Here is my setup - Tell me what you think

OK. So I adopted this Sweet Girl last week and she is about a year old. Previous owner is a very nice young man going away to college who needed to find a new home for her. Lucky for both of us, I was looking and we crossed paths. Here cage is a 20 Long which he had basically set up as it is now. There is an UTH onder the half log, which I am putting a Slide Dimmer from Lowes in the next day or two. I have added a 60W red heat lamp on the log side to help with the "warm side of things [on a timer to go on @ 6 and off @ midight - 6 hours]. Also added the Accurite Temp/Humpdity sensor with the outside lead on the glass inside the half log. The main unit is mounted on the other side over the water. Temps stay around 77-79 on the cool side and 81-85 on the warm side. Humidity stays a constant 45-55%. I did foil the lid to help up the humidty a little so this is still a work in progress. I also re-arranged her log to open up the floor a little and now noticed she likes to hang out over the water if you will from time to time. I alos got her a little larger water bowl as the one that was in there was a little small and she knocked it over all of the time.

Big question here is this: I understand everyone's desire to have two hides, but if my little girl is doing well, and appears to be regulating her temps on her own as she moves around her tank all throughout the day, is another hide really a must have? She moves in and out of the log [which is blocked on the glass side by a background], on top of the half log, on the tree and sometimes just hangs out in the center of her cage in the open. It has been years since I have has a BP and herp knowledge has developed far and beyond what it was so all opinions are welcome. Be gentle though, my ego is brittle. :-)

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...e/100_0936.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...e/100_0937.jpg
Chuck.

Also just wanted to add that she feeds like a monster. Previous owner fed her weekly on live rat pups and two days after bringing her home, because she appeared to be looking for a meal, I fed her on her normal day and she barely let me get the feast into her enclosure. Just thought this might help. I believe she has been in the same enclosure since the previous owner had her when she was new to the world.

Ok, im just telling you what the knowledgable guys are going to tell you anyway.

The temps are too low, they should be: Cool side = 82F.
Warm side = 92F. Ambient air = 78-85F, this is from the glass tank sticky on this site.

They WILL tell you that 2 hides are a must have. The snake will take security over heating. They will probably tell you that you don't need a night drop in temps, and some might say that the red light is fine 24/7 it doesnt bother the snake, apparantly they cant see red!? Also, both heating devices have to be plugged into a thermostat to be able to switch it off when it's too hot, dimmers are ok, but not as trustworthy, because no matter what, the electricity is still flowing!

And this thread might be recommended by some: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=56846

Hope i didnt get to your ego:confused:

P.S. some might say a branch isn't necessary because they not good climbers. And maybe the tank is a little big.

nice setup ! gotta up the heat alil...

It seems to be working good for your snake,so its all good.Temps should be up a few more degrees though.Get a dimmer for the red light too if your going to use it.

Looks good, I think one thing that is misunderstood most on this sight. Is that not everyone is trying to get you to change something when it is working, unless they feel there is some danger to the snake. The only thing that I noticed, and you have already said that you are trying to fix, is that the humidity is to low. Which can be seen in your picture by the fact that your BP seems to have some shedding problems.

the only thing that i would add is that i was under the impression that ball pythons are generally not active during the day, so the fact that yours is active and hanging out high in the tank may be a sign of stress or insecurity. i'm no expert, so if this logic isn't correct please tell me. i know that as soon as mine got acclimated to the tank, he rarely left his hides in the middle of the day. even now the only way i know he is regulating temps is when i open the tank and he is in a different hide.

A 20long can be a great tank for even a youngster...if you do it right. Here are a few suggestions:

-Cover BOTH sides. I see you have one side and the back covered, but not the other side.

-Place the thermometer closer to the ground. You need to know the temp where the snake spends its time.

-TWO hides, and not those half logs. Yes, if placed against a wall they can be seen as surrounding on all sides...BUT they aren't really snug because of the length. Better to get two small plastic bowls or flower pots and cut them down to size.

-Smaller water dish and placed in the middle of the tank. Ceramic cat dishes and small rodent dishes work wonderfully for smaller BPs.

-Add LOTS of greenery or crumpled paper in there! All that open space freaks them out.

-And get a lower climbing structure or turn that one on its side. Though some (I have two) seem to be good climbers and like it...what happens that inevitable time they fall? Make any climbing decor wide and low for their safety.

-To raise the humidity, treat the screen with foil and duct. I can send you a step-by-step pictorial I did on it if you like.

And yes, if the snake is roaming during the day or looking for a 'way out', its stressed because something isn't right in its home. Good luck! :)

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Originally Posted by patb201985

nice setup ! gotta up the heat alil...

