New Ball Python owner questions

So I just bought a new ball python today, and the lady at the pet store said that it could go the 36 hours without an under tank heater, my house is always running hot, about 80 in the room i put it. So on Friday im going to get it a under tank heater. I have been looking around and some sites have said that they need a basking light, and then some are saying no bright lights so im confused on what to do.
Also tonight when I came home from work it was curled up under a branch, and then i moved the branch to double check everything was ok and it balled up. and its been about 2 hours and i have been glancing at its cage, and its loosened up a little but its still in a ball like form but with its head mostly out. Am I just being stupid and everything is ok? I'm just a little nervous, thanks

It is a BALL python! lol!

I know its a ball python, I just wanted to make sure that wasnt too much because its too cold. The temp is the biggest thing Im wondering about

If you just got the snake it will need some time to adjust to its new surroundings. Get a UTH asap and leave it alone for atleast a week then offer it a meal wait a couple days and then slowly start integrating yourself into its life.

Also a thermostat is a must for the UTH as they do get very hot and can burn the snake. The temp for those should be around 88-92. How big is its cage?

Well the temps are fine for now. They can stay in the 80s for a couple days no problem. Just if you get a Uth or heat lamp always get a thermometer heat controller with it.


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I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?gh3uui

its in a ten gallon glass

Have you read the caresheet?

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

Welcome to BP.Net!

Keeping your ball python healthy and happy means you have to have good husbandry. First thing you should do is read the caresheet here.

Since your ambient air temps are around 80 there is no need for a basking light. Typically basking bulbs or infrared lights are used in aquarium setups to increase the ambient air temperatures. Go out and get a UTH and a thermostat to control the temperature and set it to 90 to provide your Ball Python with a nice hot spot. Regulating heat sources with a thermostat or rheostat is a MUST to ensure your snake does not get injured due to excessive heat. Pick up a couple of digital thermometers (the probe style ones) and put one on the hot and cool side to monitor your temps and make sure everything is good. Make sure you offer your BP an identical hide on both the hot and cold size so that they can thermoregulate as needed.

Please let us know if you have any questions and we will do our best to help you on your way...

To add:

You're going to find a tank a PITA. A tub or pvc enclosure will be much easier to keep temps/humidity.

If you're set on the 10 gal, check out this thread:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...p-w-pics-*DUW*

Just make sure it has a hide that it can curl up in but it should still be tight so the snake would be touching the sides of the hide while it is curled up in there. Make sure the UTH is only taking up about 1/3 of the tanks floorspace so that your snake can seek a cool side. Not sure how big a 10 gallon tank is but most people suggest a 12-15 qt tub for new balls, but if you prefer to keep him in a glass tank for display thats fine too. Just make sure he has a waterbowl thats not too big a hot spot for basking and digesting and a hide or 2 for security, usually one on each side of the tank. Anything else?

Well why didnt i think of the care sheet thread? lol im tired time to sign off... wouldve saved me some time lol! read a care sheet!

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Originally Posted by Andybill

Well why didnt i think of the care sheet thread? lol im tired time to sign off... wouldve saved me some time lol! read a care sheet!

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I was tired enough yesterday I completely spaced on the fact that the caresheet is stickied here instead of being just in the caresheets section, so don't be the only one feeling silly because you're tired and miss things. :D

Hi there,
I was in the same boat as you were just the end of May. There are several very informed people here with great advice.

I have a 40 gal. glass tank and started out with just a light and no UTH. We're in the Minneapolis area so our temps are all over the place. We use the AC in the summer at times and then there are days we don't. Our indoor temp ranges can be in the 80's to as low as the 60's in the summer.

I now use a UTH and a infrared light.

Aaron, "The Serpent Merchant" is a very good source here. What I've taken from him, I'll pass down to you.

Get a thermostat!!! I know,,, I know, they are expensive. Trust me I bought the snake for my son's B-day present and it was $80. After the tank, lights and stuff that goes along with it it gets expensive. Add a quality thermostat like the Herpstat II from Spyder Robotics and you have quite the investment.

But you also have a lot less worry.


Here's what The Serp Merch told me.


Get the adequate sized UTH and place it on the basking side of your tank. If you get a thermostat (there are less expensive ones too) put the probe into the middle of the UTH pad and stick the pad to the bottom of the tank.


If you have a decent thermostat, you can hook up a light for heat as well and have 2 sources in the event the UTH is not enough to keep the ambient tank temp warm enough. The thermostat will dim or brighten the light for increased or decreased heat and also control the UTH.

