The best purchase of my life !!!

What a pretty snake! Congrats :) I have yet to be bitten by either of my snakes and I've had my first one for 2 years. He was a stray when I got him so we had no background. I think if you are smart about when not to handle them and are patient then you shouldn't have to worry too much about getting bit. It can happen anytime, but you can lessen the risk by being smart and patient. Oh and kudos on the humidity, it is something I have to work on to keep mine at 60%.

Cute little guy you have there. The set up looks good. The flower pot is fine. Many people use them. There is more than enough ventilation. The small area around the light fixture is perfect. Don't worry too much. It looks like you will be fine.

Walmart sells a small thermometer called an accurite weather station. With a probe. Pick up one of these and put the probe on the glass on the inside, directly on the heat pad. Run the cord under the newspaper and bedding, and place the unit itself on the other side. Inside the tank. The screen will hive you 2 readings. The probe will show you what your hot side is. The unit will show you what the ambient temp is. If the glass surface above the heat pad is higher than 95/100 (hot basking area should be 90) then you will need to get a thermostat to connect the heat pad to, to control it.

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Originally Posted by kasmiraross

make sure theres anuff air geting in . he will soon out grow that tank

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Surely a rack or tub system would be smaller than that setup, why would he need to change it as many people keep there bp's in smaller spaces for longer. Just my opinion?

You have a thermostat hooked up to the light and heat pad right? If you do, don't worry about him burning himself. If you don't, you need one ASAP. Always take the hot spot temp from the hottest place the snake can get to. Aka the top of the glass under the substrate. Hope this helps :).

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Originally Posted by Jeremy78

You have a thermostat hooked up to the light and heat pad right? If you do, don't worry about him burning himself. If you don't, you need one ASAP. Always take the hot spot temp from the hottest place the snake can get to. Aka the top of the glass under the substrate. Hope this helps :).

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Dont have a thermostat but I have the light dimmer switch connected to the heat pad and light right now and im using that to regulate the temps.

I have a weather station thermometer but its not accurite still from wal_mart though lol and it does have the probe with it and I set it up like everyone else .....probe on the glass above the heat pad and the actual unit on the opposite side of the tank .....Right now my glass temp is reading 91 degrees and the ambient air temp from the unit on the other side if the tank is reading 79-80 degrees ...Im also measuring alot of the time with a laser temp gun to be sure .....Im sure my little guy is still checking out his new home but he seems he hasnt used the cold side much for lets say his hide .... usually stays on the hot side for the day curled up .... .but at night he has been cruising all over the tank .

Then you should be good. Your set up looks perfect as far as aquarium set ups go. Your little spider should be happy there.

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

Then you should be good. Your set up looks perfect as far as aquarium set ups go. Your little spider should be happy there.

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Thanks thats good to hear I defiantly know what everyone is saying about tubs and I can understand they are easier as it did take a lot of time and effort to monitor the temps and fins exactly what works I have been monitoring it for 4 days straight more times than I can even think of and its been staying steady ... steady as in it might fluctuate 1-2 degrees at the most up or down which i think is expectable ...I will switch to tubs if I inquire getting another snake or ball python as I can see its easier and cheaper but for now Im going to leave it in the tank setup as its more appealing for me .... Right now Im just waiting it out as its only been in the tank since sunday and I fed him a rat last night ... so It sucks but I'm waiting to hold him hopefully he wont chew my finger off lol

If you're nervous, just cover his head with a small towel or distract his face with something. Go in behind him and just scoop him up quickly. He should never bite as long as you don't stick your hand in front of his face. Then it's usually just a defensive/fear or feeding response.

If you ever do get tagged don't worry. It doesn't hurt. It just freaks you out.

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

If you're nervous, just cover his head with a small towel or distract his face with something. Go in behind him and just scoop him up quickly. He should never bite as long as you don't stick your hand in front of his face. Then it's usually just a defensive/fear or feeding response.

If you ever do get tagged don't worry. It doesn't hurt. It just freaks you out.

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that actually what I was going to do just distract him with something and scoop him up ... Also i guess i can look at his body language if he seems like his neck is all coiled up then maybe I will take extra caution ....Im not scared to get bit I just haven't been bit by a ball python so I have no idea what it feels like thats what freaks me out Im going to let him settle in another day and then start handling him slowly for short periods of time and see how it goes i will keep you posted .