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Quick question. My temp is being read on the probe from the glass right @ ground level inside the log. I just moved it to half way buried in the substrate [aspen] and it is quite high right this minute [almost 100deg] and the ambient is still 79 [measured right above the water bowl]. I also have a dial temp gauge [left over from the previous owner] and it is over the hide in the front corner. I know the 100 deg inside the hide, belly temp is too high, so I am running down to get a slide dimmer right now. Is this where I should be getting this reading? In the substrate? If so, what should my target temp be for this setting as well?

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Originally Posted by WickedBalls

Get a dimmer for the red light too if your going to use it.

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What should my target temp be on his basking surface when the light is on?

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Originally Posted by snakecharmer3638

The only thing that I noticed, and you have already said that you are trying to fix, is that the humidity is to low. Which can be seen in your picture by the fact that your BP seems to have some shedding problems.

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Humidity levels right now stay a constant 45-55% but I just foiled the lid and it now looks like it will stay around 51-59%. Noticed with misting, I should be able to meet the 70% during shed. The left over shed has been resolved using this site and I think it had more to do with the previously small water bowl, which he kept tipped over.

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Originally Posted by gmcclurelssu

the only thing that i would add is that i was under the impression that ball pythons are generally not active during the day, so the fact that yours is active and hanging out high in the tank may be a sign of stress or insecurity.

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He is usually inside his hode or on top of it during the day which I assume is whathe does to regulate as the heat lamp is not on till about 6pm. Late afternoon, nightime is when he seems to be a little more active. Up in the branch over the water, basking in the heat lamp, under his hide. Don't get me wrong, she does not dart all over the place. She appears very 'at home' in there which is actualy why I put off changing her substrate right off the bat. Figured it would help her feel at home in her new home.

[QUOTE=Argentra;868833]
-To raise the humidity, treat the screen with foil and duct. I can send you a step-by-step pictorial I did on it if you like.
QUOTE]

i would like that :)
haha ive tried the whole towel thing on top it doesnt ork great for me so if you would post that i would appreciate it too :)

i keep ALL of my animals at 85-88 hot side 75-78 or so cold side. No problems with this setup at all!

I use racks, and have them heated by back heat with two strips of 11" on my big ones hooked to T-stats, and one strip of 11" on my smaller one ( which is getting extra when i feel like moving it out from the wall before winter)

Never had a problem with this setup, and i do not think ball pythons need 90 degree hotspots. I also feed every other week or so.

Half log is fine, some will tell you they are not, there are always new Fads that go along with keeping reptiles. They pass in time. what people did 20 years ago may not be IN now, but maybe in another 10 it might come back. its just how things go.

So long as the animal feeds for you, and remains healthy and active ( for a ball python, of course) I wouldnt sweat it.

Enjoy your new critter!

Does it eat every week?

Does it poop regularly?

Does it shed fine?

If you answered yes to all, than you are fine. Dont let "stickys" tell you what to do, there are a lot of diffrent ways to do things. As long they eat, poo, and shed you are fine.

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Originally Posted by FIREball

Does it eat every week?

Does it poop regularly?

Does it shed fine?

If you answered yes to all, than you are fine. Dont let "stickys" tell you what to do, there are a lot of diffrent ways to do things. As long they eat, poo, and shed you are fine.

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Only had her for a week now but yes, yes and hopefully next time.

Had her two days and fed her even though I was going to hold her back a week [previous owner fed every Sat, 1 Rat Pup live. She appeared to me to be looking for some grub so I got her a pup and she hit it within about 10 seconds of his feet hitting the aspen. Poop was regular, nothing abnormal to report. She had a shed before I got here and had some stuck shed on the later part of her body. I used the method described in another thread and got it all off of her. I think her humidity levels where low as she had a very small plastic dish for h2o that she always knocked over [per previous owner]. I got he a larger bowl and now she drinks from it often, and like I said, she loves to hang out on the limb over the water. Someone mentioned that she might be looking for an escape route, caused by stress as a possiblity, but she has never paid a second mind at the top screen. Usually when on her branch, she spreads our and rests her head on one of the limbs as if she is taking it all in [i may be over romanitizing a little here]. She shows no signs of stress. No aggitation. Always ready to be picked up and handled. She just seems like a happy girl.

I am concerned about the belly temp as it is still hovering around 100 degrees. This is exactly how her cage has been set up from the get go as her previous owner had this cage with her when he first got her almost a year ago. What temp should I shoot for the the substrate surface inside her hide?

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Originally Posted by Argentra

-And get a lower climbing structure or turn that one on its side. Though some (I have two) seem to be good climbers and like it...what happens that inevitable time they fall? Make any climbing decor wide and low for their safety.

