Seriously guys.. hes not eating :(

Must have missed the fact you already had a UTH. Even though it's already stuck to the tank are you sure you can't remove it? Try using some alcohol and slowly peel it off. If you were able to get it off without damaging it you could just use some aluminum tape like that found in the HVAC isle at home depot to secure it to the bottom of your tub.

Like said above a dimmer would only work if your temps stayed pretty constant in your house. If they fluctuate you are going to have to adjust the UTH output constantly using a dimmer. Unless your in your house 24-7 that's not going to work.

Good luck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GirDance

Relieves the stress for you??? And you "Hope that this isn't too harsh"???? I deleted my last post just because I figured other newer members who hadn't read the history of your posts didn't need to see it and get a bad perception of the forum in general, but you just don't listen to anyone.

You wouldn't need to be stressed out - and neither would your poor snake - if you'd bothered to listen to any of the multitude of us who told you *before* you got the snake to wait until you could ensure everything with your Dad was worked out before bringing it home. And given that same advice in countless posts on here, and yet you still decided act rashly and bring one home right away KNOWING that you couldn't offer the snake the proper care. I also recall a member telling you to go ahead and bring one home, then feed him and watch him refuse it, and then try again and watch him refuse it, then get your dad to try and watch the snake refuse again - and then pay the vet bill.... No yeah, this is harsh, but you were given all this information in advance and you still failed to listen to anyone. And now, you're asking for help again and saying that you feel so bad and are stressed out - yet you're still failing to actually take any of the advice until it's convenient for you to do so.

No, a light most likely won't do the trick for the warm side because they really need belly heat, the lamp will just end up heating up the entire tank, or making it too hot towards the top of the enclosure and not hot enough at the bottom, and risking burns if you're measuring the temp at ground level where he needs it, but then if he rubs against the top of the tub where it's definately hotter but not measured.

If you can't afford a 25$ (from petsmart, which is the pricyest place to get it) UTH for another 2 weeks, what are you going to do if you ever need to take him to the vet?

Print off some research and give it to your Father and get the snake properly taken care of now - not later when you risk it getting even skinnier and sick on top of that.

And I really do appologize to any other members. I try to offer the best help and advice I can to any member, and especially to new members and people who are actually putting the care of their pets above their own 'wants'... But after following the multitude of threads telling him *exactly* what would happen if he brought home the animal and put it in the type of home he was providing - his completely ignoring that and doing it anyway - and then asking for help when exactly what he was told would happen happened...

Well, I just don't have much tolerance for people who blatently disregard the needs of an animal - that's why we require rescue centers and shelters.

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Not to start an argument, but I have to second this post. You have done the research necessary, just have not listed to it at all. As you may see from some member's signature, if you can afford to take care of an animal don't keep it. I understand your family's financial issues, and respect them... Most of us have been there. However, as someone has stated: What will you do if you need to take your snake to the vet? They cost money, and sometimes alot of it. I know, $560 for my dog the other day..

Good luck, and please follow the advice you so regularly ask for.

-Ben

Hmm, lighten up a little, guys. Financial problems are never planned and can hit very hard...usually at very bad times. I'm sure he would rush out and get the thermostat and a new UTH today if he could... Being one who lives on financial aid and loans, I can understand the whole suddenly not enough money thing.

As for re-using the UTH: don't use any liquid anywhere near it even if it's been unplugged for a long time. They aren't made to withstand it. It may be possible to get the old one off and still have it usable, but it's tricky. The whole thing is not to bend it a lot. I heard someone here suggest using a spatula to help pry it off straight, and I'll be trying that tonight to get a space for my tstat probe.
Anyway, try peeling it off VERY slowly and carefully and see what happens. Worst would be that you still have to go out and get a new one asap. Since it's summer, having the snake without the UTH for a little while, as long as the temps in that room hover around 80, shouldn't be that big a deal. Hope that helps.

Well I went out to a pet store today, A reptile pet store, the guy knows alot about ball pythons, I told him about what tank I have and he didn't agree, he showed me the perfect tank to use, hes making me a package for cheap after I told him my story. Anyways he asked how my little guy was, I told him that he is now eating, he stays in his hides,at night he likes to cruise around and the temperature is at about 85-90 and humidity is 43% which I know isn't good, anyways hopefully everything goes well, this new tank I'm getting has alot of floor space and he will live in it for the rest of his life, the top part is IMPOSSIBLE to get off from the inside seeing it has a lock and grooves that slide with the screen witch won't even budge. I'm getting a new UTH or flexwatt with hopefully a herpstat but if not I'll use a dimmer for the time being, only problem is my room is so humid so hopefully I can control that well. But I still want to go with the tub idea... I still don't know yet.. and please people don't make my life harder than it already is, I'm 16 and stressed like crazy so please back off let me do my thing, and give me some friendly advice, and for the people who have given me friendly advice I thank you.

