What the heck is he doing?

I just got this baby today he's about a month old, he's been pretty nippy and in strike position since I put him in his cage. A couple hours ago he started exploring and moving about the cage and just now I found him like this. Is this reasonable behavior given that it's his first day in my place?

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/12/agumuzy5.jpg

Not sure, but he's probably use to being in a little shoe box in a rack system. Do you have a hide for him? I can't tell.

Baby balls can be aggressive. It's under a lot of stress moving to a new enclosure. I can't tell if you have hides or not but you need two in your tank, one on hot and one on cold side. Also, are you measuring your humidity? A ball python that's roaming around usually means they are stressed. Give it several days to settle in before you try handling again.

Yeah I have two nearly identical plastic hides I made him, he hasn't used them yet.

Attempting to keep track of humidity. I have a Combo analog hygrometer thermometer. I'm still adjusting the humidity right now I have a damp towel on top and it's a little high, about 70.

Hi,

I'd say he was just exploring.

I'd also replace those with a good digital measuring device ( with a probe ) - those are basically giving you an incorrect reading miles away from where the snake will actually be 90% of the time.


dr del

He is getting into "tank destruction" mode. Mine use to more everything around all the time.
He might also be trying to remove those analog gauges because they don't work properly.
Digital is the way to go.:gj:

He's just checking out the new digs. Perfectly normal. But yes, as everyone else has said, those gauges are terribly inaccurate.

The thing that I see in the photo is that you have your UTHs on the back of the tank? Maybe he's trying to get warm? I would put the UTHs under the tank.
At least, I think that's what I'm seeing? I noticed the white probe cord from a digital thermometer hanging down on the right side into the middle of the tank and I thought that was odd...but then I saw the black square.
Also, you will need a thermostat to regulate the heat coming out of those UTHs...you don't want to burn that sweet baby.

No, I think that's black paper to block out some of the view. Those hides look terribly open, though...

Yeah that's foam board for security, I do have a digital temp probe on the other side. I wasn't sure (and still am not) what hygrometer to get so I just got that as a temporary.

I had the hides cut with a smaller entry hole but they looked too small so I cut them bigger than his largest part.

I haven't put in my UTH yet because I won't have a thermostat til next week.

For the hides, I got these cheap plastic bins I found at the grocery I figured I could cut them into decent hides. I bought two extra just in case. Here's a pic of them before cutting, how can I make them into better ones?

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/12/e4a6uven.jpg

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

He is getting into "tank destruction" mode. Mine use to more everything around all the time.
He might also be trying to remove those analog gauges because they don't work properly.
Digital is the way to go.:gj:

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Originally Posted by DooLittle

He's just checking out the new digs. Perfectly normal. But yes, as everyone else has said, those gauges are terribly inaccurate.

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x2 on these ^^

I stopped using those stick-on gauges because my snakes would climb on them and pop them off the side of the wall. Then I read the horror stories about them ending up stuck on the snakes and causing scale damage.

Looks like yours is just exploring, the babies tend to do that.

In looking at the pictures of your hides, I would make new ones with smaller openings as BP's like to cram themselves into very tight places.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

Yeah that's foam board for security, I do have a digital temp probe on the other side. I wasn't sure (and still am not) what hygrometer to get so I just got that as a temporary.

I had the hides cut with a smaller entry hole but they looked too small so I cut them bigger than his largest part.

I haven't put in my UTH yet because I won't have a thermostat til next week.

For the hides, I got these cheap plastic bins I found at the grocery I figured I could cut them into decent hides. I bought two extra just in case. Here's a pic of them before cutting, how can I make them into better ones?

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/12/e4a6uven.jpg

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You will need to move your thermometer probe once you start to use your UTH. When using a UTH the thermometer probe needs to be on the floor of the cage centered on the UTH. The thermostat probe will be sandwiched between the bottom of the tank and the UTH itself.

