New BP Owner with some questions.

I got my new girl from a guy off of craigslist for $40 with enclosure about 2 weeks ago. He said that she was only 90 days old and that he had just fed her 3 pinkies the day before. He kind of worries me because the enclosure he had for her had sand in it and two plane rocks and that was it.
So two weeks have gone by and I have attempted to feed her a hopper on two different occasions. The first time she acted scared of it when it came near her and she turns her head away as if to get away. This second time she seemed more interested but eventually just went in her hide and stayed there after about 30 mins. I killed the hopper and left it out side of her hide. I am hoping it will be gone tomorrow morning.
The only thing that scares me is her skin seems very loose as if its going to fall off.
I have looked through the care sheets and what not. I'm using a 10gallon tank with two hides one on each side and the water bowl with a cover is in the middle. Iv been having trouble with the humidity but just got that figured out the other day.
Is there any suggestions to get her to eat?

Well what are the temps? What are you using to heat the 10 gallon tank? What are you using for substrate? How are you measuring temps?

The skin thing may just her beginning to shed...pictures would be more helpful :)

Pictures of the setup would help too :)

The temps during the day range from 90-95 on the hot side and 82-84 on the cool side. Im using two digital temperature/humidity gauges on both sides of the tank down by the substrate. I'm using all natural cypress. I'm Using a heat lamp with a 60w regular bulb, the heat bulbs got way to high.
Good news is it looks like I spoke to soon. I went back in to just make sure that the hopper was dead and not just stunned and it was no where to be found. So it looks like my girl had her first meal with me :D. I just didnt get to watch :(
I will put pictures up in the next day or two. I don't want to disturb her right now.

Bring your hot side temp down a bit.
The heat lamps will kill the humidity.
Are you using a uth?

I'm glad she ate for you :)

I got a UTH to replace the lamp do to the humidity issue, however the uth only raised the temp 2 degrees above room level, so i took it back. Im going to buy a better quality one here soon.

The hot side is a bit high, you could just increase the distance a bit. Humidly can be tricky but temps are much more important that humidity. In the past with others have taken away the only heat source for fear of low humidity. A uth needs some control you cannot just run it unchecked. A rheostat, thermostat, or proportional thermostat, something. Keep using what you are until you get the uth and some control for it. Low humidity is not a massive problem, you could add a humid hide. there are lots of posts on controls and lots of ideas what is best.

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Originally Posted by Driver

I got a UTH to replace the lamp do to the humidity issue, however the uth only raised the temp 2 degrees above room level, so i took it back. Im going to buy a better quality one here soon.

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Be careful with this.. the UTH may raise the ambient temperature only 2 degrees above room level, but floor temperature way over that. If it isn't, check to see if your substrate layer is thick. The ambient temperature does not exactly need to be at 90 even at the hot side, it should be more of just be the hot spot on the ground in the hide as long as your ambient temperatures do not go below 80.

UTH's aren't going to raise the ambient temp that much. They provide belly heat and need to be controlled so the snake doesn't get burned.

Here is a image of the enclosure. Im working on getting a better quality one made just for reptiles. But for now this is what i have. When you say the temperatures are to high. What should they be on the hot side? I was under the impression that it should be between 90-95
http://evcstudios.com/driver/snake/enclosure001.jpg

Hot spot temps should be between 88-92. 95 is just too hot for long term.

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

It sounds like she just feels insecure. I'd work on getting a UTH WITH a thermostat, and try covering the top with something about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way. I also suggest getting black Con-tact paper from Home Depot, it's like $6 for the roll. Just cover the back and two sides with it, it blacks it out so she doesn't feel like she's out in the open....it makes the tank seem smaller and helps them feel more secure.

the skin thing could also mean that she is dehydrated... i know with mine, if they are dehydrated they wont eat.
just my 2 cents

I agree cover the back and sides up some and something to keep in mind that is a water dish in the centre? Or is it a humid hide? In either case, closed holes (with plastic in a single piece around it) snakes have been known to get stuck in and have all kinds of issues. It is safest to have a U shaped opening with looser fitting lids that if it was to get a bit stuck the lid would pop off.

If it is a water dish you can uncover it that will raise the humidity.

Did your thermometers come with a probe? If they did not 95 is quite a bit too high. The temperature in the hide is often 5 or 6 degrees warmer than the ambient air outside that. Small snakes also while digesting generate heat (from digestion processes) and that will also add a few degrees. That might be your issue there.

You question about the 95º typically you will see 94º on care sheets. Many keepers (myself included) will not recommend anything over 92º This is because, A, it is not needed. and B. Thermometers are often not very accurate.

Many thermometers especially digital ones are manufactured with some degree of 'slop' they are not high precision instruments. They almost all used in the hobby have a accuracy range due to the 'slop' in the way they are made. They typically are 4ºF range (2º up or 2º down) So 92 could be 94 or 90 which is still ok 95 which is the max end of ok could be 97 or 93 at 97 your snake will have trouble digesting its food items.

Made some changes on the cage today. Got the black con-tact paper put up and changed out the bowl of water with a smaller one. Im still working on the heat. Here is a new pic as well of pics of her the first day i got her on the ride home.

http://evcstudios.com/driver/snake/enclosure002.jpg
http://evcstudios.com/driver/snake/reeses001.jpg
http://evcstudios.com/driver/snake/reeses002.jpg

A water bowl, uncovered that is very wide and only 3-4 inches deep will help raise the humidity. I have a pie tin in my tub, I just have to make sure to keep it full, so once a day I add some water and then I dump and scrub it every other day. It works for my corn snake too, although he gets a smaller bowl since he doesn't have the same humidity requirements.