Getting my first noodle Tuesday!

I've been lurking on here for a couple of months absorbing all your knowledge in prep for getting my first BP and Tuesday I'm going to pick it up. I say "it" because i have no idea what gender or morph it is. I'm rescuing from a local shelter, and they don't know a whole lot about snakes in general, and did not have much information on the BP from the previous owner.

The BP appears to be in relatively good shape, I'm assuming its between 1 and 2 years old, no stuck shed and has been eating live at the shelter. They told me the snake bit the previous owner, and that multiple other animals were seized from the location they got the BP from. Sadly they labeled it as "aggressive", however I was able to handle it with zero issues.

I'll post pics on Tuesday when i pick it up, I'm excited to finally be a part of the club!

:welcome:

And thank you for not only taking the time to do the research first but also for taking in a rescue animal. :bow:


dr del

Congrats on your first noodle!!:D:snake:

Congratulations on your first noodle, and kudos for taking up a rescue noodle at that! Best of luck with the snake, and of course if you have any questions once it is home feel free to post! Excited to see photos of it once it is home!

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im definitely feeling the pressure, trying to get the temps/humidity right before i pick him/her up, and ive spent way more money than I intended to trying to get the temps up. im already regretting glass and i dont even have my noodle yet. my initial plan was to wait until taxes and get an AP T8 with a radiant heater, but once i decided to rescue i had to expedite the enclosure.

Bins are usually easier for maintaining heat and humidity, and quite a bit cheaper as well! (I realize it's a bit late for the cheaper aspect.) But you may still want to look into it for maintaining temps. I got a Weathertight locking container, 41qt for about $30ish from amazon, but there are cheaper ones with less locks on them lol (mine has six, i wasn't taking NO chances with escapes). My noodle is quite happy in hers!

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Originally Posted by oropher101

im definitely feeling the pressure, trying to get the temps/humidity right before i pick him/her up, and ive spent way more money than I intended to trying to get the temps up. im already regretting glass and i dont even have my noodle yet. my initial plan was to wait until taxes and get an AP T8 with a radiant heater, but once i decided to rescue i had to expedite the enclosure.

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I felt this way when I got mine (I have a glass viv too). I ended up using the 1/2 in. thick insulation foam (the hard rigid stuff) from Home Depot to increase my temps. For humidity, if you have a screen top, try covering most of it with a towel to raise the humidity levels. People have also covered the top with tinfoil to help as well. I personally struggle to LOWER my humidity levels, so I invested in a lamp and CHE (Ceramic heat emitter) to help dry my Viv up.

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

Bins are usually easier for maintaining heat and humidity, and quite a bit cheaper as well! (I realize it's a bit late for the cheaper aspect.) But you may still want to look into it for maintaining temps. I got a Weathertight locking container, 41qt for about $30ish from amazon, but there are cheaper ones with less locks on them lol (mine has six, i wasn't taking NO chances with escapes). My noodle is quite happy in hers!

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yeah i considered bins, i wasn't comfortable heating them with UTH. Ive learned a bit more about how to do it, and will likely switch. (good news is im still in my return period for everything ive bought, so i may just take it all back and start over xD) Thats the best part about trying BEFORE i get the snake lol

Congrats and thanks for adopting a fully grown noodle in need of a good home :) Good on you for doing your research and setting up the enclosure beforehand as well. We're all here to help if you need it!

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Originally Posted by OkamiFlautist

I felt this way when I got mine (I have a glass viv too). I ended up using the 1/2 in. thick insulation foam (the hard rigid stuff) from Home Depot to increase my temps. For humidity, if you have a screen top, try covering most of it with a towel to raise the humidity levels. People have also covered the top with tinfoil to help as well. I personally struggle to LOWER my humidity levels, so I invested in a lamp and CHE (Ceramic heat emitter) to help dry my Viv up.

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I just bought a CHE today with a lamp and a stand (WHY ARE STANDS SO EXPENSIVE!) as my temps were too low after running the UTH for about 24 hours. also i was originally using newspaper for substrate, swapped to half eco earth and half reptibark and that helped my humidity alot. my humidity is sitting at a solid 60, i just need to get my temps up higher. For reference pre-CHE i was sitting at about 76 cool side and low 80s hot side. its too low. i'll see where everything is at after i get home from work with the CHE and see if its going to be enough of a difference or if i should return the glass and swap to tub.

i may also just throw my space heater in my room and call it a day, idk lmao

Do you have a thermostat hooked up to your UTH? what is it set at? I keep mine at about 101 so keep my surface temps on the hot side between 88-90. How are you measuring your temps?

i have a thermostat hooked up to the UTH, i had the thermostat maxed at 108 and in tank temps were still low. i think the UTH may be too small. i bought the one for the 10-20 gal tank but it was smaller than i expected it to be. i got the CHE in the hopes i could turn down the UTH a bit so its not running maxed 100% of the time. i have a thermometer with a probe on the hot side and an acurite thermometer with humidity gauge on the cold side. Thermostat probe is between the UTH and the base of the enclosure.

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Originally Posted by oropher101

I just bought a CHE today with a lamp and a stand (WHY ARE STANDS SO EXPENSIVE!) as my temps were too low after running the UTH for about 24 hours. also i was originally using newspaper for substrate, swapped to half eco earth and half reptibark and that helped my humidity alot. my humidity is sitting at a solid 60, i just need to get my temps up higher. For reference pre-CHE i was sitting at about 76 cool side and low 80s hot side. its too low. i'll see where everything is at after i get home from work with the CHE and see if its going to be enough of a difference or if i should return the glass and swap to tub.

i may also just throw my space heater in my room and call it a day, idk lmao

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That's the exact substrate mix I started off with! My humidity is too high granted so I've switched to a bit more reptibark and less eco earth now which has helped me.

I heated the room a bit at first, but the big thing was adding the CHE plus the foam. The foam seriously really helps!

This is the foam I am talking about if you are not sure what kind I mean:

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/owe...dge/1000436411


Also holy cow. Yes stands are super expensive...

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Originally Posted by oropher101

i have a thermostat hooked up to the UTH, i had the thermostat maxed at 108 and in tank temps were still low. i think the UTH may be too small. i bought the one for the 10-20 gal tank but it was smaller than i expected it to be. i got the CHE in the hopes i could turn down the UTH a bit so its not running maxed 100% of the time. i have a thermometer with a probe on the hot side and an acurite thermometer with humidity gauge on the cold side. Thermostat probe is between the UTH and the base of the enclosure.

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Does your thermostat have multiple outlets? I have my UTH and CHE both on the same thermostat, with my probe below my hot spot on the glass. That way neither of them are running 100% and they help balance eachother out.

One thing I should mention though is I got a very tiny 4W UTH and placed it on the side of my viv on my cold side. That raised the ambient temperature to the correct level for both sides for me.

Also, if you do not already have one, an infrared thermometer gun is SUPER helpful for this sort of thing, especially since you may need to put the thermostat at a 'higher' temperature to reach your desired temperature inside.

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Originally Posted by OkamiFlautist

Does your thermostat have multiple outlets? I have my UTH and CHE both on the same thermostat, with my probe below my hot spot on the glass. That way neither of them are running 100% and they help balance eachother out.

One thing I should mention though is I got a very tiny 4W UTH and placed it on the side of my viv on my cold side. That raised the ambient temperature to the correct level for both sides for me.

Also, if you do not already have one, an infrared thermometer gun is SUPER helpful for this sort of thing, especially since you may need to put the thermostat at a 'higher' temperature to reach your desired temperature inside.

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Unfortunately, my thermostat only has one outlet. I got a cheaper one to hold me through until tax time, when I plan on upgrading everything to the setup I originally had planned. I'll be getting a herpstat then. And no, I sadly don't have an infrared thermometer yet. I'm waiting on payday to pick that up. Its a planned expense, I just ran out of funds in the short time I had to put everything together.

I'll look into getting some of that foam. It was something I was considering to "black out" the back and sides of the enclosure anyway, as I currently have the enclosure sitting right next to my computer. I should probably turn that thing on too, it puts out some decent heat, might help the ambient a bit lol.