This is a VERY basic description and the are other considerations. If you need some extra help I can forward (hopefully) the advice I was given.

Our snake was all over the place the 1st couple nights. Then she curled up on a branch and didn't used hides. Now she's eaten once here, uses the hides and has been in one for going on 3 days. We feed again this Friday.

So don't worry too much about the "Ball" being balled.

Hopefully I did OK on my first bit of advice : )


Good luck,

Gio

Thank you all for the advice / quick replies. So when you say "basking" spot its like the basking spot i had for my bearded dragon, i.e. a heatlamp on a rock or a branch? And its a bright standard bulb or dark uv one

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JediSamReye

Thank you all for the advice / quick replies. So when you say "basking" spot its like the basking spot i had for my bearded dragon, i.e. a heatlamp on a rock or a branch? And its a bright standard bulb or dark uv one

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i dont have a basking spot and my ball is perfectly healthy..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JediSamReye

Thank you all for the advice / quick replies. So when you say "basking" spot its like the basking spot i had for my bearded dragon, i.e. a heatlamp on a rock or a branch? And its a bright standard bulb or dark uv one

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A basking light is not necessary and will make keeping your humidity next to impossible to keep up. Stick with a UTH and the warm room and you'll be fine.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

so just undertank with a good thermometer and we should be good?

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Originally Posted by JediSamReye

so just undertank with a good thermometer and we should be good?

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yes

Thanks, yeah in the past i have had lizards, and rats, and hedgehogs, and I have never had issues before, well I bought a guinea pig this week and she died within 8 days, the petstore said because of the "stress" so even thought I had all my other animals for years it kinda broke my nerves, having something die so quick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JediSamReye

Thanks, yeah in the past i have had lizards, and rats, and hedgehogs, and I have never had issues before, well I bought a guinea pig this week and she died within 8 days, the petstore said because of the "stress" so even thought I had all my other animals for years it kinda broke my nerves, having something die so quick

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probably wasnt your fault petstores arent good should go to private breeders make sure your getting the best quality find a bunch of questions to ask also look at your notifications>inbox i sent you a message to help you out

And cause I have to clear it up when I said a basking spot I just meant a spot that has good heat like with the UTH so they can digest. It doesnt necessarily mean a basking bulb is required for a snake to bask in the heat. :) sorry for any confusion.

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Originally Posted by JediSamReye

so just undertank with a good thermometer and we should be good?

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And a good ThermoSTAT. That's going to be your most important investment for the good health of your snake.

Unregulated UTH's can and will burn your snake.

Yes, I too used the term "basking area". I meant warm side.

I would not be able to keep ambient tank temp warm enough with JUST the UTH.

IF you have to have a room with a comfort level for humans, an infrared lamp hooked to a thermostat will greatly assist with ambient tank temps.

I agree they eat the humidity, but I've found a damp towel with tinfoil over the top with another towel on top of it for weight and insulation, keeps my levels between 60-70%. obviously you'll need to re-dampen the towel every few days.

It sounds like you have decent enough room temp and as mentioned, you'll be set with just a UTH.

But if you use AC or have drastic climate changes, I've found the light (also on a thermostat) can be helpful.

I have to include that this is the setup that works for us and will not be right for everybody else. I felt it was decent info to pass along in case someone else has a similar situation.

Cheers,

Gio

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

To add:

You're going to find a tank a PITA. A tub or pvc enclosure will be much easier to keep temps/humidity.

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This seems to be sort of a default opinion that gets spread around here quite a bit. What people should be explaining is that perhaps the single most important factor to temperature/ humidity maintenance are the ambient conditions of the room that the enclosure is in. If people would put a fraction of the time into maintaining a good, stable ambient temperature, and air circulation in the room, then any enclosure will work with little to no stress or hassle.
The less effort that you put into maintaining your ambient conditions, the more effort that you will be putting into your enclosures, whether they are glass, tubs, pvc, or wood.

Thanks for the laugh. :P

It's good to see you're concerned for your snake, though.

But yeah, most of them will curl up in hides or relax for most of the day from what I gathered. There are some exceptions. Mine's a weirdo and never stops moving itself. Like NEVER - when I have her out or she's in her case she doesn't stop for more than a minute or so, even if she's basking. 80's a good temperature from what I gathered around the website.

Ok so I went out and bought a UTH on the hot side and also a cearmic heater and I have that in the middle of the tank, now im getting ~83 degrees in the hot area and around 75 in the cool area, I have also got a hydrometer, The tank is about 40 percent as is, and then i have wet the bark a little and its at about 55 percent, I need to gee the thermostat now, thanks for the advice everyone