good. Just make sure th humidity is OK. If you have time to fiddle around with the temps to get them correct, you can do that until you leave. It is up to you. I personally like to try to get the setup perfect so I don't have to stress over it for days :D

I think I'm going to go to walmart (yuck!) and gey one of those Acu-Rite Hygrometer/Thermometer. Would it be in the pet section? It's time to invest in a digital thermometer lol.

Also, I plan on feeding Irwin next Monday. East Bay Vivarium showed me his feeding record and he looks to be a great eater.

haha i am not sure where hat would be in walmart...i haven't been to walmart in ages.

good idea to get a thermometer/hydrometer though. It will take out the guesswork

good luck and please post pics of the new BP soon!!!!!!!!!

I recently purchased a digital thermometer......

I actually looked at both Wal-Mart (yuck indeed!) and Target, and did not find anything of value, meaning I found some digital thermometers, but nothing with any quality. (i.e...no Acurite ones like everyone recommends here).

I ended up going to Lowes Hardware Store and finding an Acurite Digital Thermometer in the garden/lawn section for $10. I'm sure you could also find one at a Home Depot as well. That is, if you have those stores in your area.

I just read your PM to me, but couldn't respond as the site kicked me off a few times...(it isn't just you..it is REALLY slow).

so here is what I would have responded had I been able to:
I do not like heat lamps because of the way they dry the air, but right now I am using one on the new mojave and misting frequently to keep the humidity up. It works fine for now, but I plan to switch her over to UTH+ towel+being closer to the heater in my room.

With a rheostat, it will be all about fiddling with it to make sure
it stays where you want it to be. Some work better than others, but over time you may want to invest in a thermostat (it is much less worrying!).

As for handling.....it is a lot like corns. I wouldn't handle him until after you have fed him plus two-three days for digestion (like in corns). Then just lift him out for a few minutes and increase the time you hold him each week. You will be able to tell from the way he acts how stressed he is or how calm he is about being out. Let that be your guide for how long to hold him. They are all different!

I take some pictures once I get the little guy settled in and get some better looked decor! LoL

I also have a really funny picture that I took at the vivarium of this turtle trying to make some baby turtles with another turtle that didn't wan't anything to do with him. :rolleyes:

LoL the closest Walmart from me is about 30-45 minutes away across the boarder to Neveda. Probably longer because it's snowing.

Also, I've only been a ball python owner for a little more than a month now, which is my first snake, so I definatley understand where you are coming from as far as stressing out.

While i admit I spent at least a month with just the tank, uth, heat lamp, etc only, so I could make sure I had the temps/humidity correct before i purchased the baby ball. But even after i purchased him i made modifications to ensure i had the right humidity/temps.

Keep reading the forums here, u can get a lot of great advice to remedy whatever issues u may he having!

Once you land yourself a digital thermometer, u will get a lot better read on where you are at. It will all work out though, no worries!

Well, I need to bite the bullet and go all the way to Neveda to Lowe's because Walmart...well sucks.

Tell you have everything goes later.:snake: