help...

1. im using a 75w bulb and it brings the heat to about 90-95. if i get a 60w will it bring it to 85-90?
2. i tried to feed it yesterday with a frozen fuzzy. i left it in a separate area to eat, cause i heard its better to not feed them were they live. but he didn't eat it. also how long should i leave him with the food until i know hes not hungry?
3. i was thinking of trying a live fuzzy this weekend to see if he eats it. good idea or not?
4. the 1st few days the humidity in tank was a good 59%. but now its dropped to 40%. ive tried moving the bulb directly over the water but that hasn't helped, what should i do?


thx for all the help guys...

Well to start id ditch the light and go to a uth... In terms of feedig tanks. I feed in there tank. I know lots of others do to. If they dont take right away ill leave it with them until morning. If u go ith get a thermostat of some kimd

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Simplex

Well to start id ditch the light and go to a uth... In terms of feedig tanks. I feed in there tank. I know lots of others do to. If they dont take right away ill leave it with them until morning. If u go ith get a thermostat of some kimd

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+1

How are you reading temps and humidity? I also feed in all their own enclosures with zero issue, other than the occasional refusal.

Depending on where you live the lamp is not necessary, as with feeding in a separate enclosue is not necessary.

If you are keeping the snake in a galss enclosure, try covering most of the lid with either cardboard, plastic wrap & tin foil to hold the moisture in.

first off, heat lamps will kill your humidity fast. dropping to a 50w red bulb should help get the ambient temps right 80-84degrees.

Try spraying you cage more often, or changing your substrate. ( I use Coconut husk)

also where do you live? the colder the weather gets the harder it is to keep the humidity up. I am in Michigan and it is getting down in the 40's at night now. I am having to spray my tank 2 times a day instead of just once.

I feed in a feeding tub, it does not stress my girl at all. I do it for the main reason I don't want her to get any substrate in her mouth when feeding. your snake may be stressed from the moving of enclosures before feeding.

How long have you given him to get used to his new enclosure? maybe he needs more time to get settled in.

Just some thoughts ;)

im using a sticky to test the temp and a hydrometer to test the humidity...
i haven't been spraying at all so ill start doing that, i think that will def help with the humidity.
also im gonna down grade the bulb size.
will a heating pad keep half the tank at a good temp?
im very new to this have only had Gambit my BP for a week so im learning as i go.. thx guys

Read up on the stickys in the BP forum, tons of useful/educational info there

Here is the caresheet :)
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

Read it through and just post any other questions you have. Those bulbs are probably making the tank much hotter than you are actually reading.

the care sheet is great...:gj: exactly what i needed...

OK so here we go I was in the same boat as you a couple months ago. Pics of your set up would be very helpful but I am guessing you are using the sticky temp guages on the outside of the tank and a Dial type humidity guage. THROW THEM OUT. Goto walmart pick up the acu-rite indoor outdoor thermometer with probe. Ill link it below for you :) I was cooking my snake and killing my humidity and didn't even know it. The acu-rite read about 10 degrees different than the dial type guages. Now for humidity goto Home Depot or Lowes buy a peice of plexi about $10 to cover your tank about 3/4 of the way drill a few holes in it and cover it with foil tape or tin foil. Get a Under Tank Heater and T-stat. I am able to keep my temps and humidity great now but look at the second pick of my set up all I did was change to a Acu-rite and well my temps were off. Since I fixed these Issues not a single problem feeding. I feed in a seperate tub for 2 reasons No substrate and gives me time to stir the Eco Earth and do a little tank maintenance while my snake is eating. All this info came for other on this forum I again want to thank them all I know if I hadnt found this forum I would be having a lot more problems with the health of my little guy Peek. So ask lots of questions all the time you'll get some great answers. Love you guys as alway:gj:

Robie

Plexi Cover
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._5501545_n.jpg
Set up after just changing the Thermometer note the high side temp

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4642573_n.jpg

Acu-rite Thermometer /Hydromometer

http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrum.../dp/B001BO8CUE
Again hope this helps you cause it sure helped me:D

Get a Under Tank Heater and T-stat.
whats a t-stat?
and how strong am i looking for the under tank heater to be?

