My first BP

Hi, everyone. First of all, I wanted to thank all of you for providing me with all the information I could ever ask for in regards to ball python care, husbandry, color morphs, etc. etc. I've been reading all I could about ball pythons, and I think bp.net has honestly been my best source of information here on the internet.

This is my first BP ever. I devoted a whole week to creating a suitable habitat for one. I learned a lot along the way, made a lot of returns and exchanges at the local pet stores when I realized I didn't get the right equipment or hides or whatever. Perhaps my biggest blunder was purchasing a 40 gallon terrarium because it was a good price, when all I really needed for my juvenile python was a 20 gallon. But I made it work. I slipped a piece of sturdy cardboard in there to divide the terrarium down the middle and stuffed two hides, a water dish, a plant, and a log to make it cozy and as stress-free as possible. It seems to be working out wonderfully.

And now, without further ado, meet Cinna, my male Caramel ball python.

http://i.imgur.com/MjWKrVc.png

He is a Caramel, right? I ordered that specific morph online and he's what they sent me, but he doesn't quite look like a Caramel to me. More like a Pastel. But maybe he's still young, and I'm just too new to this whole ball python thing to identify all the different colors they come in.

I think he's pretty happy. He's a little shy, but last night he got to explore his new home and even climbed the plant - which was totally not meant for climbing, more for decoration. He's moving around the terrarium to cool off or get warm, too, which I think is a good sign that the temperatures are right.

But just in case, maybe you all could tell me if my setup is okay and the temps are correct. I've got both a UTH and a ceramic heat bulb. The temp on the basking side is between 87°-90°, and the temp on the cool side is 80°-83°. I've got a hide on top of the UTH, and a hide that's more snug on the cool side. Water dish is slightly positioned under the lamp to raise the humidity. I've been having trouble keeping it up in the %50-%60 range; misting the terrarium only works for ten minutes before it drops again. But I did just buy a humidifier, so I'm hoping that will make a difference in the room. I've got a digital thermometer to measure temperature and humidity levels, and I'm using aspen shavings, although I'm thinking I'm going to switch to a substance that holds the humidity in a little better. Like I said, Cinna looks pretty comfortable in his environment.

I forgot to say hello! I'm happy to be a member of this forum. I hope to learn a lot from you all. :)

Welcome, and yes. He looks to be a great looking caramel albino.

beautiful python!! i just got my first python not too long ago. I'll be sure to post up some pics of him and his home soon. :) Welcome to the forum! i've learned so much from this website, it's unreal.

Congratulations on your baby! Watch out these little balls of joy (pun intended lol) are addicting! Enjoy him :)

Caramels color up nicely as they grow and tend to be darker when young

Thank you! Glad to have confirmed that he is a Caramel. BP's are fun, indeed! :)

Here are a couple pictures of his home, by the way. The table is pretty cluttered in the picture. I've got the humidifier there, a spray bottle for misting, my little teapot for pouring him fresh water, and that green package under there are the feeding tongs I haven't opened yet. The rest is nothing important.

http://i.imgur.com/tAYXXbb.png

And here's a close-up. You can barely see him peeking out of his hide. I think he wanted to know why I was there.

http://i.imgur.com/z4wTPEP.png

Awesome, looks like you are doing wonderfully. Sounds like you've done your research!

I have a suggestions :P put something stable behide that cardboard, as he may get to exploring and find a weak spot, and end up on the other side! Not the end of the world, but he may get stuck ther until you find him ;)
You may also want to cover the right side of the glass with a peice of paper or something to help him feel secure as well, since you can see right through that log.

Best of luck with everything!

Awesome and congratulations


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Cinna was my squee for the night. He's so adorable.

Thanks, everyone. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NH93

Awesome, looks like you are doing wonderfully. Sounds like you've done your research!

I have a suggestions :P put something stable behide that cardboard, as he may get to exploring and find a weak spot, and end up on the other side! Not the end of the world, but he may get stuck ther until you find him ;)
You may also want to cover the right side of the glass with a peice of paper or something to help him feel secure as well, since you can see right through that log.

Best of luck with everything!

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The cardboard is wedged in there really tightly, but I can definitely put some tape down. I did that before when I had a less stable piece of cardboard in there. Definitely will get some dark paper when I can get to the store. I've got two little fake tree decorations that I have up against the glass to obscure his view, just for now.

No tape. That could be potentially harmful to him. If you've got one, maybe tack it down with a hot glue gun.

I'd really prefer not to use a hot glue gun. I don't want to damage the terrarium in any way since I plan to expand it as he grows. The tape would be on the other side of the cardboard to keep it from being pushed down, not actually in his habitat. But I won't use tape if it's not recommended. Like I said, it's in there pretty tight right now, so I think it'll be okay as long as I monitor it.

I personally would remove the cardboard and make use of the whole enclosure and add more hides so he won't become stressed or find some type of plexiglass/PVC divider. I think that the moisture/humidity will cause the cardboard weaken and break down or possibly mold/mildew. It will also absorb smells. Whichever method you choose is your choice, just thought I would give a personal opinion. Other than that, lookin nice ;p

Glue will not harm the tank in less you get it on the top plastic other then that it will pull right off. But id say just add a few more hides and other cover and make it a full tank.

He's awesome! I love his pattern! It looks like you have a pretty good set up going!

i have a 3 month in a 20 gallon and i have no problems, he eats, sheds and handles like a happy guy so no worries man. during day you will never see him and at night he examine every inch of that big tank :D

Acting on the advice generously offered here (thank you!), I decided to get rid of that cardboard and expand the terrarium. It worked out wonderfully!

http://i.imgur.com/SxCYO2Y.png

http://i.imgur.com/S9YmT14.png

Cinna is very curious about the extra space and all those new toys in there. He's still a bit shy, though; he's only brave enough to explore for ten minutes before he's retreating to his hide, but he pops right back out again not much later. He had his first meal today. He is a beautiful eater - no trouble at all! I'm very proud of him.

Lookin good! If he's comfortable enough to eat then he's just fine ;p

Hey, everyone. It's day four and everything has been running smoothly. I handle Cinna for 10-15 minutes each day to get him used to my touch. The temps are just fine in his terrarium and I've boosted the humidity levels by adding a light misting system. I spent heaven knows how long trying to rig it up to this hollow dragon statue I picked up at the pet store so the mist would spill from its mouth, but that's been a nightmare so far. At least my boyfriend is helping me with it.

I have a question. So far, Cinna has eaten one fuzzy. I want to feed him again tomorrow, but is it too soon? I read that juvenile pythons get two meals a week. But he hasn't excreted yet. Should I wait until he does before I try feeding him again?

Most will say feed an item that is as round as the widest part of your bps body every 5-7 days, this is the general rule I follow. BPs do not always void in between meals or on a weekly basis, some may go up to three feeds before they do their business. Some may also hold until they shed. I woke up this morning and my albino had a full shed and that wasn't the only surprise he left me ;p

Good luck,everything looks good. Pretty snake.

Very nice setup,looks like he will be very happy. Good to see you put the time in to read up and set your tank up right..just make sure when it's time to shed you keep the humidity up. Shedding. Tanks takes a bit of effort. I have 2 BPs and both in tanks and during shed it takes a bit of maintaining,but nothing crazy..my snakes always have great sheds

So I should only be feeding him every five days? In that case, I think I can wait until Wednesday or a bit later since I fed him on Friday.

I'm prepared for shedding! I've got my gentle mister, and my squirt bottle set on a light mist too for when it gets to be that time. I hope he'll have an easy, nice shed.

Congrats! He looks great!

So pretty


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he's so cute i just got one a few days ago also i did the same and got the 40. I am just making use of the whole thing, he has multiple hides and makes use of them all depending on the time of the day and his temperature. Very cool how he goes to the warm hide during the day and the cooler one at night

A very nice looking lil' critter you got there!:)
But am I the only one here that thinks that it doesn't look like a typical caramel?

Hey, everyone! It's been a good three weeks. Cinna is doing great. He's a very docile snake and is no longer so shy of my hands when I hold him. He loves to roam every inch of his terrarium and he's often very curious about new things. Here are a few pictures of him atop 'Home Tree.'

http://i.imgur.com/fc5x1nT.png

http://i.imgur.com/HE6NG18.png

http://i.imgur.com/HGArDJD.png

And one of him in my hair.

http://i.imgur.com/nfmHncp.png

He refused his food yesterday. Seemed very interested, but just wouldn't take it. I'm going to try again tonight when he's more active. The humidity levels have been on the low side thanks to all these winter snowstorms, but I have my humidifier cranked up to full force and I've been misting his terrarium daily. Still, I've noticed something about him that seems odd to me. The scales on his belly are flaky and they look like they could be peeling off. Is that due to the dry air or is he going into shed? Or maybe that's how they are naturally? His belly is perfectly fine, so it has nothing to do with burns or anything. Maybe it's the aspen shavings I have him on? Any help would be appreciated!

He's beautiful!

Gorgeous

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