Husbandry Advice?

I just wanted to post some pics of my husbandry and see what you guys think of it. I won't actually be posting pics until a little later, for now I'm just going to list off what I have going on. I'm using Coconut Fiber as substrate, I have two heat lamps, one with a red bulb, one with a white. They aren't on at the same time, a woman at PetSmart hassled me until I put back the UTH I was going to get and got the two bulbs and lamps. I've been using the red at night, and white during the day; both of them are 75 w. I'm using a screen lid, on the hot side I keep the lamp, on the cool side, there's a damp towel I use to keep up the humidity. I have a pretty crappy hygro/thermometer, I'm planning on switching to digital soon. On the hot side, I have a large rock hide, and on the cool side I have her big water dish. I have a stick in there that she can climb on, and a small Pop! figure of David Tennant she likes to sit on top of on the cool side. I know I should have a second hide for the cool side, but right now I think her water bowl is too big. I want to get her a 40 gal. tank, and I'm saving up for that so she'll have plenty of room, using a 20 go. right now. The temps can get a bit high some times, but I do my best to keep the ambient at 85F. Humidity stays between 55%-65%

I know that was a lot of info, I'll be posting pics later today.


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Do you have a temp gun? Digital thermometers are good to get an idea of ambient and hot spot but for accuracy you really want something you can shoot around and judge temps everywhere your snake can get. If all you have is an analog stick on type you really have no idea what the temps are at all and that is super important. Temps need to stay steady, 80s on the cool side/ambient and about 90 for a hot spot. Too low-sick snake, too high-dead snake, too variable-sick snake.

Ball pythons don't need or like bright lights and heat bulbs like that tend to break and die pretty quickly, a ceramic heat emitter would be better since they don't emit any light, make sure you get a lamp dimmer/rheostat to control the output somewhat. 2 identical hides, one on each side and they should be tight fitting with a small opening, not open ended types. I'd skip the fish tank idea entirely and go for a snake setup, tub or pvc cage, will hold heat and humidity much better, not heavy or breakable like glass.

• get a digital thermometer ASAP. The dial ones are crap and you might as well not even have them, they're SUPER inaccurate.
• the lamps were probably a bad idea. Unless the room you're keeping your snakes in is super cold (under 65°) a UTH on a thermostat would be much better.
• you need a hide on the cool side as well! Get another one identical to the one you already have.
• 85 ambient seems too high. Lower that a few degrees, 82 would be good.

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I want to get a temp gun, but when I get a temp gun, what should I use for monitoring the humidity? Would a UTH with a thermostat be better than bulbs? When I put two hides in where should I keep the water? Between them, or on one side?


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Links for items are more than welcome. Especially for UTHs and thermostats to go with them. I would also love to see your guys' set ups, maybe I could use it as reference


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digital thermometer/hygrometer i use

temp gun i use

thermostat i use

UTH i use, but needs to be taped in place with aluminum tape

I will definitely be getting a temp gun, digital hygro/thermometer, and a new hide. Probably gonna have to get a new water dish too. Likely gonna switch to a UTH, just gotta find one, preferably with a built in thermostat


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i don't think i've ever seen a UTH with a built-in thermostat but i very well could've looked in the wrong places. in my previous post i linked a UTH (no 'stat) i use as well.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

i don't think i've ever seen a UTH with a built-in thermostat but i very well could've looked in the wrong places. in my previous post i linked a UTH (no 'stat) i use as well.

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Do you use a thermostat with yours?


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Originally Posted by OneEyedFox

Do you use a thermostat with yours?

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absolutely: all sources of heat MUST be regulated. the thermostat i use was linked in my previous post.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

absolutely: all sources of heat MUST be regulated. the thermostat i use was linked in my previous post.

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Perfect, guess all I really need now is a smaller water dish and a second hide. I can get those at the local Pet Store. The owner will probably give me a discount heh. Is the thermostat difficult to connect to the UTH? I'll likely get the stuff you linked.


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nope! plugs in like any other plug. :)

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

nope! plugs in like any other plug. :)

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Sweet! Thanks for all the help. I'm sure Calliope (and any other snakes I may own in the future) will appreciate it too!


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this is a welcoming and knowledgable community with members who have been herping their whole lives (although i am not one of those people, lol)! i trust the advice here and, if you ever have questions, you should too. :)

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

this is a welcoming and knowledgable community with members who have been herping their whole lives (although i am not one of those people, lol)! i trust the advice here and, if you ever have questions, you should too. :)

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I typically do. Especially the people with a lot of animals, and a lot of experience. This place is the only place I think I'd go to, and trust what I'm told. How long have you had Lemongrab and Noodle? (Love those names)


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Originally Posted by OneEyedFox

How long have you had Lemongrab and Noodle? (Love those names)

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lol thank you. Yellow i've had for just over 2 years, and Spaghetti is still with her breeder Josh Jensen in florida: i live in the midwest and we've had terribly cold weather for about a month and were unable to ship her. hopefully she comes soon!!!

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

lol thank you. Yellow i've had for just over 2 years, and Spaghetti is still with her breeder Josh Jensen in florida: i live in the midwest and we've had terribly cold weather for about a month and were unable to ship her. hopefully she comes soon!!!

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I hope you get her soon too ^~^ You should post pics of her when she comes in.


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Originally Posted by OneEyedFox

You should post pics of her when she comes in.

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i'm going to make a progression thread on here for her! something i wish i did with Yellow.

Been thinking about doing that for Calliope. Still debating it though.


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