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/files/2/3/8/4/7/s.jpg
this is what i have going right now

It looks like too much substrate, you will probably need to thin it out to about 1 inch of depth

Undertank Heater can be what ever you want but the T-Stat THermostat needs to be something similar to a Ranco,Herpstat, Vevarium, or Hydrofarm. People have opinions about them all so look for some posts about THermostats and make a decision for yourself. :) Ill post a few links for you below
Robie


Thermostats
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...5665841&sr=8-1

http://beanfarm.com/product_info.php...oducts_id=5980

http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermostats

UndertanksHeater
http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads

Dont you love how they leave this info out in the pet store:mad:
Robie

ok i think i got it... so the under tank heater plugs into the T-stat, witch u use to regulate how much heat to let out...
am i understanding this correctly???

Yes most UTH dont have any type of heat regulation so they can get up to
120+ degrees so you get a cooked snake the Thermostat controls this with either on/off or propertional power. This keep the heater at the desired temp and keeps it safe for your snake. I have a Ranco and a Vivarium 300 both are working great for me. Some People swear by the Herpstat but all work great just make sure you check the temp from time to time as all electronics can fail. I also agree you could use less substrate but looks like you used one brick like I did. Also I would make a different hide much smaller for you snake. I made some of mine for my new addition coming soon out of flower pots. You want 2 hides one cold one hot sides so you snake can hide and thermoregulate. But your enclosure is looking nice so keep up the good work. Picks below of my QT tank awaiting my addition coming on tuesday I hope you can see the green flower pots cost me nothing (stole them from the wife :) ). Just a couple sugetions hope your littel guy starts eating for you we did have the same issue till we got ours happy now he is a garbage disposal.
Robie

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...12493947_n.jpg

yeah im starting to notice that at first you think you should put a bunch of stuff in there with them. but actually you only need to put what he needs. im gonna try to get the stuff today, if not ive found everything on amazon so worst comes to worse ill order it tonight... thx for all the help dude biiiiiiiiiiiig help ill try to feed him again today too, hoping for the best...

Well one thing that has helped ours was doing the zombie dance again someone showed me this on this sight. Gotta LOVE THIS FORUM . So Ill pass it on to you
linked below Worked great for our little guy hope it works for you as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7OuT...layer_embedded

Hope this works and you can at least link to it I am not the best with a PC
Robie:D

awesome dude great vid... yeah this is the best damn place to get all my questions answered ... Gambit is getting very used to me know too he'll stay in a ball until i pick him up then he starts slithering up and down my arm... this is getting very cool, hope he takes the food today...

did you trying offering any mice to Gambit yet today? How did it go?

Robie did a great job and had some really good advice. :gj:

so i changed it up a bit.
1. added a dig temp. humid reader
2. under tank heating pad.
3. pad temp adjuster.
4. and tried feeding him..this was a good and a bad. i thawed out the mouse under warm water in the bag it came in and then moved gambit to a separate container so i could fix his tank and feed him..i jiggled the mouse in front of him and he went right for it..:) i left him alone for about half and when i went to check he had let the mouse go and was just moving around the container..:(
im going to add some pics so your guys can see whats going on...excuse the blurriness couldn't get a good shot with my phone...
when should i try feeding him again?

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...4/7/eating.jpg
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...mid_reader.jpg
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file.../new_setup.jpg
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...t_chilling.jpg

I dont know about other keepers. But with my 8 bps i usually start with my small guys. And work my way up to my big girls. Then go through them all again. If i see a struck mouse just laying there ill pick it up and re offer it.. Had them take it and eat it many times like this.

yeah i tried to give it back to him but he was not interested at all in it.. should i just wait another week before trying again?
ive had him for a week now so it would be 2 weeks when i would try again.

make sure that the mouse is warm all the way threw. you can check by lightly squeezing the mouse in the middle. If its completely thawed out you should not feel any cold spots on the inside of the mouse.

I thaw mine out in the bag they come in, but I place them in a container of hot (not boiling) water. then once thawed out I will place the mouse under a heat lamp to raise the body temp up a bit. not too long you do not want to cook the mouse. 3minutes seems to work good.

This may help out with your snake not letting go of the mouse after he strikes and constricts it.

