new owner with questions

i picked up a lesser at repticon on sunday and had a couple of questions.
http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/o...mike21/025.jpg
that is his tank. first question is it bad that he spends almost all of his time on the hot side? also when i picked him up on sunday i forgot to ask when he was feed last time so i was wondering when i should feed him. and last does everything look good. im pretty sure i have every thing covered.

Everything seems to look good. What are the temps on the cool and hot end?
If your not comfortable with feeding him now it wont hurt to wait 5-7 days or so.

To be honest I'm not a fan of the log hides. They really don't give bp's the security that they need. I would also black out 3 side of the tank. Could you give us the temp's in your tank, and humidity? As for him staying on the warm side I doubt that will be a problem. I don't normally feed any new addition until I have had them for at least a week. I just want them to settle in first.

you should wait a full week from the time that you got him before you try to feed him, the only real issue that I see is that you really hold have 2 identical hides (1 on the hot side, 1 on the cool side) BP's generally do not like log hides by the way, I use these from reptile basics

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...t/da98c371.jpg

what are your hot/cool side temperatures and humidity? the hot side should be between 8 and 98 degrees while the cool side should be between 78 and 82 degrees. does your thermometer have a probe that I can't see?

also I would suggest that you get this infra red bulb for your heat lamp (that is your only heat source? does it stay on 24/7?)

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

the 75 watt version should be enough.

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Originally Posted by dynomik24

i picked up a lesser at repticon on sunday and had a couple of questions.
http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/o...mike21/025.jpg
that is his tank. first question is it bad that he spends almost all of his time on the hot side? also when i picked him up on sunday i forgot to ask when he was feed last time so i was wondering when i should feed him. and last does everything look good. im pretty sure i have every thing covered.

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Really nice setup!

He might be hanging out on the warm side because he likes that hide better, or maybe he just likes being warm. This environment is a new situation for him, and staying warm is Mother Nature's way of keeping him ready for fight or flight. Once he settles in you should see him move between warm side and cool side. If he doesn't, it will be time to get matching hides.

As was previously mentioned, you can try feeding him in about 5 days or so. Keep the handling to a minimum until you get him feeding for you.

Ditto on the log hides. They are open on two sides and don't make a very secure spot for your BP. If you can look through the glass and see him, it's probably not a very good hide for him. They do seem to work better in glass tanks with three sides coverd with black foam core or construction paper. Bottom line, he'll want the option to be completely out of sight to feel secure.

Humidity and temps are good. My thermometer and humidity are inside the tank digital meter. And I don't know why but he loves the log hide the only reason you don't see him is because he's in there

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dynomik24

Humidity and temps are good. My thermometer and humidity are inside the tank digital meter. And I don't know why but he loves the log hide the only reason you don't see him is because he's in there

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your thermometer isn't in the best place, (heat rises+ it is right next to the heat lamp) I was going to mention it before but forgot. how are you measuring cool side temperatures?

Yea it's underneath the light. That's bad? And right now I'm not Measuring the cool side

You need to measure the cool side as well. I would advice that you get one of these, they cost $12 at Walmart and measure 2 temperatures (hot side and cool side) as well as humidity

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...nt/photo-3.jpg

you place the probe in the substrate directly under the tea lamp, and the box on the cool side.

I would advise that you move the thermometer that you have down closer to the substrate

Thanks I appreciate it!!

Do you know the brand of that thermometer

it is Acu-rite brand, it is model number 00891W3 (Indoor/Outdoor thermometer. They can be found at Walmart in the ought bulb section usually)

So do you end up having wires all in the cage?

I burred them in the substrate when I was using glass tanks now a days I just drill holes in my PVC cages for the wires

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0453.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0451.jpg

Yup, no on the log hides. The black ones that serpent merchant posted from reptile basics are the best. We recently converted to those, and I swear my snakes love them. They went right in, like "these are so much better than the crappy fake rock from Petco" (BTW, the only thing they are good for, supplies). Also, wait a full week for him to adjust before feeding (he will be fine, don't worry). And no handling until he is am established eater. Also monitoring and controlling temp and humidity is a must. Also, a hiding bp, is a happy bp. Welcome!