Newbie tank setup approval? (pics)

I was wondering if any of you BP Veterans could look over my setup, see if theres anything I should change. I have substrate, heat pad, thermostat, hygrometer, and thermometers waiting for me at the pet store. I want to get the tank setup before I actually purchase my first Ball. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mike:D

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/IMG_0600.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/IMG_0601.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/IMG_0602.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/IMG_0603.jpg

Get the digital thermometer and hygrometer and looks ok for a hatchling

Might want to rethink that light those tend to draw out the humidity and get two hides just alike.

baby ball, subtrate is coming and so is the heating equipment before the snake

I don't see any substrate?

EDIT: You're to quick for me!

It kind of looks like your lamp is sitting directly on the tape. Just remember they get very hot. And good luck with your new snake when you get it :)

I edited my post sorry for the mix up

its cool, the lamp is sitting on the edge of the tape. I followed the directions for glass tank setup in the husbandry section and put 3 layers of alum. foil and then 2 layers of duct tape with a big hole under the lamp

It's hard to tell how big the hides are in that picture, but the one "cave" looks too big...and the half-log one is useless to a ball python. To feel safe and secure, they like to feel their hides snugging close on all sides and even from the top. And if the two hides are identical, then the snake does not have to choose between its favorite hide and the proper temperature it needs at the moment.


My suggestion...ditch the log and get two very small identical hides...and save the larger cave hide for when he's bigger.

What size bulb is that? Even at 75 watts (heat bulb) that tape and the aluminum.. your going to be running in between 95-105 on the warm side.

What is a good hide for a baby ball? its a 60 watt bulb, i was testing the temp with just the bulb, and right under the light it only go to about 80 degrees in a couple hours

I truly appreciate everyones advice, i dont want to jump into this without some knowledge first. GOAL= happiest snake ever! lol

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Originally Posted by jdmls88

What is a good hide for a baby ball?

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Use the site's SEARCH feature to look for "hides"...or just scan the husbandry forum for thread titles about hides. There's tons of stuff you can use.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jdmls88

I truly appreciate everyones advice, i dont want to jump into this without some knowledge first. GOAL= happiest snake ever! lol

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Good job there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jdmls88

baby ball, subtrate is coming and so is the heating equipment before the snake

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What kind of "heating equipment" is on the way?

For the naturalistic look, I like the "rock den" hides available from ESU. Reptilesupply.com has all five sizes available so you can see them.

You have the ExoTerra medium Reptile Cave - unfortunately the ExoTerra small Reptile Cave has an even bigger "door" than the medium size, so I wouldn't recommend it.

We started our ball python on the ESU rock den in medium, which honestly was a bit big for her initially but she grew into it quickly. We moved her up to the large and now she's in the extra large size. =)

I'm not saying you must order from Reptilesupply or from an online source, but it's a good place to see different "natural" hides if you wanna go that route. Having said that, reptilesupply.com are cool people and I would order from them. =)

Those exo terra hides are good hides i use them for my ball , but change it for the smallest one get two or even three small exo terra hides ditch the half log and when you have your thermostat and digital thermometer (acurite's are great ) monitor your temps/humidity until it is correct and stable then get your ball :)

Oh yeah, throw the half log away. They are completely useless. =P

I just found these...if i was a baby ball id hide in here. Just cut a hole in the side and make sure its not sharp?https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...1/IMG_0606.jpg

Those work well. :)

Alot of people use these. Clay pot bottoms

i have a 2 digital thermometers, a digi hygrometer from dads cigar humidifier (lol), exo terra heat wave pad, and thermostat on its way

Awesome then i will use those until the little guy is not so little nemore

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jdmls88

I just found these...if i was a baby ball id hide in here. Just cut a hole in the side and make sure its not sharp?

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I use clay pots for all my bp hides. The best way that I have found to make the hole is to use a pair of pliers and start breaking away very small pieces, shaping the hole as you go. When the hole is about the way you want it, use a rat-tail file to smooth away any sharp edges. The file can be used to further shape the hole if you want to take that much time. I've broken a fair share of clay pots doing this. Occasionally, they just seem to fall apart.

The really great thing about clay pots is that when your bp goes into shed, you can soak the clay pot with water, and have an instant humid hide. Helps tremendously with sheds!

Steve

I actually used a dremel with a disc sanding bit and just cut out an opening, i then sanded the sharp edges smooth