I would give him a few days 2-4 and try again.

I would wait and try again in 5-7 days your tanks looks a lot better:gj:. Balls can just be picky eaters but the way you described it sounds like he is still a little stressed. I know you are prolly worried but if he isnt loosing weight and is hiding he is happy give him a few days to adjust and try agian. He struck at it and coiled so he knows its food. Let him settle I am sure he will eat for you in a couple days

ok having a bit of a situation...:confused:
woke up this morning and the humidity was really low in the tank so i sprayed and was able to get it to 70% but i cant seem to get the heat in the tank over 78. ive cranked up the heat on the pad up but nothing, im using a controller with a knob right now until i get the digital 1 i ordered but still not hot enough... ive even covered most of the top of the tank but still:confused:

Cranking the heat on a UTH can burn your snake...

What size tank is this again?

10g. now temp is 78.4 and humidity 76%
dammit this is getting frustrating...lol
i don't think about taking care of my daughter so much lmao

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gambit_BP

ok having a bit of a situation...:confused:
woke up this morning and the humidity was really low in the tank so i sprayed and was able to get it to 70% but i cant seem to get the heat in the tank over 78. ive cranked up the heat on the pad up but nothing, im using a controller with a knob right now until i get the digital 1 i ordered but still not hot enough... ive even covered most of the top of the tank but still:confused:

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K lets break ur problem down.. Is ur overall ambient temp 78?? Or is ur hot spot 78? Have u took a reading on the hot spot? 78 is close.. But i look at ur hot spot temp.. Ur substrate may be much hotter then is acceptable..

How are you reading temps? They shouldn't be that low, especially if you cranked up the UTH...which I still think is a bad idea.

An AMBIENT temp of 78 is fine. We usually recommend 80 for ambient (cool) temps so 78 is fine when you figure a 2-3 degree varient. If 78 is your hotspot, then that's a problem. You need to use a heat gun or probe connected to your thermometer to KNOW what your hotspot temp is.

If your ambient temp is 78, your hotspot 90, and humidity 70%, you are good to go! But KNOW what both temps are - don't guess and don't just crank that heat pad to up your ambient temps - that will burn your snake for sure! If you need to raise your ambient (and again, I don't think you do if its 78), use a low-watt heat lamp over the center of the cage to gently suppliment the heat safely.

i have a digital reading the hot side of the tank, the same side i keep the under tank pad...
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...mid_reader.jpg
this is not the temp just wanted to show u guys what im working with...ive ordered a "Chaney Instruments Acu-Rite 00891A1 Indoor and Outdoor Thermometer with Humidity" im just using this until it comes. now i have the temp reader on the back glass wall of the tank should i put it somewhere else to read the temp?
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file..._regulator.jpg
this is what im using to regulate heat pad, also temporary. ive ordered a "Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats"

he seams to be comfortable with the tank itself. hes moving around allot more than he did the 1st week.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

An AMBIENT temp of 78 is fine. We usually recommend 80 for ambient (cool) temps so 78 is fine when you figure a 2-3 degree varient. If 78 is your hotspot, then that's a problem. You need to use a heat gun or probe connected to your thermometer to KNOW what your hotspot temp is.

If your ambient temp is 78, your hotspot 90, and humidity 70%, you are good to go! But KNOW what both temps are - don't guess and don't just crank that heat pad to up your ambient temps - that will burn your snake for sure! If you need to raise your ambient (and again, I don't think you do if its 78), use a low-watt heat lamp over the center of the cage to gently suppliment the heat safely.

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^^^what she said!

Moving around...during the day? They are nocturnal and should not be active unless it's dark out....

Exact same product i used when i firat started to run 8 tubs..

Where is ur probe located for ur thermometer? Is it above the substrate? I highly reccomend placing the probe outside the tank directly on your uth.. And using a temperature gun to measure ur surface temp on the hot side

ahhh i had the probe in the tank on the side were the uth is at. so i should stick it to the heating pad itself under the tank? but then i cant measure the humidity inn the tank... damn yeah hes moving allot usually trying to get to the highest point. ive read somewhere they do this when there hungry. i tried to feed him yesterday, he went for it but then let it go and wouldn't take it back. i was gonna try again in a week. i wrote about that prob in the beginning of this post put pics too...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gambit_BP

ahhh i had the probe in the tank on the side were the uth is at. so i should stick it to the heating pad itself under the tank? but then i cant measure the humidity inn the tank... damn yeah hes moving allot usually trying to get to the highest point. ive read somewhere they do this when there hungry. i tried to feed him yesterday, he went for it but then let it go and wouldn't take it back. i was gonna try again in a week. i wrote about that prob in the beginning of this post put pics too...

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Thermostat probes go directly on the heat source, and the thermometer probe should be secured (with hot glue, silicone, anything but tape!) inside the tank in the center of the hot spot.

I feed right in the tank but i try to stay away from bark and such as substrate. I had an issue awhile back where i had a female normal strike at a mouse, miss, and got a mouth full of chips. She couldnt get them all out herself and it was an issue. Newspaper works great for me and the price is right.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LGray23

Thermostat probes go directly on the heat source, and the thermometer probe should be secured (with hot glue, silicone, anything but tape!) inside the tank in the center of the hot spot.

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Using a dial type thermostat.. Wouldnt u still want a themometer probe on the uth? I always have.. That way u know exactly how hot that flex watt is..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Simplex

Using a dial type thermostat.. Wouldnt u still want a themometer probe on the uth? I always have.. That way u know exactly how hot that flex watt is..

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Yeah, I forgot he was using a dial thermostat. You should upgrade to something a little more user friendly...

I'd get a second digital thermometer and put that directly on the heat source as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lgray23

yeah, i forgot he was using a dial thermostat. You should upgrade to something a little more user friendly...

I'd get a second digital thermometer and put that directly on the heat source as well.

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x2

okokok this is getting crazy lets start from the beginning.
1. the thing i have to tell the temp and the humidity. it has 1 end that tells the temp and the humidity and the other end(which kinda looks like a microphone) goes where? (is this what you guys are calling the probe?)
2. and do i put the, (probe???), under the dirt over the UTH?
3. and if i do put it there will it still give me the accurate humidity?


sorry for what may seem like stupid questions to you guys but remember we all learned from someone else.... thx for the help once again...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gambit_BP

okokok this is getting crazy lets start from the beginning.
1. the thing i have to tell the temp and the humidity. it has 1 end that tells the temp and the humidity and the other end(which kinda looks like a microphone) goes where? (is this what you guys are calling the probe?)
2. and do i put the, (probe???), under the dirt over the UTH?
3. and if i do put it there will it still give me the accurate humidity?


sorry for what may seem like stupid questions to you guys but remember we all learned from someone else.... thx for the help once again...

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No need to appologize.. I was in ur shoes back in may :). Now i have 8 snakes.

Ill list out a general setup.. Not sure of how ur dual system works.
1. UTH of some sort under the tank.
2. The UTH connected through a dimmer or thermostat of some kind
3. Bc ur using a dimmer. U need a thermometer to measure the uth temp. Ex/ my uth is at 107 degrees which gives me 90 in my enclosure.
4. A way to measure ur temp in ur enclosure. On the hot spot. I reccomend a temp gun.
5. A way to measure humidy and ambient temp. I used a dual analog set up i got from the hardware store for 10 bucks.
6. Another setup exactly as above cause you will probly have a 2nd snake soon ;)

the "hot spot" is under his hide away place on the hot side?
i actually tried putting the probe over the UTH and under the dirt, witch is located under his hiding place. now the temp flew up to 93.3 and humidity at 82%. i turned down the knob a bit on the thermometer to get it down to 90.
i actually ordered a "Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats" so i can measure the pad better. and i ordered a "Chaney Instruments Acu-Rite 00891A1 Indoor and Outdoor Thermometer with Humidity" so i can measure the temp all throughout the tank... im just trying to make what i have now work until i get better tech in this thing...

Ah k it sounds like ur not doing bad. Then. I usually shoot for 90 on the bottom of the enclosure cause mine tend to burry even when the substrate is hot enough

Sounds like you got it all under conrtol and looking great cant wait till I hear he ate for you :D

tried to feed again, the :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:er went for it, missed, and didn't go at it again.... lmao hes gonna be a pain in my ass... lol