Good news, i got home last night and checked my temps and the ceramic bulb worked. 89 warm side, 81 cool side and 40% humidity. Ill have to spray to keep the humidity up, but thats normal

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Originally Posted by oropher101

Good news, i got home last night and checked my temps and the ceramic bulb worked. 89 warm side, 81 cool side and 40% humidity. Ill have to spray to keep the humidity up, but thats normal

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Yay!

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great to hear! can't wait to meet your new little guy!

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

great to hear! can't wait to meet your new little guy!

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14 hours!

:welcome: You can always insulate a glass tank (with all sorts of easy & cheap materials) that add privacy as well to the back, sides, part of bottom (don't cover the
UTH) & even partway on the bottom-front if you like, just leave a big "picture window" on the front. ;) This will help keep warmth inside & most snakes appreciate
the privacy too. If you want a prettier look, install scenery first, then insulate behind it...you can use foam board, poster board (has rigid foam center), corrugated
cardboard, peel & stick carpet or cork "tiles", thin cork (sold on rolls for making your own gaskets & such, or maybe in a craft store), etc. You can be creative when
keeping snakes as long as what you use is safe & healthy (if in contact w/ snake). Never use tape of any kind INSIDE though, where the snake can touch it...as the
heat &/or humidity can make it loosen, then stick to your snake with disastrous or challenging (at best) results after your snake uses the heat source to "hot glue" it
to himself...ask me how I know, lol.

This is why we have a forum: shared experiences means sharing what works & what doesn't, & we all want to help prevent mistakes so you & your snake have an
easier time. So don't be shy, if we can help you, just ask?

I'm sure the snake you're adopting had very good reasons for being labeled a "biter" before...fear & stress makes for a defensive snake, can't blame them one bit.
Seems you already understand that, so I have a hunch you'll do great. :snake:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

:welcome: You can always insulate a glass tank (with all sorts of easy & cheap materials) that add privacy as well to the back, sides, part of bottom (don't cover the
UTH) & even partway on the bottom-front if you like, just leave a big "picture window" on the front. ;) This will help keep warmth inside & most snakes appreciate
the privacy too. If you want a prettier look, install scenery first, then insulate behind it...you can use foam board, poster board (has rigid foam center), corrugated
cardboard, peel & stick carpet or cork "tiles", thin cork (sold on rolls for making your own gaskets & such, or maybe in a craft store), etc. You can be creative when
keeping snakes as long as what you use is safe & healthy (if in contact w/ snake). Never use tape of any kind INSIDE though, where the snake can touch it...as the
heat &/or humidity can make it loosen, then stick to your snake with disastrous or challenging (at best) results after your snake uses the heat source to "hot glue" it
to himself...ask me how I know, lol.

This is why we have a forum: shared experiences means sharing what works & what doesn't, & we all want to help prevent mistakes so you & your snake have an
easier time. So don't be shy, if we can help you, just ask?

I'm sure the snake you're adopting had very good reasons for being labeled a "biter" before...fear & stress makes for a defensive snake, can't blame them one bit.
Seems you already understand that, so I have a hunch you'll do great. :snake:

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Thank you for the response! ive read the "no sticky near the noodle" warnings :D. I have a feeling the snake wasn't well taken care of by the previous owner, it was seized along with multiple other animals and the previous owner is now incarcerated. Id be willing to bet at a minimum the husbandry was off. That would explain the stress and defensiveness. Luckly the shelter did at least a little research, tank is too big, only 1 hide, but the temps and humidity were right. I feel like I can give the little guy the best chance to thrive. I am going to have to work with feeding though, they've been removing him/her to feed, so im not sure if it is going to have a good "in tank" feeding response. But one thing at a time. for now, ive got the temps and the humidity set up and places for him to hide, so im sure everything else will fall into place with time and care.

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Originally Posted by oropher101

Thank you for the response! ive read the "no sticky near the noodle" warnings :D. I have a feeling the snake wasn't well taken care of by the previous owner, it was seized along with multiple other animals and the previous owner is now incarcerated. Id be willing to bet at a minimum the husbandry was off. That would explain the stress and defensiveness. Luckly the shelter did at least a little research, tank is too big, only 1 hide, but the temps and humidity were right. I feel like I can give the little guy the best chance to thrive. I am going to have to work with feeding though, they've been removing him/her to feed, so im not sure if it is going to have a good "in tank" feeding response. But one thing at a time. for now, ive got the temps and the humidity set up and places for him to hide, so im sure everything else will fall into place with time and care.

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If that snake put up with being handled & moved to another container to feed, it should feed even better if left to eat where it's most comfortable & secure, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. ;) Many snakes are actually put OFF eating by that process, plus they're more likely to bite either when hungry before, or after being fed, as they're still in "feed mode".

Something to work on would be switching to pre-killed or f/t (frozen-thawed) prey, for safety & all that, but don't try to change everything at once. Stay patient, it pays off.

I once adopted a dog (a Doberman) that had been seized from the owner (who was charged with animal cruelty etc), so I can relate. She was so stressed that her brown hair turned white in many places & fell out, & she was only a few years old...but home with me it all grew back beautifully...she was a real sweetie, though I had to muzzle her for the vet...she wasn't keen on men, as that's who abused her. It feels really good to help out a rescue of any kind when we can, & I agree, it's doubtful that your new snake was properly cared for previously. Sounds like a pretty good shelter...many don't even try to help snakes, or have the means to.

yeah i was impressed. When i went to adopt it i asked if they had an enclosure to send with the snake and they said they did but they were going to keep it for future rescues. i was impressed by that

So he was much bigger than i expected. Was too big to fit into the hides i bought him. Im gonna have to figure something else out. I made him some temporary ones but he just seems content exploring his enclosure

Snek!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b97e027e25.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...bac5211fab.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...248403aed4.jpg

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Originally Posted by oropher101

Snek!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b97e027e25.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...bac5211fab.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...248403aed4.jpg

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That's a big boy! How's he doing so far? Did you see any defensive behaviours when you introduced him to his tank?

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He wrapped a little hard when i went to put him in, but i think he was just scared. Ive been in and out of the tank a few times trying to makeshift some hides until i can take the ones i bought back, hes been good with it so far. Didnt even get defensive putting him in or taking him out of the pillowcase he traveled in

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Also, just calling him a him until i figure out gender. I found a vet close to my house that does exotics so ill have him gendered during his checkup in the next few days

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Aww what a cute and beautiful snake with such a sweet face! I think "he" could possibly be a "she" judging by the size. Certainly a very robust ball python!

Im actually hopimg for a female tbh

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New hides!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...78b96d1674.jpg

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Sweet looking snake you've got there...I'll bet it's a female too. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Sweet looking snake you've got there...I'll bet it's a female too. :gj:

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thank you :) i'll be taking "her" to the vet to get gendered in the next couple weeks. planning on getting a scale friday i'll let yall know what "she" weighs

what an absolute doll!!! Congrats!!!

Thank you, not too bad for a rescue snek. Am I the only one who sits at work and looks at pictures of my snake all day? lol

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Originally Posted by oropher101

Thank you, not too bad for a rescue snek. Am I the only one who sits at work and looks at pictures of my snake all day? lol

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You certainly are not! I have only had my Luna (in my avatar) for like 2 months, and she is my first snake too, and I am OBSESSED with her. She is well on her way to surpassing my cats as far as most pictures in my phone haha! I wanted a snake since I was a kid but my parents would never let me. Decided since I am almost 30 it was time to start achieving some life dreams! lol

Good lord this guy loves to periscopehttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ca94ac00a6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7af66dfc22.jpg

Also, no clue why the second pic is upside down lol
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Originally Posted by oropher101

Good lord this guy loves to periscopehttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ca94ac00a6.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...7af66dfc22.jpg

Also, no clue why the second pic is upside down lol
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Considering he/she is a rescue and brand new to you, and also considered a biter... he/she already seems to be doing well in your care. :)

Ive moved updates to the progress thread in pictures. Shes doing very well

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