Need Help New Ball Python Owner :)

As for the wooden bottom. A couple ways you can do it.....


1. put the UTH under plexiglass/sealed w/silicone to prevent water w/the thermostat attached, or,

2. you can attach it to the SIDE of the tank. I own a couple of the Scotland made brands of UTH that are sealed in plastic(?) and since Freddie's is an acrylic tank, I have the UTH on the inside but I always monitor the temps, even though it's already attached to a thermostat.

If you're going to invest in a Helix II, it can monitor and control both the hot side UTH (set to 92-94*) and the cool side (82-84*). If you use a rheostat (dimmer is another name) YOU have to manually make the adjustments all the time to keep the temp steady...and from personal experience w/dimmers...they're a royal PITA...unless your room temp is VERY steady and constant.

Yea my room temp stays okay it varies I keep the window cracked open just a tiny bit but those I need something that controls the temperature on both sides so that I dont have to worry about you think the Helix 2 will do it? The dimmer switch thingies I have are a pain in the a** I hate the fact u cant adjust them and keep them in one temperature they are always off.
And also I am in the process of picking up a 50 gal fish tank that I will set up with under tank heat mats so that I can transfer him in there, till then I will just fix that light situation I msg Dr Del about that cage thing he designed, but no response yet, my mom is going out tommorow to hardware store or homedepot to check it out and get it for me so that I can keep him safe. Thank god he hasnt gotten burned on it yet. He has been feeling very stressed lately I am not sure what it is, I think he might be hungry today when I held him he was acting weird he jerked and twitched a couple of times I hope hes alrite when I deposit my check ill take him to the vet to check him out just to make sure hes fine.


Oh and I had a question about the humidity what percentage should it be at mines is usually around 45% if it needs to be higher how can I raise it?

50% is good, unless he's in shed. Then U want to boost it to 60-70%.


You can take your pick of options:

Misting as often as necessary w/a spray bottle (labor intensive)

Automatic mister w/timer (sort of expensive)

Make a DIY humidifier (DIY thread here) or buy a simple humidifier and aquarium air pump

Coconut husk bedding which is moister (but can't be water squeezeable when U first put it in, or that's TOO wet)

If you've got a screen lid, you can cover it (except about a 2" diameter hole on opposing corners <Example: upper right and lower left for ventilation>) with the plastic wrap or tinfoil and tape it down to trap moisture inside OR use a damp towl covering the lid, remembering that the towl would need to be changed and washed daily due to bacteria growth.

Move the water bowl to under the heat lamp/ onto the warm side of the tank to increase the rate of evaporation

I've used the coconut husk bedding. I have one that has a humidifier and air pump system hooked up to it, two of my tanks are sealed w/tinfoil or saran (plastic) wrap and one is plexiglass with holes drilled to repair where the screen was torn. I have another cage that I occas. mist with a spray bottle for a quick little "upper".

Alright I am going to try and get that going I am a big nub at this right now till I learn everything but I will take your advice and try and get him some more humidity in there. Alrite im off to work Ill reply to any more msgs later tonight.