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Is this really a concern. My girl is almost three ft long and the tallest point on the branch is maybe 7-8 inches. I cannot see her causing any real damage falling from that height. Forgive me for being blunt, but isn't this Darwin at work. Heck I have fallen from a few roofs in my day and I am still kickin. ;-)

In all reality though, not sure that I am realy afraid of an injury from her falling. She actually moves around on the branch quite well. Maybe she just has a lot of practice at it as like I have said, she has had the same cage for quite a while now.

You'd be surprised. Ball pythons are not meant to be arboreal and are not built for it. If something scares them and they ball up while on top of that structure and it causes them to fall, well it's just a non-needed risk.

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Originally Posted by mooingtricycle

i keep ALL of my animals at 85-88 hot side 75-78 or so cold side. No problems with this setup at all!

I use racks, and have them heated by back heat with two strips of 11" on my big ones hooked to T-stats, and one strip of 11" on my smaller one ( which is getting extra when i feel like moving it out from the wall before winter)

Never had a problem with this setup, and i do not think ball pythons need 90 degree hotspots. I also feed every other week or so.

Half log is fine, some will tell you they are not, there are always new Fads that go along with keeping reptiles. They pass in time. what people did 20 years ago may not be IN now, but maybe in another 10 it might come back. its just how things go.

So long as the animal feeds for you, and remains healthy and active ( for a ball python, of course) I wouldnt sweat it.

Enjoy your new critter!

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I don't understand where your going with this 'fad' thing your talking about. Log hides aren't a good hide for ball pythons because they don't touch them on all sides and are very open and insecure. Ball pythons stress out very easily, and this may cause problems from stress in the future.
Your temperatures are not healthy for your snake. Other snakes, like corns and kings would do fine in that temperature range. Ball pythons are a completely different species and need the higher temperatures to digest their food properly.

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Originally Posted by FIREball

Does it eat every week?

Does it poop regularly?

Does it shed fine?

If you answered yes to all, than you are fine. Dont let "stickys" tell you what to do, there are a lot of diffrent ways to do things. As long they eat, poo, and shed you are fine.

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As I quote a few other people on this site.
These are all elements of a surviving snake and doesn't take all of the precautions for a snake that you want to thrive in your care.

:gj:

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Ball pythons are a completely different species and need the higher temperatures to digest their food properly.

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So what temps would you recomend? Belly surface in hide and basking surface temp? Please advise.

I must have one of those wierd BP's, because one of mine thinks she is a GTP. She will stay in her tree all day and even eat in it.....she has a hot spot of 90 on the floor on one side, just sometimes she likes her tree.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s/100_6876.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s/100_3516.jpg

That is exactly what I see in my girl. She just seems to like to hang out up in the branch from time to time. And if she falls, she falls. I cannot see it causing any real damage as it is not a great height. But I really do not see that happening as she oftern stays on the branch while I add water, spot clean under her hide, etc. I must have found a snake that exactly matches me. A Freak. :-)

Except that mine does not eat from her branch. Cool pic though.

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Originally Posted by chuka

Is this really a concern. My girl is almost three ft long and the tallest point on the branch is maybe 7-8 inches. I cannot see her causing any real damage falling from that height. Forgive me for being blunt, but isn't this Darwin at work. Heck I have fallen from a few roofs in my day and I am still kickin. ;-)

In all reality though, not sure that I am realy afraid of an injury from her falling. She actually moves around on the branch quite well. Maybe she just has a lot of practice at it as like I have said, she has had the same cage for quite a while now.

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Edit: I actually just went in a measured and from the tippity top, it is 4.5 inches to the floor. So I am fairly confident she can handle such a spill. Literally into the water bowl as it is benieth the branch.

Ideal temps to shoot for are 80-83 cool side floor, 89-93 warm side floor, and an ambient of 79-81. Extremes are 78 low, 95 high, and 76 ambient. Anything outside those could cause problems.

As for falls, I've heard too many tales of a BP who was a great climber who grew a bit bigger, fell off a branch, landed on something like a hide or the water dish, and broke its neck or spine and died...or at least was seriously hurt. Naturally, this won't happen all the time, but I for one wouldn't want to risk it. That feeding from the branch shot is cute, tho. :) The key is to keep an eye on them as they climb around.
My young normal girl was an avid climber when she was little and was really good at it. But then, she just got to a point size wise where she was getting clumsy. That's when I took her climbing structure, which was just like the OPs, out of the tank.

I will keep and eye on it. Thinking I am going to remove the heat lamp altogether as now that the lid is foiled, it holds temps really well as well.