Newbie & New Owner [Shameless picture posting, too]

Hello all.
I'm Stephanie, and I've had dogs and hamsters all my life. I've recently dived into reptile keeping. 8]
Last November, I got my Beardie. In December, I got my two Leopard Gecko sisters.

On the 14th, I got my Ball Python. His name is Ouroboros.
The people I got him from are fantastic. He hasn't eaten for me yet, but with moving stress, I'm not worried.
Captive bred, he's been on frozen/thawed all his life, and was hatched June 2008. He's crazy tame, and likes hanging around my neck.
I've got him in a 36x18x16 tank, with a secure lid.
UTH on one side that can fit his body and then some. Stays at 90-92.
Giant water dish that won't tip.
Aspen bedding, baked off driftwood, and fake plants.
I've put black construction paper all long the back and one side, to make him feel safer. He can hide totally covered on the cool side in the dark with plants this way, if he wanted.

Anyway. Shameless picture posting time, but I have a feeling you people won't mind too much, yeah? 8] My friend took all of these, with her awesome Nikon D40.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/5640/1ourors.jpg
The best picture of the bunch.
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/703/2ourors.jpg
I love his eye markings.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6739/4ourors.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1931/5ourors.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/756/6ourors.jpg
Tail has an exclamation mark.
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6591/7ourors.jpg

So that's my new baby, Ouros. <3

Very lovely!

Welcome to Bp.net! He's a cutie! :)

8] Thank you both. I'm happy to be here.

Oh! And I forgot to day, he's tiny, still at 267 grams.

:welcome:

good lookin snake

:welcome:Welcome to the site.You may want to resist handling him until he becomes settled into his new surroundings and begins eating.:)

Thank you, ilovelace, brett. 8]

dsirkle - I haven't resisted handling, and feel bad now. Think if I stop now, he'll eat for me on Sunday? Heh.

Did the person you got him from tell you a feeding schedule?

Yes, they did. They've been feeding every Sunday. I got him on Saturday, and didn't offer a mouse until Tuesday. He hovered for a bit, but didn't take it. I'm waiting for this Sunday to try again.

Hes a pretty little fellow! just give it time if all his husbandry is correct like you say he should be chowing down in no time. :gj:

I don't mean to sound critical, but could you tell us a little more about your husbandry! I just want to make sure you have everything down so your BP will eat for you and have no problems :D

How are you measuring temps and humidity? (with what?)
What are you controlling your heat source?
Does he have any hides? How many?

Thank, joshn. 8]

Kaorte - I take my temps with a tempgun, this one.
He's got a hide directly over his heat source, and a nice dark corner where he can be completely covered on the cool side.
You aren't going to like this: The heat pad has no control. It's an Exo Terra Heat Wave, for Deserts. I have two others on the go, Ouro's being the third now, and they all stay at 90 consistently.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Superfictious

Thank, joshn. 8]

Kaorte - I take my temps with a tempgun, this one.
He's got a hide directly over his heat source, and a nice dark corner where he can be completely covered on the cool side.
You aren't going to like this: The heat pad has no control. It's an Exo Terra Heat Wave, for Deserts. I have two others on the go, Our's being the third now, and they all stay at 90 consistently.

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:P
Just a couple suggestions. I would get another identical hide for the cool side, and a thermostat (just in case).

Great looking snake!

Is there a way to edit your previous posts on this site?

Kaorte - The hide I got was the last of it's kind in the store. I could find something similar, but not identical. And what type of thermostat should I use? I'm not sure this type of heating pad can hook up with one, unless it's set up like a timer.

Also, good humidity gages. I do not have one, and want to get one before summer hits. We get crazy high humidity from all the lakes around here. I'm just not sure if Home Depot or Canadian Tire sells any.

Sorry for all the questions. <<

Being in Ontario as well, go to Home Hardware. They have great thermometer with humidity gauges there for about $9.00. That's where I get mine. They usually have a variety of them as well.

=o Thanks. I'm not near a Home Hardware, but that's good to know. Maybe I can get to one, soon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Superfictious

Is there a way to edit your previous posts on this site?

Kaorte - The hide I got was the last of it's kind in the store. I could find something similar, but not identical. And what type of thermostat should I use? I'm not sure this type of heating pad can hook up with one, unless it's set up like a timer.

Also, good humidity gages. I do not have one, and want to get one before summer hits. We get crazy high humidity from all the lakes around here. I'm just not sure if Home Depot or Canadian Tire sells any.

Sorry for all the questions. <<

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Don't be sorry! :D

You can only edit your posts for 10 minutes after you post them. Then its set in stone. I don't think you can ever change titles or polls though.

I suppose similar is better than just one. They need to be able to thermo-regulate properly without having to sacrifice security. Usually they sacrifice proper thermo-regulation.

If your UTH has a plug, it is compatible with a thermostat. This thermostat is the most simple, but fairly inexpensive and it gets the job done. All you do is place the probe on the UTH on the outside of the tank, plug the UTH into the thermostat, and plug the thermostat into the wall. Then you have to play with the dial to get it between 90*-95*. Then you are good to go.

I suggest getting a digital humidity reader. I have a flukers (its a little black gumstick like thing) that reads the ambient and humidity. It has been working really well for me so far.

I LIED! I totally AM near one -- Oh google, thank you.
It's over in the 'industrial' part of the city, where I don't know my way around, ha.

Oookay. Next paycheck: Home Hardware Trip.
8] Thank you.

Oooh. I see the edit button on my newest posts now. Thanks. 8]

Do you think the thermostat would make the UTH put out more heat? I'm not too sure how it operates, but it seems to only go to one temperature, stay at one temperature, and relies on the substrate to conduct the heat.

I'll be picking up a humidity gage or two asap, though.

"Tempminder" from Home Hardware has several thermometers with humidity gauges that read ambient and have probes for surface temperatures. I searched at Home Depot and Canadian Tire here in Ottawa but they did not have any good ones.

Well, any UTH I have seen (even the ones that say they don't get hotter then so-and-so*) get over 100*F. The thermostat won't make it get hotter really, but it will turn it off when it gets too hot, and turn it on when it gets too cold.

Alright. 8] I'll look into all of this, thank you both.