New Owner

So I am going to go pick up me first BP tomorrow from a breeder I met online. I already have a cage set up and am looking forward to having my first reptile since my beardie died a few years back. I'd like to hear any advice or tips that any experienced owners have.

Welcome to the site!

I would start by reading these 2 threads they cover all of the basics in cage and caging.

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

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers

If you post pictures/describe your cage set up/heating system we can make sure that everything is good to go.

If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.

Welcome!

Serpent Merchant has great advice in that post!

Read thru the threads linked in that post and make sure your all set up and ready :) Also, the search function here also works really well if you have any specific questions that may have already been answered! If you can't find the answers your looking for, just make a new thread and ask :) We are happy to help...

Welcome:cool::cool:

I have a 45 gallon tank with two hides (one rock and one log), a large water dish, aspen substrate, a few plastic plants, thermometer and humidity reader near the bottom, a climbing branch and a decorative rock. For lighting I have one day basking light and one night light.

I just saw that you are here in San Antonio :gj::gj::gj:

45gal is a little on the large side, are you getting a hatchling or an adult?

Ball pythons don't need the day/ night simulation. Might actually stress em out a little. Just make sure you have good hides if you're going to do that

Also, are you using the light for heat??? Just letting you know the way it heats the air will take away from your humidity. The best way to get ambient temps right will follow below. A UTH controlled by a thermoSTAT is bed for your warm side.

Do you have a screen lid? If so, I suggest you go ahead and cover about 75% of the lid with something (I used tinfoil). This will help with holding the moisture and ambient heat in, I did this and it made a huge difference!! Make sure to NEVER put tape inside if the cage!!

Last question is what kind of bedding are you using? How this is the bedding? Have to make sure you do t have it too thick or the UTH will have trouble heating through the glass then the substrate.



Ball Pythons
0.3 Normals (Coilette, Athena and Mary Jane)
1.0 Pastel (De Sol)
1.0 Spider (Zeus)
1.0 Mojave (Prometheus)

Boa Constrictors
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Stella)
0.1 BCI (Kiyoko)
0.1 Dumerils Boa (Gloria)

He is a lesser BP about 6 months old and I tried to fill in the tank so it didn't seem overwhelming to him at first and I have a few hides in there for him. So far he seems to like the log more so than the rock hide.

I don't like the UTH too much since my uncle had one that burned his snakes stomach. I will try covering the lid to hold in the humidity, thanks for the tip. I just got him in there and so I am going to give him a few days to adjust and relax from the stress of being re-homed.

Thanks for all the advice, I will post pics when i figure out how with this site.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bain

I don't like the UTH too much since my uncle had one that burned his snakes stomach

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This is why you MUST use a thermostat with UTH's. Without a thermostat they can and will burn snakes, but when properly regulated UTH's are very safe and effective.

Here is how to post pictures:http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...with-pictures)

Don't fear the UTH. It's very important as long as it's monitored by a THERMOSTAT. I guess your uncle didn't know that and sadly he paid the price. Here's a link to one that I purchased after being shown by aaron(TheSerpentMerchant), he'll probably post his usual with links to higher quality models. I bought this one for my UTH and it's worked just fine for about 3 months so far. Hope this helps

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...ords=hydrofarm

Yay another person from san antonio :)

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bain

I don't like the UTH too much since my uncle had one that burned his snakes stomach.

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That what a t-stat is for. If you want to sit down and shoot the bull feel free to PM me.:gj:

Here are a few pics.

]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0549edb7.jpg

[IMG]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/...ps60658b4d.jpg[/IMG]

Nice Lesser, who did you get him from?

BTW you humidity is going to suck, get a piece of cardboard and cut it to close off most of your screen top then wrap it in aluminum foil.:gj:

I am going to work on the humidity issue tomorrow and try and get a UTH and a thermostat. I got him from a breeder named Thomas I met online.

Oh, he's very pretty! Congrats!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bain

Here are a few pics.

]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0549edb7.jpg

[IMG]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/...ps60658b4d.jpg[/IMG]

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Beautiful snake!

A couple recommendations

·Try and black out three sides of the cage to help your new addition feel more secure. Balls aren't the best display snake anyways.
·What kind of substrate are you using? Looks like a form of carpet, glass tanks are not you friend when it comes to humidity or heat, if you find issues I would recommend eco earth from zoo med, holds humidity well.
·The analog dials you have are not the best and will need to be replaced in a few months. I have included a few links below of some suggested thermometers/hydrometers.
·I would also recommend a UTH that is regulated by a thermostat, do not use a UTH without a thermostat. Flexwatt or a UTH from zoo med are popular choices.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acu-Rite-I...mometer/896347
http://www.amazon.com/Analog-Hygrome.../dp/B0007VWEQA
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...d=280972989651
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

Also a good overall website for reptile supplies is reptilebasics.com




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I would also recommended two identical hides, I personally like the ones from reptile basics. Also another reason for a UTH is with those heat lamps it often proves difficult keeping the humidity up. Although a UTH usually doesn't do much for ambient temps they are very useful with providing you new ball a hotspot.

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Nice lesser, like the creamy yellow. Just cover the top for humidity and put a UTH with a t-stat and you'll be fine.

And yeh, cover the sides of the cage to avoid stressing the snake out. Other than that it looks good to me.

Thanks for all the advice everyone, I appreciate it.

So I have been working on the tank andI got the temp and humidity down, added a UTH with a thermostat and changed the substrate among other things. Here is a pic.


[IMG]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/...ps077d4e4a.jpg[/IMG]