So I need a thermostat and a thermometer just for the UTH? Why both? And the probe of the thermometer will be ok on the inside floor of the cage?

My intention for the thermometer was to read ambient temps... Do I need to get a second? I do have an IR gun.

I just saw what you're using for hides, they look a bit tall for your baby. I would keep those for when your snake is a bit bigger and block the entrances with some plastic plants. For now if you need a cheap and fast alternative, run by your post office and get some of the small flat-rate shipping boxes. Put the box together and make a hole in a long side, close to a corner, that is just large enough for your little one to squeeze into it. If the box gets wet or soiled you can toss it and make a new hide from another box.

The thermostat regulates your UTH and it's probe should go between the UTH and the bottom of the tank glass. Its purpose is to prevent the UTH from getting too hot so you don't end up burning or killing your snake. The thermometer you use to measure temperature inside the tank. You can get one with a probe and put it under the warm side hide to make sure your thermostat is working correctly. You can also get an IR thermometer to spot check different points in the tank.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

So I need a thermostat and a thermometer just for the UTH? Why both? And the probe of the thermometer will be ok on the inside floor of the cage?

My intention for the thermometer was to read ambient temps... Do I need to get a second? I do have an IR gun.

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You need both for the UTH because the thermostat probe needs to be on the outside of the cage (for safety reasons) The thermometer probe placed inside the tank measures the actual temperature and is used to set the thermostat properly.

IR guns only measure surface temperatures. You could use that to measure the hotspot created by the UTH.

I would use the probe you have now to measure the UTH then get on of these from Walmart:

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

These cost $12 and measure 2 temperatures as well as humidity.

Ok cool, there's no concern that the probe will get in the snake's way or vice versa?

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I just saw what you're using for hides, they look a bit tall for your baby. I would keep those for when your snake is a bit bigger and block the entrances with some plastic plants. For now if you need a cheap and fast alternative, run by your post office and get some of the small flat-rate shipping boxes. Put the box together and make a hole in a long side, close to a corner, that is just large enough for your little one to squeeze into it. If the box gets wet or soiled you can toss it and make a new hide from another box.

The thermostat regulates your UTH and it's probe should go between the UTH and the bottom of the tank glass. Its purpose is to prevent the UTH from getting too hot so you don't end up burning or killing your snake. The thermometer you use to measure temperature inside the tank. You can get one with a probe and put it under the warm side hide to make sure your thermostat is working correctly. You can also get an IR thermometer to spot check different points in the tank.

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Are you referring to the precut or post cut hides? I have two that I haven't used yet that I can cut smaller

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

Are you referring to the precut or post cut hides? I have two that I haven't used yet that I can cut smaller

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Both, actually. My young snakes seem to like the feeling of something on their backs so that they can wedge themselves into it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

Ok cool, there's no concern that the probe will get in the snake's way or vice versa?

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The probe shouldn't be an issue as long as you don't use tape to hold it down. NEVER use tape inside a snake cage.

If you need to secure the probe hot glue works really well.

Haha! Glad it wasn't the uths on the back!

So I picked up that thermometer from Walmart, doesn't have any mount other than a screw for a wall mount how would you recommend attaching it? with a double adhesive mount since It has to go inside the tank?

No tape, I just place them in the tank, sure the snake will know them over from time to time, but its really not a big deal.

This is a picture of the inside of the Acurite thermometer

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...t/IMG_1532.jpg

The component in the RED box is what measures humidity

The component in the BLUE box is the "INDOOR" thermometer

The probe is the "OUTDOOR" thermometer

The big white square is the back of the screen.

I place the unit on the cool side where it will measure the cool side temperature and humidity then place the probe on the hot side.

So you literally just let it sit against the side in the tank?

I can dig that

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

So you literally just let it sit against the side in the tank?

I can dig that

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Thats what I do in glass tanks.



In my plastic cages I screw them into the walls and drill holes for the cords:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0452.jpg

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

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