My first snake is here

So running into some thermostat issues (different thread) but regardless, the snake is here.
I was told he shed 5 days ago, is VERY hungry, and he said to go ahead and feed the snake now. Should i wait a day, my themostat went on the fritz, but im able to eye the temp and plug/unplug for atleast 9hours a day if not more if neccisary lol

Heres some shots of the lil bugger, just under a year old.

http://img.tapatalk.com/4a8950fa-74c9-c000.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/4a8950fa-74d6-d2bc.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/4a8950fa-74e9-5c8e.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/4a8950fa-74f9-10e5.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/4a8950fa-7508-56bd.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/4a8950fa-7521-9154.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/4a8950fa-7533-4de7.jpg

Lol so he tagged me already (i know my first bite! How exciting)
For about 3 min. I was looking for urates, and then o realized she was latched on my knuckle haha, so cute when they think they hard as rock

Anyways enjoy the pics, thats my snake!

Nice your first bite! I would hold off feeding until you have proper heat. They can go months without food, a few days it nothing.

Lol first bite so soon! I'm a big Fan of offering food right away. Although a lot of people say let them settle in. Just one of the things I don't do.

I would not worry. I just got my first ball python a couple days ago too,and the breeder said that I won't have to feed him for one week, because he may be stressed about his new enclosure. Good luck

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Nice your first bite! I would hold off feeding until you have proper heat. They can go months without food, a few days it nothing.

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x2

Welcome to the addiction! ;)

Well his enclosure is exactly (same hideaway boxes (dell netbook box, what a coincidence right) the same, and he seems right at home. The heat issue is why im concerned about feeding, as ive read if they eat right away, they werent too stressed to eat. But then again, thats just what ive read..
My question, the light dimmers they had looked like id have to take the whle socket out and replace it, and im INCREDIBLY accident prone (probobly have ZERO buisness with a constrictor haha, but oh well tough cookies)
So..would lowes be a better place, or butt depot (home depot, but i alway mess up any projects that start here, so i steer clear haha)
Would one thats for an entire socket, would that work if i rigged it up...ugh, thanks for the encouraging words...i hiope hes ok
Note:humidity and cage temps arent too far off from normal last i checked, but i turned off my. Mat because im gone for 3 hours, and in 6 min. It gets to 102, and, well...just no

You want one like this:

http://www.google.com/m/products/cat...d=0CIoBEPMCMAA

If you end up having to wire something up send me a PM (I'm an electrical engineer so I can probably help you rig something if need be)

Man serpent merchant, your a boss!
Thanks ill look at homedepot or lows, prolly a bigger selection for this kinda stuuff than wally world

Heres a belly pic (i used my chance for pics during transport, shes now relaxing secluded in her hideaway, so no worries guys, but heres a belly pic, best i could do

Hmm wont let me upload more pics :(

Upload then to photo photobucket, then copy the "IMG" code and paste it into a post here on BP.net

Try feeding if you want...Just don't be upset if it doesn't eat.

I always try to feed the day I get them...Most eat too!

Im sure he will eat, apparently hes a pimp at eating. Im just concerned less that stable temps could stress the lil guy out.
Man he really is tiny! Awesome

As I said before, just hold off until you can provide stable temps he isn't starving so better safe than sorry

Yeah i agree, im much to caution with my first snake, let alone a cute lil baby male (had him "checked" and hes deff. Male hazaahh)

So merchant, the only one anyone in town apparently has iis a 3 setting dimmer... should i just get that, see what the low settings are. Anyone have experience with a 3 tap dimmer (3 settings)

not sure... worth a try (just not with your snake in the tub at the time)

It wouldn't be too hard to wire up a dimmer (the wall light switch kind)

all it would take is a heavy duty extension cord (that you are willing to cut)

Wire strippers

and the dimmer

(possibly a screw driver)

if it gets to this point send me a PM and I will show you how to wire it.

Ok, i cant get the dimmer until tomorow. Ive got a good layer of shirt in the cage, can i leave the mat on if its thick enough. I dont want him catchm a cold.

Do i leave mat on? It got to 120, but the substrate is pretty thick (shirt)

Do you have a timer or anything that could turn it on and off?

You should go get a dimmer at the very least if you don't have anything to control the heat. You can get one for around $10 at any home improvement store, they will be in the lamp section most likely.

Otherwise she looks good and you have plenty of good advice so far!

He is beautiful, and i had a t stat, had to send it back, and didnt plan on havn the dimmer, finacially its a disaster, but im a big guy, ill skip a meal, cause i get paid fri. But i want the dimmer by tomorow morn, latest.
Ive gotten nothing but awsome advice, im glad i made the right forum choice guys :)

Does anyone have expierence with a dimmer that has only 3 settings? Thats all they got..

