Help!!!!

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

I'd suggest you read this, and also still take the snake to the vet. It's probably an RI, and if untreated, could kill your snake.

Also, what are you using as thermometers? Are they analog or digital?

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X2
This is what I was talking about.

You guys need to all relax. The snake is not going to die if it's left at room temperature for a day. I think about 99% of us are guilty of similar mistakes when we first got our snakes, I know I messed up big time!

That being said, do not feed the snake until you have your temps figured out. Ball pythons are pretty hardy, but they do require a proper amount of heat for digestion or the prey will just rot in their stomach. That's no good.

Move your thermometer down to where the snake is actually at. What is the point of measuring the temps at the top of the cage? The snake will never be there. You need to know what the snake is experiencing. Get yourself some DIGITAL thermometers. The accurite weather station is a popular one around here. I have 5 or 6 of these to measure my temps in various cages. You can purchase them from home depot, lowes, or walmart. It's just the basic weather station with a wired probe to measure the outside temp, and measure temp and humidity at the unit. So it's really the only thermometer and hygrometer you will need.

As for heat, a heat mat is your best bet, but if you can't keep your ambient (cool side) temps above 75º then I would suggest a low wattage red heat bulb on a dimmer to add a little extra warmth. A heat mat must be used with a thermostat to control the temp. If you don't use one, you risk burning your animal. It is a bit of an investment as the cheapest models are about $25 and go all the way up to $250. I highly recommend making an investment on a nicer thermostat now. I like the vivarium electronics that they sell at reptilebasics.com I have the ve-100 and the ve-300 dual zone with night drop.

Everyone eventually learns that pet store employees literally know nothing about the care of the animals they sell. Don't listen to them, they will just help you waste your money on useless and expensive equipment.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

You guys need to all relax. The snake is not going to die if it's left at room temperature for a day. I think about 99% of us are guilty of similar mistakes when we first got our snakes, I know I messed up big time!

That being said, do not feed the snake until you have your temps figured out. Ball pythons are pretty hardy, but they do require a proper amount of heat for digestion or the prey will just rot in their stomach. That's no good.

Move your thermometer down to where the snake is actually at. What is the point of measuring the temps at the top of the cage? The snake will never be there. You need to know what the snake is experiencing. Get yourself some DIGITAL thermometers. The accurite weather station is a popular one around here. I have 5 or 6 of these to measure my temps in various cages. You can purchase them from home depot, lowes, or walmart. It's just the basic weather station with a wired probe to measure the outside temp, and measure temp and humidity at the unit. So it's really the only thermometer and hygrometer you will need.

As for heat, a heat mat is your best bet, but if you can't keep your ambient (cool side) temps above 75º then I would suggest a low wattage red heat bulb on a dimmer to add a little extra warmth. A heat mat must be used with a thermostat to control the temp. If you don't use one, you risk burning your animal. It is a bit of an investment as the cheapest models are about $25 and go all the way up to $250. I highly recommend making an investment on a nicer thermostat now. I like the vivarium electronics that they sell at reptilebasics.com I have the ve-100 and the ve-300 dual zone with night drop.

Everyone eventually learns that pet store employees literally know nothing about the care of the animals they sell. Don't listen to them, they will just help you waste your money on useless and expensive equipment.

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I have to agree, some of you folks need to chill. The OP is asking for help to make sure to get it right and some of us are not being very nice about it. If new ball python owners can't ask and get supportive help and answers then they won't ask questions. The OP obviously did research but just like anything else, if your research is flawed then the practice is flawed.

OP, read the care sheet as linked before, post some pictures of your set up when you are able so we can better help you out. Unfortunately chain pet stores are usually the last place you want to ask about husbandry for anything. They are taught really horrible things and they pass that horrible information on.

Thank you very much!!!! I was starting to get discouraged about asking for help, but these last two posts have been awesome. I moved my thermometers to the bottom of the tank and it is actually much warmer than i thought......he is doing very well today and has no more plantation soil in his cage and his mouth has been clear of debris and saliva since last night. he seems to be back to his normal curious self today and did finally eat tonight. his husbandry is up to the caresheet requirements all the way down to having digital thermometers now on both sides. I will continue to monitor him and be sure to not to take the advice of these pet store guys. The only other question i have, is how would you keep the humidity up when there is no soil and only paper towel atm??

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Originally Posted by Phia

I am using what is called plantation soil, It was what the pet store suggested i use, it seems almost like a mixture of soil and minced bark. do you suggest something better?? Just looked it up and it is coconut husk fibres

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i use coconut fibres ITS EXECLEENTT Use that!

I use eco earth which is coxonut husk, it holds gumidity well and is great!

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk 2

I agree that substrate is good for holding humidity, but so is cypress mulch and it is far less crumbly, messy, and dirt like than eco earth or coco husk.

I personally prefer paper towels. Easy and cheap.

for Humidity Issues I use Repti Bark !! Soak it in warm water for a few hours then lay it in, Also As others have said Cypress is good to

On a side note Steffe any pics of your Cattle Dog ?

do you have a UTH? if so do you have a thermostat for it to regulate that heat that it gives off? I would be careful using the newspaper method if you don't have something to regulate the UTH. You don't want to burn your baby!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phia

Thank you very much!!!! I was starting to get discouraged about asking for help, but these last two posts have been awesome. I moved my thermometers to the bottom of the tank and it is actually much warmer than i thought......he is doing very well today and has no more plantation soil in his cage and his mouth has been clear of debris and saliva since last night. he seems to be back to his normal curious self today and did finally eat tonight. his husbandry is up to the caresheet requirements all the way down to having digital thermometers now on both sides. I will continue to monitor him and be sure to not to take the advice of these pet store guys. The only other question i have, is how would you keep the humidity up when there is no soil and only paper towel atm??

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I had to laugh when people were freaking out about the plantation soil. If they don't know something, they freak out about it. Truth is, I love plantation soil, and you aren't wrong for using it. Some people just don't have experience with it.

I'm sorry I might have missed it, but you transferred him to a smaller container now, right? Alright. I was going to suggest that you can make a humid hide in the enclosure for him, but you might not have space now that it's moved to a smaller container. Basically, instead of bumping up the humidity in the whole tank, you have a 'back-up' humid area that they can go and hide in. Usually a container with a hole cut it in, lined with moss (I use the moss that comes in bricks similar to plantation soil). That way, if the enclosure ever dries out, the humid hide gives the snake somewhere humid to go. Depending on how big he is, you can even use a smaller container like a margarine container with a hole in the lid. I use a shoebox one for my corn snake, which she loves.

To bump up the humidity in his enclosure now, you can try moving his water dish over to the warm side of his tank, which will cause it to evaporate and make it more humid.

Does your container now have holes in it? Or an open/screened top? If it's not holding humidity, you can try reducing the airflow in the enclosure. Either by blocking off some of the holes you've made (if it's in a tub), or by using plastic wrap over the top of a screen/tank top.

Either way, I'm glad to hear he's eating! And kudos to you for sticking through, making some changes and not letting people here discourage you away from asking questions. Most of us are pretty low-key, calm and easy to approach. If you have anymore questions or need something clarified, please let us know. Either way, I'm glad you came here and got some better answers! :gj: