Baby BP tank setup

[SS4Luck]

I jsut got my first baby BP and i need some help with has tank. I have experience with king snake and milk snakes but never a python. I just have a few questions.

He is currently in a 20G tank with newspaper down, a tissue box that has been cut open and a door added for a hide spot and a good size water container and a understand heater. I have a 50W infared light but im not sure to use it or not. The hot side of the tank is 85-90* with 50-60% humidity.

i have a few questions about a tnak setup

1) What is ok for substrate? I raise chameleons too and am used to a "pretty" green tank. Are something like cedar chips ok for a tank?

2) a log or big stick to climb on?

3) if i use the basking light should it be on 24 hours or only 12?

sorry if these are stupid questions i jsut dont want anything to happen to my little guy



Here is a picture. He is just a normal but his name is Jormundangr

[SDballp]

1) shaved aspen, or cypress mulch if you are having trouble keeping humidity up

2) some BPs like to climb, some pretty much stay on the ground. your choice imo. make sure u have something in there to assist with shedding though. alot of times people use thier climbing branches for that /shrug

3) BPs like a day/night cycle lights off at night would be best if u can keep temps up at night

[Kaorte]

In my opinion the only things you need for a ball python are:

1. UTH
2. Thermostat
3. Accurite thermometer/hygrometer combo
4. 2 identical hides
5. Water bowl
6. paper towels, newspaper or aspen substrate. Never use cedar, it is toxic to ball pythons and most other animals as well..


Ball pythons don't normally climb and they don't normally bask. Lamp heating is pretty useless with ball pythons. Belly heat with a UTH is much more beneficial. Your temps should stay constant throughout the day and night.

You should have a hot spot of 90-94*F (measured with a digital thermometer with a probe, not a gauge or stick on meter) and a cool side or ambient temp of at LEAST 75*F. Shoot for around 80*F.

[h00blah]

In my opinion the only things you need for a ball python are:

1. UTH
2. Thermostat
3. Accurite thermometer/hygrometer combo
4. 2 identical hides
5. Water bowl
6. paper towels, newspaper or aspen substrate. Never use cedar, it is toxic to ball pythons and most other animals as well..

you forgot a secure enclosure =O!
you gotta put all that stuff inside something dontcha?

sorry if these are stupid questions i jsut dont want anything to happen to my little guy

i was told the only stupid question is the one you haven't asked yet ;p.

to the forum

[SS4Luck]

Thanks guys. I had a spare probe thermo from my Cham setup. I left the newpaper in and let the probe lay ontop of it and it registered a steady 91*. The cold side was i think around 75 but im only 90% on this, i know it wasnt warmer. I made two more hides that was a little smaller/tighter and used a bigger water bowl.

After about 30 mintues he seemed alot happier and went cruising through it all day. Thanks for the help

[Kaorte]

Thanks guys. I had a spare probe thermo from my Cham setup. I left the newpaper in and let the probe lay ontop of it and it registered a steady 91*. The cold side was i think around 75 but im only 90% on this, i know it wasnt warmer. I made two more hides that was a little smaller/tighter and used a bigger water bowl.

After about 30 mintues he seemed alot happier and went cruising through it all day. Thanks for the help

Sadly, cruising is generally a sign of stress. A hiding BP is a happy BP.

[Crawdad]

Sadly, cruising is generally a sign of stress. A hiding BP is a happy BP.

Yep, it is a sign that they are uncomfortable in their environment and are looking for ways to leave. If they are hiding, they are secure and ready to sleep and eat (which is what healthy snakes do best).

I find that mine will cruise the night after I clean his tub, just for a little while. I think that he is probably just re-acclimating himself to his tub since things have changed. Any more cruising than that and I would look for a source of stress (temps, humidity, predators like cats and birds nearby, vibrations).

SS4, cruising is a sign of stress but I think that it's fairly common for the snake to cruise when you first get them, especially a nervous little juvenile like you have. Mine cruised every night for about 4 days after we got him, then settled in nicely and started eating hardcore.

[thegoalie22]

Do not use cedar or pine chips. They can be very harmful!

[SS4Luck]

wow holy dead thread.

He cruised for 1 day and now is doing just fine on rat pups and eating every 8 days

[vindicatedornot]

1) What is ok for substrate? I raise chameleons too and am used to a "pretty" green tank. Are something like cedar chips ok for a tank?

Please don't say you keep chameleons on wood chips. They do best with no substrate. Whenever they shoot at feeders they often get whats around the feeder too. Accidental ingestion would most definately lead to impaction.