New Snake Owner... Some Questions

If your using a glass tank you might want to add a humid hide for him. You can make these out of a small tupperware container. I made one from a recipe box:

http://www.fyberdesigns.com/pics/humidhide.jpg

Just add some moist moss in it. I’ve never had any shedding problems using this method. Hope this helps!

that is a cool idea using the the box like that...

Since this is sort of a new snake owner thread I thought I would put in my two cents, since I am a new snake owner as well....here's the basic set up for my ball.

45 gallon tank
2 heat lamps
large water dish
big hiding place
currently the temp on the hot side is reading around 88 and the cool side is about 85.

my question is:
my ball is constantly curled up in one corner of the tank. I've handled him a few times and fed him today(thursday). I just wondered if anybody knew why my snake was constantly in the corner.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Basketball303

Since this is sort of a new snake owner thread I thought I would put in my two cents, since I am a new snake owner as well....here's the basic set up for my ball.

45 gallon tank
2 heat lamps
large water dish
big hiding place
currently the temp on the hot side is reading around 88 and the cool side is about 85.

my question is:
my ball is constantly curled up in one corner of the tank. I've handled him a few times and fed him today(thursday). I just wondered if anybody knew why my snake was constantly in the corner.

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On the corner in the cool end or warm end?
If in the cool end he may be too hot and trying to shed some heat. Glass is probably cooler than everything else.
Im not very experienced in BPs, but this would make sense

I have mine in sweater boxes, but I just give the bins a very good spray-down with water from a spray bottle once a day when they're opaque. It's generally completely dry again by the next day, but it raises the humidity level, so I don't get any bad sheds. They're not damp long enough to cause any problems. That should work the same way in a tank.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Basketball303

Since this is sort of a new snake owner thread I thought I would put in my two cents, since I am a new snake owner as well....here's the basic set up for my ball.

45 gallon tank
2 heat lamps
large water dish
big hiding place
currently the temp on the hot side is reading around 88 and the cool side is about 85.

my question is:
my ball is constantly curled up in one corner of the tank. I've handled him a few times and fed him today(thursday). I just wondered if anybody knew why my snake was constantly in the corner.

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How big is your snake? If you read the stickies on this forum (which I highly highly recommend) you'll see a few things you might want to switch up. I'm by no means an expert, I'm a newb too. These stickies are so helpful. In general, a smaller snake does not need, or want that big of an enclosure. 2 tight hides are recommended, the temp gradient is usually about 80-82 cool side and 89-93 warm side, generalizing a lot of different suggestions. Read the stickies, I promise they'll help.

I agree. 45GAL tank is WAY too big for a BP. And the temps need to be as close to correct as you can get them.

On a note about my baby... Her first shed with me was PERFECT! I found the shed all balled up in her hide. I wondered why she had not been out at all in 2-3 days... I guess I know now!

Does anyone have any answers/suggestions regarding my warm side temp question? The one about the heat dissapation/absorption ability of the substrate?

Thanks guys! You have all helped me tremendously!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bart

If your using a glass tank you might want to add a humid hide for him. You can make these out of a small tupperware container. I made one from a recipe box:

http://www.fyberdesigns.com/pics/humidhide.jpg

Just add some moist moss in it. I’ve never had any shedding problems using this method. Hope this helps!

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how did you get a perfect circle cut out in the side of the box without the plastic cracking?

I use a hole saw with fine teeth. I also do this with a drill press very slowly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Basketball303

Since this is sort of a new snake owner thread I thought I would put in my two cents, since I am a new snake owner as well....here's the basic set up for my ball.

45 gallon tank
2 heat lamps
large water dish
big hiding place
currently the temp on the hot side is reading around 88 and the cool side is about 85.

my question is:
my ball is constantly curled up in one corner of the tank. I've handled him a few times and fed him today(thursday). I just wondered if anybody knew why my snake was constantly in the corner.

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Your issue right there is the BIG hiding place.
You need TWO IDENTICAL hides for your BP. One for the cool side, one for the warm side. The size of the hides should be just big enough for the snake to fit into. No spaces.
UTHs are a better idea than heat lamps. I've had my first BP for about a month but I'm not having any problems.
Assuming the fact that your BP is a baby, a 45 gal is WAY too big. The smaller the tank, the better security they feel. A 10 gal for a baby is perfect. Rule of thumb: the tank length should be at least 2/3rds of the snake before you upgrade.
Hope this helps