Help!!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

Satanic, thanks for the help but you have misread somewhere, not sure where though. I had coconut bark in the tank, not pebbles. I also cleaned out the whole thing and replaced the coconut bark with paper towels.

I'm not gonna go out and buy another tub just to have my 40 sitting around. I didn't buy this tank to have it sitting empty so tubs aren't an option. Could I just get a small UTH for the cold side to try and warm it up? What do you suggest?

---

To be completely honest, a 40 gallon tank is much too large for a young ball python (and even most adults!). Part of the reason your having feeding problems is probably that tanks size.
A 15q tub will not cost you more than 10 dollars, and for the health of the snake it is worth it. You can put him back in a show tank after he's grown a bit, eaten regularly, and completely healed. Right now, listening to Becky is the best thing you could do for your animal.
My snake didn't eat for 4 months, I found out it was because of the 20g enclosure it was in. After getting it settled in a tub, it's easier to clean, manage, and the snake is 10x happier and feeding. All with Becky's help.

Good luck.

ok, well i guess i'll try that when i have the cash to. I'm between jobs so money is tight.

I am thinking about doing this and giving our hopefully soon to be new addition the 40 breeder.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

I am thinking about doing this and giving our hopefully soon to be new addition the 40 breeder.

---

That seems like a good idea :D
Also, your hides look waaaay big for the size of your ball. Maybe try some smaller ones, that might help with a feeding response?

I bought this tank from a guy who kept his BP in it so I just disinfected the hide and water bowl and used them. I've decided to go with this setup and i'm just gonna build a shelf to put both of the tanks on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

I don't feed him in his tank. i have a little blue steralite tub I put him in and I have to assist feed him because he won't eat by striking.

---

WHAT???!!!!! What do you mean you assist feed? Unless that thing is a hatchling that has never eaten and is near death, or it is a WC situation and it hasn't eaten in well over a year, what are you doing???!!!!!!

There is something very wrong here if you have to assist feed! Please explain in detail how exactly you assist feed. Only way I know of is holding the snake behind the head and forcing food into its mouth....

Bottom line, an injury like that does not just "happen" when feeding a frozen / thawed mouse in a seperate container by itself!!!! What really happened here?

I assist feed exactly the way you just explained and what I have written is exactly what has happened. I'm going to try to get the supplies together this weekend to build him one of those 10 gallon setups, shouldn't be hard because 1. they are relatively cheap and 2. I am bringing some stuff in to the store I get my stuff from for trade in credit.

I checked on him today and it looks like his back is healing nicely, no redness or anything that looks like infection and no puss. I think we may be in the clear.

:gj::gj:

he has had me worried since it happened. I actually moved him and Hissy to their new tubs last night so I can better manage their temps and humidity.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

I checked on him today and it looks like his back is healing nicely, no redness or anything that looks like infection and no puss. I think we may be in the clear.

---

Sounds good, keep working on getting a more secure set-up together either as becky described with a tub or a small tank with proper temps, humidity and security (hides). Once you have everything set-up and his back is healing well, attempt feeding again, WITHOUT assistance.

As I have been told in my other thread, I am going to attempt live feeding after a week of them not being handled. I am having an issue with the tubs though, the humidity refuses to drop. I have like 10 holes in one and the tub is still fogged up. I guess I can try to drill bigger holes instead of using the soldering iron trick (which is really cool lol). Other than that I may have to find a new way to situate the heat pad because the cold side is at 73, granted that is +10 from their old tanks, but still not high enough. I used the method from this post for the UTH but I think I may have to actually tape it to the bottom of the tank because it is sitting about 1/4"-1/2" away from it. I do kinda like it like that because it keeps the tub from creating a hot spot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

As I have been told in my other thread, I am going to attempt live feeding after a week of them not being handled. I am having an issue with the tubs though, the humidity refuses to drop. I have like 10 holes in one and the tub is still fogged up. I guess I can try to drill bigger holes instead of using the soldering iron trick (which is really cool lol). Other than that I may have to find a new way to situate the heat pad because the cold side is at 73, granted that is +10 from their old tanks, but still not high enough. I used the method from this post for the UTH but I think I may have to actually tape it to the bottom of the tank because it is sitting about 1/4"-1/2" away from it. I do kinda like it like that because it keeps the tub from creating a hot spot.

---

If you have the probe of your thermostat right on the UTH and a thermometer probe on the inside on the tub , the hot spot should be fine and easy to monitor. I tape my UTH right to the bottom of the tub with foil tape. I insulated my tub on the base with bubble foil (meant for water heaters, but works great) and it helped keep the cool side warmer.

I have the thermometer probe is on the bottom of the tub so do I need to move it to the side or somthing?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

I have the thermometer probe is on the bottom of the tub so do I need to move it to the side or somthing?

---

In addition to your thermometer you need a thermostat to control the temp of the UTH. Or a dimmer switch.

I have a dimmer. I was tweaking with it for about 1.5 hours last night so I got it pretty much spot on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

I have a dimmer. I was tweaking with it for about 1.5 hours last night so I got it pretty much spot on.

---

You will find that a dimmer will never be right on the correct temp. This is because unlike a thermostat, a dimmer does not turn off and on to account for room temperature changes and fluctuations in electricity flow. A dimmer will always require you to adjust it unless the temperature of the room is very steady. A ranco or johnson thermostat is about $70 and well worth it if you can manage the money.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by missi182

You will find that a dimmer will never be right on the correct temp. This is because unlike a thermostat, a dimmer does not turn off and on to account for room temperature changes and fluctuations in electricity flow. A dimmer will always require you to adjust it unless the temperature of the room is very steady. A ranco or johnson thermostat is about $70 and well worth it if you can manage the money.

---

I agree, a tstat is $ better spent then a vet visit;)

I plan on getting a couple of thermostats for their tubs when I have the funds available to do so.

For the humidity, solder more holes. And don't do any holes in the lid or top.

Double the amount of holes you have. :]

I am just gonna drill some so I can use a slightly larger hole.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

I am just gonna drill some so I can use a slightly larger hole.

---

dont drill holes in plastic, it cracks. Use a cheap sodering iron and melt the holes, its much safer. Just do it in a ventilated area, burning plastic smells terrible.

If you're careful and drill slowly plastic doesn't necessarily crack. All the holes in my tub were drilled and turned out fine. We did sand the holes after drilling to prevent them from being too rough.

I used a glue gun with no glue in it ....I didn't know what else to use since we didn't have a soldering gun. It worked well for future reference.

My blue tub I have had 5 holes drilled in it and it didn't crack.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

My blue tub I have had 5 holes drilled in it and it didn't crack.

---

That is the reason your humidity is too high. I had about 20 small holes 1/4 inch wide all over the tub and the humidity was very steady around 60 with just a water dish.

it has actually dropped to about 55-60 now and is staying there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Little B-Py

it has actually dropped to about 55-60 now and is staying there.

---

That's good to hear but just make sure you have enough holes to provide decent ventilation. Hows the dimmer working out? Sick of tweaking it yet?

it's actually not too bad. Oakley was thermoregulating yesterday because of the hot side being too hot for him. made me proud. Hissy's is sitting between 92-95 pretty much all the time. Not sure why hers is staying correct and his is up high but oh well.