help a beginner! first post

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Originally Posted by drucebennedict

Switching feeding day won't be of harm to your snake. When you say 'when exactly should I try feeding' I assume you mean the time of day. I've heard some people say their bps will eat at any time, but evening seems to a more popular answer.

I'd use whatever your snake will take and whatever is readily available. I use live because its easy to obtain and my snake has been eating live all of her life. Use whatever you want; one is no better than the other.

Feeding in a seperate box isn't really needed. You can feed him while he's in his enclosure. Just be sure to wash your hands if you've been handling rodents before handling your snake. [he could mistake you for a meal] With daily upkeep of his enclosure and gentle handling, he shouldn't become agressive and begin to realize that you're no threat.

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thank you, but when i said when exactly should i try feeding i meant in how many days. he ate last thursday and was moved on tuesday. my bad i wasnt more specific (:

You can buy a $10 lamp dimmer at walmart or home depot. You have to get the temp on the surface of the floor of the warm side, specialy inside the Hide surface area. Give me a sec ill find a pic link.

Here is a picture link. THats what I used when I started out, as recomended by other members here when I didnt know squat. :)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

If your humidity is above 50% you dont need to spray anything. But if you have the lamp on. It will dry out the enclosure. Another reason not to use the lamp.

If you need something to mesure humidity, I think most people in this boards use an accurite thermometer. You can buy those in home depot or walmart too.

http://www.natlallergy.com/images/22...dity-gauge.jpg

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Originally Posted by Danounet

Here is a picture link. THats what I used when I started out, as recomended by other members here when I didnt know squat. :)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

If your humidity is above 50% you dont need to spray anything. But if you have the lamp on. It will dry out the enclosure. Another reason not to use the lamp.

If you need something to mesure humidity, I think most people in this boards use an accurite thermometer. You can buy those in home depot or walmart too.

http://www.natlallergy.com/images/22...dity-gauge.jpg

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thank you!!! this helped alot (:

No problem, By the way the probe in the thermometer only measures temperature. The Unit itself mesures humidity. So you have to stick the unit inside too.

I would put the probe under the warm hide and the unit in the cold side. In itself, the unit has a thermometer and also measures humidity, the probe is a secondary thermometer. So you get warm side temperatures from the probe, Cold side temps from the Unit and also humidity. All 3 measurements in 1. :D

I just recently got my python earlier this week. I have his hide under a heating lamp and he basically just always stays in there. Its been a few days and he hasn't really moved around at all.

I was wondering if this is normal and would the temperature get too hot for him?

Also, his previous owner was feeding him 2 small rats every 4 days (previous owner got him 7 months ago and he was malnourished)- The snakes at a healthy size now and I've been told this is too much and also told to keep it up. I'm confused with how I should continue to feed him now that he's healthy. Would changing his feeding habit just add to the stress of a new environment?

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Originally Posted by "H"stands4Hooligan

I just recently got my python earlier this week. I have his hide under a heating lamp and he basically just always stays in there. Its been a few days and he hasn't really moved around at all.

I was wondering if this is normal and would the temperature get too hot for him?

Also, his previous owner was feeding him 2 small rats every 4 days (previous owner got him 7 months ago and he was malnourished)- The snakes at a healthy size now and I've been told this is too much and also told to keep it up. I'm confused with how I should continue to feed him now that he's healthy. Would changing his feeding habit just add to the stress of a new environment?

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That is normal behavior. However, you need to be checking and regulating the temperatures in the tank. Hot side should be 92-94. I would also recommend using a UTH under the tank instead, of course being regulated by said dimmer (up on the page) or a thermostat. The bp caresheet on this site will tell a lot more about husbandry as well.

Oh, almost forgot: Now that your bp is a more normal size, feed 10-15% of snake's body weight in prey every 5-7 days. If you don't have a scale to check its weight, estimate by choosing prey about as large as the snake in diameter at its widest point.

yeah you want to spray the tank when ever the humitaty goes down.. once a week should be good..make sure you use battled water.. the flower pots work the best for hids they feel more safe.. to watch your heat get a dimer its works the best for keeping your temps right..usely feed when its dark and you can feed in the same cage.. i feed mine frozen and just warm it up in a ziplock bag under running hot water in the sink...if he doesnt eat right away thats normal he still has to get use to a new home and smells

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Originally Posted by mrshawt

That is normal behavior. However, you need to be checking and regulating the temperatures in the tank. Hot side should be 92-94. I would also recommend using a UTH under the tank instead, of course being regulated by said dimmer (up on the page) or a thermostat. The bp caresheet on this site will tell a lot more about husbandry as well.

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Thanks! I have the lamp on a dimmer switch so I am able to regulate the temperature in the tank. I'm also worried that I might have gotten a hide that is too large. I have a 20gal long tank with a hide and water dish - there isn't room for another hide like recommended.

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Originally Posted by eclipsesmommy

hes in the same set up he's always lived in so i thought that would offset the normal stress of changing owners.

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That's what I thought too. Wrong! 3 weeks ago we brought ours home in its own tank and everything. Since it was already in its own home, I didn't think it had anything to acclimate to and so we started holding it the very next day. Turns out it still needed to adjust to the sounds and smells of our home, and that it still needed that first week left in peace. (I found this out after that first week had gone by, LOL!)

We all survived that first week and snakey is doing well. Took me 2 weeks to calm down and stop worrying over everything. The info stickeys at the top of these boards are a goldmine of information. Start there, use the Search feature (advanced is better), and then post whatever questions you have.

And yes, a UTH needs a thermostat to control its output, otherwise it gives out too much heat that could hurt the snake. ReptiTemp 500R is recommended as an inexpensive starter thermostat here. Definitely don't want both a UTH AND overhead heat lamp going in the same spot as the heat rises quickly and drastically.

:welcome: