new to snakes and ball pythons just have a few quick questions

hi,

I got my first ball python yesterday, she's about 2 and a half feet and eating of frozen thaw. She seems to be setting into her habitat quite well, its a glass aquarium (48x14x18) I have a large heat mat under one side with a 150w basking bulb over top, on the cold side I have a 2.0 uvb light. There's a large water dish in the middle with a rock bidding place on the cool side and a log bidding place on the hot side. Are there any suggestions for how I could improve the set up what I've done wrong? Should I get a red night bulb for the hot side?

also I have been measuring the temperatures with a prob that is place just ontop of the aspen bedding (which is about 2inches from the base of the habitat), is this where I should be measuring it from? It is usually around 90 in the day and 75 at night on the hot side with 80 in the day and 70 at night on the cold side.

also is it normal for her to hide on the cold side during the day

Can you take a picture of your set up for us as well?

As for the log hide, it's best not to use them. Ball pythons prefer hides that enclose all sides of them. Plus the logs tend to mold easily and are difficult to sanitize. Try getting a similar hide as that rock one you have.

I'm not really familiar with using bulbs, so hopefully someone who uses them will chime in. Do you know what humidity your tank has? Lights tend to suck the humidity out like a sponge. Maybe invest in a heating mat (on a thermostat)?

You want to keep the hot side consistently around 90. Dipping down to 75 sounds drastic. Anything below 75 is potentially dangerous and promotes Respiratory infection.

Some balls prefer being on the cool side. But I bet if you switched the hot side log hide with the rock hide, she'll stay in the hot side. The rock hide gives them more security than the duel opening log.

I would suggest going through the caresheet here first and foremost:

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

They do not require the UVB bulb but it will not hurt as long as you give her a day/night cycle. I would suggest getting a heat mat sufficient to provide the necessary hotspot and not using a basking bulb as they dry out enclosures very quickly and ball pythons do better with belly heat.

What is causing the 15 degree swing on your hot side? A night temp drop is acceptable but a large swing is not a good thing.

The thermometer probe goes under the substrate so you know the hottest possible temp the snake can get to.

Ball pythons do not need UVB light so that's not necessary.
I would place the 150 watt somewhere near the center to provide good ambient heat on the hot end and in the middle, letting the other end get cool so the snake can thermo-regulate.

Do you have the heat pad on a thermostat to regulate the temperature?

75 is way too cold for a hot side temp and 70 is too cold for a cool side temp, night or day that's too cold.
Temps you should be shooting for are:
90-92 directly on the hot spot
86-87 warm side ambient
78-80 cool side ambient

You goal is to get the temps as stable as possible night and day.
Tanks are pretty difficult to stabilize and keep at decent temperatures, there's a lot of articles written up on how to help do this, search the threads or maybe someone with tanks will jump in and help.

Good luck!

Hi thanks for the responses guys,

I think at the least im going to pick up another identical hide. I am doing day and night cycles about 12 hours each on a timer. The UTH is on the side under the basking light. I think the swing in temperature is mainly down to the size of the tank, im trying to put foil round the top now.

Moving the thermometer under the substrate gives me like a temp of 115 on teh heat pad, is this too hot or does the substrate cool this off enough?

I am having trouble attching a picture but i'll try to get one up

Heres a picture
http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3...o1do1_1280.jpg

No part of the cage should ever get above 95. 115 is extremely dangerous.

Okay, so should i get a thermostat to monitor that then? How would you suggest heating up the cold side of the tank?

And as the temperature above the substrate is significantly lower than that of the bottom of the habitat should i use less substrate

Yes, a thermostat will be necessary. Here is a good one

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NZZG3S

Don't bother with the junk sold in pet stores.

I would use a 75 watt infrared heat bulb in the center of the cage plugged into a lamp dimmer like this one

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000B...dir_mdp_mobile

Then using the UTH to create the hot side temperature of 88-92 degrees. UTH's must be regulated by a thermostat.

When using a UTH the substrate layer should be no thicker than 1/2"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hillsey7

Okay, so should i get a thermostat to monitor that then? How would you suggest heating up the cold side of the tank?

And as the temperature above the substrate is significantly lower than that of the bottom of the habitat should i use less substrate

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Personally I use paper towel for substrate. 100% safer. I have had my snake ingest the shaving bedding before its not a pretty site. IT wasnt to bad but there are stories of peoples snakes choking and them sticking their fingers down their mouth to get it out. Also with the shavings I couldnt see snake poop that easily and they just got smelly. Now with paper towel it is so easy to clean the tubs.

just my 2 cents


-reptiliachnids

Hi,

Thanks for all the great advice guys, so far I've increase the humidity through tin foil lids and better water bowl placement. I've also move the 150w basking bulb to the middle and the temperatures have been mainly good. The hot side is sitting well at 90 basking heat, and ambient temperature at around 80-85; however, the cold side is still a little too cold. I was thinking off either getting a low wattage (50) infrared bulb to be on that side to provided a little heat, or either getting a small UTH and regulating that at a lower temperature, although i cannot afford a thermostat so it would be through a dimmer switch. Can i get your thoughts really on which option would be better or another option that could work?

UTH's do not change the temperature of the air in the cage, so they won't do you any good on increasing the cool side temperature.

A heat lamp on the other hand will increase the air temperature, but it will reduce the humidity in the cage.

If you don't have a thermostat, you will need to keep a very close eye on the UTH's temperature.... and save up for one. they are possibly the most important piece of equipment you as a reptile owner will use.

Yeah i plan on buying one soon, (in the next month, i want to save for a good one). SO up until then, i was thinking a 50w red bulb would be could that side instead of how i have the UVB one there (which is on a day cycle)

sounds good.