Need help! (new ball python owner)

Hello everyone I am proud to say that today I got my first ball python (a pastel) and I have just moved him into his tub. however a couple of issues have come forth since then. first I cannot get the temp. above 81F which I know is too cold for him (btw I am using a zoomed reptitherm 10-20g UTH on a 27 quart tub). Also an issue is the fact that I cannot get the humidity down below approximately 70% here is a more detailed list of what I am using and any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Tub = 27 quart tub
Substrate = Aspen snake bedding
Hide = Half Log
Heater = Zoomed Reptitherm 10-20gallon under tank heater
thermometer/hydrometer = Acurite digital
Age of snake = 5 month old baby Pastel Ball Python
SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME I LOVES THIS SNAKE TOO MUCH TO LOSE HIM!!!

sorry i cant be of more help, but can i suggest reading and re-reading this caresheet:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

If you're using an under tank heater then you need a thermostat for it. I like the hydrofarm. It's cheap and it works fine.

I have the SAME exact heater you have. It heats through my aquarium glass to 112F without a thermostat. YIKES!

If you provide an ambient temp of 81F with a hotspot of 90-92F you should be just fine. 81 is a good ambient temp, but you need a regulated hot area.

I have a hard time believing that you are getting 70% humidity on aspen. If so, move your water dish to the coldest corner of the tub.

Ok so a few questions.

Do you have some sort of regulator for the uth?

How cool is your room temps?

Where are you taking the temp from?

Balancing a tubs temps is a bit difficult. They heat really fast and cool really fast this is why I have asked about your room temps. Can you get your room to 80ºF that will start to help with temps The problem is then if you have no control (thermostat, rheostat or a proportional thermostat) of the UTH it usually will start to get really hot. the substrate can act as a buffer but snakes often move it aside or dig under it and can (especially in cool rooms) get burned.

Do you have two identical hides? are you taking the temps from inside them? If not you should have and should be. They will generate a micro climate and have different temps and humidity.

More holes in the lid will drop the humidity but worry about your temps first. You might try to insulate with a blanket the tub to try to keep in some of the heat but you will have to keep a VERY close eye on it until you get some regulator on the uth (thermostat is likely the best option if you room temps change at all.)

As stated above, get a thermostat for your uth, to lower the humidity, use a soldering iron to add holes to the tub, start with a few then add more until the humidity in acceptable, here is a pic

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...ishrack3-1.jpg

If 81 Is the ambient thats fine. You don't want the whole environment to be 92.f. Just one area. The hotspot. I break the tubs into 1/2s. Hot side /cold side. Hot side had a floor temp if 90-92. Cold side usually will have the same temp as the ambient. 80-85.
Your humidity very well could be 70%. That's not too bad. You could try adding some ventilation. If it says 70 and you see condensation you'll need to add holes. I have a feeling though your hotspot is much too hot and that's why you have such high humidity. Any heat needs to be on a tstat or dimmer 100% necessity.


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I can see that I deffintely need a thermostat now ty for the help anyone know where i could get one that works with my particular UTH? and for how much?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blood Winged Angel

I can see that I deffintely need a thermostat now ty for the help anyone know where i could get one that works with my particular UTH? and for how much?

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They'll all work with your heater, you just plug them in and attach the probe between the heater and the tub. A hydrofarm is $30 shipped from amazon.

Hydrofarms are decent. Until you get one tomarrow I would go get a plug in lamp dimmer. You DO NOT want to leave that uth unattended. It could cook that baby in a very short time.


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Here's a link to the Hydrofarm. It's quite easy to use. :gj:

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...7103911&sr=8-2

So what should I do for tonight? should I unplug it? should I keep it in?

So what should I do in the meantime like tonight should I unplug it when I go to bed or what?

So what should I do for tonight unplug it or not?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by llovelace

As stated above, get a thermostat for your uth, to lower the humidity, use a soldering iron to add holes to the tub, start with a few then add more until the humidity in acceptable, here is a pic

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...ishrack3-1.jpg

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Haha that pic should come with a disclaimer "Warning, pic taken in Florida, dryer climates may require less holes."

AZ here... we have like 4 holes in our tubs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by devildog_dk

Haha that pic should come with a disclaimer "Warning, pic taken in Florida, dryer climates may require less holes."

AZ here... we have like 4 holes in our tubs.

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LOL true!!

You need to provide the correct temps 80/90 basically if you cannot manage to get 80 something no you should not un plug the only heat source.

How cool is your room temps?

Did you try a blanket or towel? What happened?

can you raise the room temps?

so i got the hydrofarm thermostat do i put the probe on the hotspot or the cool side?

Ok, to maintain the correct temps on your hot side, you need the thermostat probe to be on the hot side.

Because I have a rack system that uses heat tape, I can put my probe on the tape itself, but with a heat mat, you'll want the probe inside the tub, under the substrate so it is measuring temps correctly. You can use a small piece of tape to hold it down I'm pretty sure, since the aspen will cover it.

Gale

Make sure the probe does not move either hot melt glue or zip ties to hold it FIRMLY in place.

I put the thermostat probe on the heat source on my racks and my tanks, flexwatt and UTH. I personally won't risk it getting moved by my snakes who burrow constantly, or get damaged by urine or feces somehow.

there is pros and cons to both methods.

Interior placement is much more accurate temp wise especially in rooms that shift temp wise. The probe must be secure. in any set up it must not move. Snakes are very strong so with this placement the probe must be firmly mounted.

exterior placement is less accurate for temps, esecially in unstable room temps. There are fewer chances to move the probe however. both work.

The really important point is the probe MUST not move. Neither the snake nor the cat :D must move the probe. It cannot be stressed too much.

Hello I seem to to be generally getting the heat and humidity under control. However it is nearing Fall/Winter where I live any pointers for keeping the tub a little extra warm?