Okay, so I don't have any suggestions really for you since alot of people have given you great suggestions that you seem to agree with and now you just want people to leave you alone to "do your thing". All I can say is poor snake. I hope that your new setup when you get it is going to be ideal for your snake since you didn"t describe it, but if it is going to "live in it for the rest of his life" then it is probably too big for him because, and correct me if I am wrong, it is a baby. What a baby needs and what a full grown BP needs are 2 different things. A baby can live in a 10 gal tank while a full grown adult can live in a 30 - 40 gal long tank. I wish you good luck and I can only hope that you do what is best for your snake. And it is my opinion that people here aren't trying to stress you out any more or make your life harder than it is but you are the one on here posting questions and people are telling you what has worked for those that are way more experienced and have been keeping BP's for many years, they are all thinking of your snake and what is best for it. So instead of taking the advice of people here you go to a petstore and ask them what they think, when everyone here knows that petstores are probably one of the worst places to ask advice. (Although I will say not all petstores, because I have a small family owned type petstore near me that specializes in birds and reptiles that has given excellent advice which checks out with what people on this site have suggested or info from the caresheets, although I am very sure that this particular petstore is a rarity!!!) Anyway, I just wanted to put my 2 cent in because it irks me when people spend the time giving great advice that is just basically thrown away at the expense of a living creature. Please do the best for your snake. I just don't see why spend the money on a new setup when you say that you are having financial difficulties and a tub would be the best and most cost effective way to properly house and care for your snake........... okay I am going to stop now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sunny1

Okay, so I don't have any suggestions really for you since alot of people have given you great suggestions that you seem to agree with and now you just want people to leave you alone to "do your thing". All I can say is poor snake. I hope that your new setup when you get it is going to be ideal for your snake since you didn"t describe it, but if it is going to "live in it for the rest of his life" then it is probably too big for him because, and correct me if I am wrong, it is a baby. What a baby needs and what a full grown BP needs are 2 different things. A baby can live in a 10 gal tank while a full grown adult can live in a 30 - 40 gal long tank. I wish you good luck and I can only hope that you do what is best for your snake. And it is my opinion that people here aren't trying to stress you out any more or make your life harder than it is but you are the one on here posting questions and people are telling you what has worked for those that are way more experienced and have been keeping BP's for many years, they are all thinking of your snake and what is best for it. So instead of taking the advice of people here you go to a petstore and ask them what they think, when everyone here knows that petstores are probably one of the worst places to ask advice. (Although I will say not all petstores, because I have a small family owned type petstore near me that specializes in birds and reptiles that has given excellent advice which checks out with what people on this site have suggested or info from the caresheets, although I am very sure that this particular petstore is a rarity!!!) Anyway, I just wanted to put my 2 cent in because it irks me when people spend the time giving great advice that is just basically thrown away at the expense of a living creature. Please do the best for your snake. I just don't see why spend the money on a new setup when you say that you are having financial difficulties and a tub would be the best and most cost effective way to properly house and care for your snake........... okay I am going to stop now.

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I do respect your opinion as with everyone else's. I really want what is best for my little guy, so you think the tub is a good idea then? i have a 30 qt tub ready to use.

New pics of Spartan

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/.../IMAGE_031.jpg

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/.../IMAGE_030.jpg


Looks happy to me..

Sorry for the bad quality.

OK Bright 202-

Look I'm not trying to be the bad guy here... But seriously.. You either need help from the members, of you dont. Don't say seriously I need help.. Then 2 minutes later say leave me alone to let me "do my own thing."

Just stop the rambling man... I understand you are 16, but that does not mean you are excused from reality. You have asked if a tub is a good idea about 10 times in your over 100 something posts already. Either switch to a tub, or don't but stop asking if it is a good idea.

As said in the previous post.. You either want the members help or not.. But stop asking the same question...

LEARN TO USE THE SEARCH FEATURE OF THIS FORUM PLEASE.

This is the end of my rant for now..... But I think many will agree with me that it is time for you to stop asking for advise, and then starting a new post with the same questions, and your obvious refusal to listen to the advice given.... You have only had the snake for a few weeks.. if that, and you are already claiming poverty.. Something tells me this did not come on quickly...

Read your own posts and responses.. They are redundant and conflicting to the advice given....

Again... No hard feelings... but it is time to re-evaluate..

-Ben

If you need to get a uth go to wal mart and get one of those heat pads for your back and a thermostat. They work great i use them for my snakes and they are alot cheaper than uth's at a pet store. They are right around 10 $

Hi,


The problem with human heating pads is they are not designed to run 24/7 and I'm always a little nervous using things so far outside their design parameters.:( Besides flexwatt is about the same price and is recomended by people who have used it for years too.:)

Bright202,

I would suggest reading the site to see peoples opinions/experiences on using large glass tanks with baby ball pythons. If the guy at the store thinks it will do for it's entire life he's either describing;

a) A tank that is waaay to big and will cause you all sorts of extra little problems besides the massive feeling of insecurity your lil guy will suffer (heating will be a pain for a start)... or..

b) He doesn't expect your snake to live long enough to grow.

Sorry to be blunt but his opinion is based on selling you things and ours isn't.

If you absolutely want to use a glass tank ( and it can be made to work just fine) then at least get a nice 10 gallon one and read the glass tank setup sticky again.

I still think your best bet at the moment is to order some flexwatt (or any other reptile heating pad) from reptilebasics and use the tub you already own.

If you do go with the shops advice check out all the suggestions on the site for trying to increase his sense of security and keep a very good eye on him for signs of stress.


dr del