Bought my first BP yesterday! I have a few questions...

Welcome to the site! :) I think everyone's addressed your questions already, but I'll add one observation... you'll want to get something to cover 3 walls of the tank, so he/she doesn't feel too exposed. I use the fancy aquarium backgrounds, but some people just put black paper or foil around the outside. Good luck with the new baby, and I hope he/she settles down soon!

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Originally Posted by syvil

In case anyone is wondering which one I bought I got this one

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

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Cool. :gj: I have a different model of Accu-rite, and it's fabulous!

Btw, I live in a very dry climate too, and it's difficult keeping the humidity high enough in the glass tank. I'm switching to tubs/racks soon, which you might consider eventually... in the meantime, keep a spray bottle for misting, and throw in some wet moss during shed time.

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Welcome to the site! :) I think everyone's addressed your questions already, but I'll add one observation... you'll want to get something to cover 3 walls of the tank, so he/she doesn't feel too exposed. I use the fancy aquarium backgrounds, but some people just put black paper or foil around the outside. Good luck with the new baby, and I hope he/she settles down soon!

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I was reading some threads on this this past weekend and I'm going to do this. I'm just trying to figure out which route I want to go... foil, black paper, fancy, ect...

The humidity levels are pretty good on their own. I was thinking they were very low but it turns as you guys said my analogs meters sucked ;)

I'm going to feed him on Friday and leave him alone for the rest of this upcoming weekend. Besides changing his water and putting in the new thermometer I have left him alone. He finally came out last night after staying in his new hideout for about 2 days. He was out for little bit then retreated into the other hideout on the cool side of the terrarium.

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Originally Posted by syvil

I was reading some threads on this this past weekend and I'm going to do this. I'm just trying to figure out which route I want to go... foil, black paper, fancy, ect...

The humidity levels are pretty good on their own. I was thinking they were very low but it turns as you guys said my analogs meters sucked ;)

I'm going to feed him on Friday and leave him alone for the rest of this upcoming weekend. Besides changing his water and putting in the new thermometer I have left him alone. He finally came out last night for a little bit then retreated into the other hideout on the cool side of the terrarium.

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Black poster board will work just fine. im glad you got your humidity under control. As long as hes hiding consider yourself a good parent, a hiding ball python is a happy one.

So I took the advice of a few people and decided to cover up 3 sides on my snakes terrarium. I took some pictures to show anyone interested in what I used/did.

First off the supplies the supplies needed. I got all 3 items from Walmart (minus measuring tape).

Tri-fold Foam Display Board - $10
Box Cutters - $2
Double Stick Tape - $3
Total Price - $15

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4193/pict0145a.jpg
Back cover...the humidity is low as I opened the cage for measuring.

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5150/pict0146e.jpg
I added a piece for the top to keep humidity in leaving room for air. I throw a very light towel over it to weight it down
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/5382/pict0147i.jpg

I then measured all the sides where the glass is visible only! After some measuring and cutting here's what I came up with. It was almost impossible for me to cut a straight line on all the pieces don't worry if you can't it really doesn't matter as long as it's straight enough.

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/6505/pict0148l.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/7930/pict0151x.jpg
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3451/pict0152t.jpg
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8039/pict0153d.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9777/pict0154t.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6643/pict0155i.jpg
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9104/pict0156e.jpg

I also had another question... I'm going to feed Killswitch on Friday besides covering the 3 ends of his terrarium, changing his water and occasionally misting I have left his home alone. He's been spending most of his time hidden away in the hideout on the cool end of the terrarium (left). He came out the other morning while I was on my way to work and had his head popped out of his hideout this morning also. I'm guessing he comes out late at night when I'm already asleep.

Anyway I've decided to feed him in a separate container for now. As that's how the breeder was feeding him. As previously stated he's been very aggressive and getting bitten/struck at is a certainty but that's not what I'm afraid of. After feeding how should I pick him up and put him back in his home so I don't injury him and how long should I wait after he has eaten his meal?

I've never seen the need in feeding in a separate enclosure. I used to do it with my corn, but then stopped and never looked back. I feed my BP in his enclosure and when I reach in to take him out he's as gentle as can be. The aggression you're seeing is most likely because he's just not used to being his enclosure completely or being handled. But if you do decide to feed in a separate enclosure, wait until the prey item passes past his neck at least. Preferably after he's worked it all the way down. after that just pick him up normally and put him back right away. No need to worry about injuring him

I would re think putting the foam board on top of the screen, it will actually absorb more humidity from the air.

You are more likely to get bit when feeding in a separate enclosure. I don't know what kind of breeder would feed in a separate enclosure. If you are breeding snakes that is a lot of mouths to feed. Taking them all out of their tubs, moving them to a different tub, feeding them, and then waiting 30 minutes would make feeding take HOURS.

Sounds like you are doing pretty well! Your snake is real nice looking. I feed my snakes in their tubs.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

I would re think putting the foam board on top of the screen, it will actually absorb more humidity from the air.

You are more likely to get bit when feeding in a separate enclosure. I don't know what kind of breeder would feed in a separate enclosure. If you are breeding snakes that is a lot of mouths to feed. Taking them all out of their tubs, moving them to a different tub, feeding them, and then waiting 30 minutes would make feeding take HOURS.

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The guy/breeder I got him from was a very small time guy that has a few snakes sells the babies when they breed. Nothing too serious...

I was actually thinking about the foam piece I had on top and decided to wrap it in saran wrap... I was covering a portion of the tank before with it but it got really messy/annoying changing the water/misting re-saran wrapping daily.

I have a vet appointment next week to get Killswitch all checked out. :)

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3248/pict0157a.jpg

Here is a great sticky for the screen lid instead of the foam board.