This is what I use in a pinch works great has a slider to adjust temps got mine at Homedepot for about $10.00


http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ec...&storeId=10051

I called, apparently they only have one that has 3 settings, although they probobly didnt look...ima go 8am after work tomorow and get somthing!

Uth's are sketchy, and now i truly understand how they can, and are very dangerous for my snake (no problems of course so no worries)
I left uth on last night (unregulated, read previous posts for backstory)
Now, i did have a tshirt to thivken up the substrate so my bp wouldnt burn, glad i did that, my uth was 160, which i believe is where it tops off, but dang, thats hot!
I had a probe where the snake was laying (above uth, but on top of shirt) and it was about 90, so i guess im a lucky dude.
Im @work since 6am, but i get a break @10, and im going to homedepot, and guna see about a dimmer (just until my new stat arrives people)
Hmm well, worst case scenario nightmare situation avoided for a first time reptile owner, thank jebus!
I am lucky in the sence that my house temps are stupid stable, so that wont be an issue (temp flucs) but im still nervous leaving the heater to a lil dinky rheostat, but i guess ive no choice. Figures id get the tstat with a broken screen and my bp arrives early lol

Ok, so i called around for ever this morning, and fnally, FIIINNAAAALLLYYYY someone has what I want! Its a tabletop dimmer,its mad basic, just a mini slider tool,and only 11bucks.
WHEW! Relief, now i just gota pick it up in 39 min, just gota get this shift finished (gosh old people are so sloowwww haha)
Ok, so the seller @amazon was waiting for my broken unity before he sent the new one out.... saywaaaaaaaaaaaat? So i told him nevermind. I dont wana risk another brken tstat to a stupid seller, so ima look for one and express :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: if i have to! At least the dimmer will give me some peace of mind..

There are multiple sellers on Amazon for the Hydrofarms. Sometimes you can even find them at garden centers.

Well for now, i got a leviton plug in lamp dimmer. I know its not a tstat, thats comming, but honestly, as soon as i plugged it in i just felt so relieved. Obviously these mats have no buisnss being unregulated..

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Originally Posted by serpent fan

Well for now, i got a leviton plug in lamp dimmer. I know its not a tstat, thats comming, but honestly, as soon as i plugged it in i just felt so relieved. Obviously these mats have no buisnss being unregulated..

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I'm glad you have realized that.. far too many people don't believe us when we say that UTH can get up to 130+ and have the ability to burn or even kill a snake if unregulated.

Well, i gues i was lucky, because i wanted to see how hot i would get with no snake in there, glad i took that precaution.
And if ive learned anything, its that you should heed the warnings of forum people. Ive seen many a fish tank crash because people thought they knew better

Lol i feel like this thing doesnt work. I pluged it in @ every setting temp goes up. Pluged my lamp in, every setting is "bright as crap) except for the lowest, which apparently is the seizure setting becuase it made my lamp blink really fast

Was there any noticeable difference in brightness before it hit seizure mode?

Just the tinyiest bit. I have the mat pluged in and set it to just before s.m. right now its on 93, ima keep a super close eye on it, but my snake is cold to the touch, as long as im in arms length of the cage, is it ok that i just have a single papertowel layer on the bottom (took out shirts) i want my snake to stay warm

Hmm could it be that all my lamps use cfl's (compact floresent bulbs) there the spiral bulbs right? I just say they dnt work with this unit

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all my lamps use cfl's

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That would be the issue as CFL's cannot be dimmed and it explains the seizure as well.

it probably is working fine. UTH's take some time to settle into their new temperature when the power adjusted I usually wait at least 30 minutes in-between adjustments for this reason. if you can measure the surface temperature of the tub and be sure that the temperature is under 95 then a single layer of paper towels is fine. Just keep a close eye on it until everything is stable. (the more stable temperature in your room is the easier it will be to get the UTH stable)

Man stiill tryn to zero in on a temp...

Ok well, ill try waiting longer between adjustments. I feel like if i look at it, the temp will do the opposite of what i want it to,lol

It is the hardest part. The nice thing is once everything is set up and dialed in it is much easier... and with a thermostat it almost becomes self-sufficient

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

It is the hardest part. The nice thing is once everything is set up and dialed in it is much easier... and with a thermostat it almost becomes self-sufficient

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See i like that whole, self sufficient idea.
One of my fishtanks is "self sufficient"
It has lights to grow plants. The shrimp eat plants and algae, fish eat the shrimp, and snails eat the fish poo. All i do is top the sucker off once a month (its packed with so many plants my levels are always zero)
Im a fan of doing nothing and having a sustainable enviroment, there nice.
Lol my snake was throwing off the probe (hes colder than the probe was)
No that that is settled, im finally dialed in at 94/95. Guna wait 40 min, and try to get it a degree down. Ambient is 80, humidity 62% (both are stable)