probably being paranoid but (noob content)

i picked up my first ball python today (a pastel juvenile)

got him home and put him in the tank with the two hides water dish and under tank heating.

he spent the entire day climbing the sides of the tanks and sort of falling over once he reached the top.

now hes just sitting in the corner of the tank between the glass and hide. from what i can tell he hasent gone into either hides as of yet

now im probably just being paranoid but dont they prefer be inside a hide

Can you post a picture of the tank with the hides? That would really help us determine if there is a problem with them.

That behaviour doesn't seem too strange but a look at the set up would be able to confirm this.

Also, do you know what your temps are, and do you have any way to regulate the uth suvh as a dimmer or thermostat?

i dont have any pics i can post yet

basically i have a 30 gallon tank two small hides one in either end large cleaned piece of drift wood in the middle water dish on the side with the under tank heat source (i dont have control over the heating)

temp was sitting around 70 deg but i just brought it up to 80 deg by covering the 80 percent of the top of the tank and sides with "con-tact" shelf liner i still have to cover the back panel

If you're not controlling the UTH it's getting too hot. Please get a thermostat or at least a dimmer switch as your snake can be severely burned.

30 gallons is AWFUL large for even an adult BP...

i guess ill have to pick up a thermostat tomorrow then.

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Originally Posted by DHB

i guess ill have to pick up a thermostat tomorrow then.

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tstats can run you a bit much, if you dont have the money, go to home depot and get this:
http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical-...kuId=202887062
that will work for now

also, do you have a hrgrometer? if not your going to need one, but theyre quite cheap

There is a Hygrofarm( look it up on amazon) thermostat for around 25$ that works pretty well for reptiles. I have one that I'm using for the two female geckos. For the sand boas I got a dimmer at lowes for under 20$ and I'm in the process of setting it up ( they were ordered online, and will be here on Wendsday). The bp and male leo have a lamp that heats the whole room up to around 80 f and their cages at around 85f on the warm ends.

As everyone already said, please get something to control that UTH. Your snake's behavior is not all that uncommom considering you just got him. Give him some time to settle in and I'm sure you will find him in his hides. A thirty gallon tank can work for a small snake but you need to provide plenty of coverage and hides to make him feel secure.

like everyone is saying u need a thermostat also add more hides because your tank is huge for a small snake.bigger isnt better for snakes

Kittycatpenut had a typo, its Hydrofarm. I am using three of them and they work very well for the money. Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...7068168&sr=8-1

You can also get a thermometer/hygrometer at walmart for $8. You HAVE to know your temps and your humidity. Please take a look at the ball python caresheet as well.

I would try to find something else to keep him in. Wal-Mart sells 10 gallon tanks for about $10 and that would be much easier keeping your temps and humidity in.

As far as sitting in the corner, a few of mine have done that the first day I got them, but they figured out to get inside the hide after a while, just give him time. :)

Lol oops. Phone typing leads to typos:P

Welcome to bp.net. (:

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Originally Posted by Kittycatpenut

Lol oops. Phone typing leads to typos:P

Welcome to bp.net. (:

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totally understand that frustration!

ok so heres the pic of what i have set up so far http://http://img100.imageshack.us/i...5/img1055q.jpg

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/295/img1055q.jpg

Get some fake plants to clutter it up some, that might help him/her feel more secure. :) But as most people were saying, since you just got him/her, it's probably just a case of checking out the new digs.

x2. Fake plants will take up a lot of that extra, open space and make your BP feel more secure.

I have a bunch of cork bark pieces scattered around my tank. My bp seems to like them better then the hides I have for her, though she will use them too. Most of the pieces are between 7- 12 inches long and maybe 4-6 inches wide. I am going to have to get a few bigger pieces soon because she is growing so much.

I agree. Control uth, tanks seems very large for young snake, maybe more hides. Sounds like normal behavior for a new snake to check things out before settling in. Make sure you let him be to adjust. Bp's need to feel secure. Also I am more of a fan of eco earth than aspen. Helps with humidity as well.

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Originally Posted by pigfat

Kittycatpenut had a typo, its Hydrofarm. I am using three of them and they work very well for the money. Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...7068168&sr=8-1

You can also get a thermometer/hygrometer at walmart for $8. You HAVE to know your temps and your humidity. Please take a look at the ball python caresheet as well.

I would try to find something else to keep him in. Wal-Mart sells 10 gallon tanks for about $10 and that would be much easier keeping your temps and humidity in.

As far as sitting in the corner, a few of mine have done that the first day I got them, but they figured out to get inside the hide after a while, just give him time. :)

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Will that work with heat tape. I know that might be a dumb question, but I have no experience with heat tape and am going to be using it on a setup i'm working on.

ok so i guess i was being paranoid hes since settled down and seems pretty lazy just chills in the hide and is eating reglarly

Glad to hear things worked out.

not a problem yet but im still dialing this enclosure in

he has eaten each time ive offered without any hesitation :)

but I think I need to get the humidity up in the enclosure. It generally hovers between 35% and 45% I dont want to soak down the shaved aspen that im using as a substrate as i dont want a case of scale rot on my hands.

I have the water dish on the UTH and im misting the enclosure frequently.

I will be changing the substrate to coco husk when I have to do a complete clean of the enclosure but until then I need to find a way to make it work

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DHB

not a problem yet but im still dialing this enclosure in

he has eaten each time ive offered without any hesitation :)

but I think I need to get the humidity up in the enclosure. It generally hovers between 35% and 45% I dont want to soak down the shaved aspen that im using as a substrate as i dont want a case of scale rot on my hands.

I have the water dish on the UTH and im misting the enclosure frequently.

I will be changing the substrate to coco husk when I have to do a complete clean of the enclosure but until then I need to find a way to make it work

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anyone ??

Your humidity level is low, but not terrible except when your snake is in shed.

coco husk will defiantly raise your humidity levels, unit then I would mist daily.

Also is there a reason why you are waiting to change the substrate?

Waiting till next pay day to change the substrate

I just changed the top of the enclosure to a moist towel and now it seems to be holding humidity a little bit better