New to BP, pic of mine

[kane_abel]

Hey everyone, I just picked up my first ball python yesterday, it's a female just over a year old, I'd say she's about 26 inches long, couple lbs. Her name is Shaniqua. Sorry for the picture quality

[tonyaltn]

Welcome to BP.net !

[Brstin2flames]

Welcome! I just got my first ball python last friday! Congrats! This place is great for info, I spend hours just searching around reading threads.

Enjoy!

[kane_abel]

I have been since I got mine.

[kane_abel]

Here is my setup. Just wanted to let you all know how I've got it. I don't use a lamp, I let the sunlight do its thing. It stays in the upper 70's with 70% humidity.

[rabernet]

Here is my setup. Just wanted to let you all know how I've got it. I don't use a lamp, I let the sunlight do its thing. It stays in the upper 70's with 70% humidity.

Upper 70's really isn't warm enough for him/her. You need to have some belly heat at one end at about 90% to aid in digestion and the cool side needs to 84 degrees.

[dr del]

Hi,

That's a REALLY bad idea.

Tanks can act like ovens in direct sunlight - and overheating kills snakes faster than you would believe. A friends mother thought his milksnake would enjoy the sun and moved the tank it was in - it was dead within the hour. And Scotland isn't exactly known for strong sunlight.

Also you want the cool side to be 80-82f and the warm side to be 90-93f.

I would also remove the cactus thingy log as they can be a real pain to get snakes out of (I learned that one the hard way ).

The other hide is a bit big to be honest but since you have it I would put it in the middle, get a smaller waterbowl and add 2 tight dark hides one at either end to help the snake thermoregulate once you get the temp gradient set up.

Sorry to be so negative in my post but there really is a good reason for it I promise.


dr del

[kane_abel]

I made sure before deciding on indirect sunlight that the temperatures would not get that hot in there. I was able to increase the temperature and humidity for her by closing off the air vent to her room. There's no way I'd put her in direct sunlight because even I can't stand it. If the heat becomes an issue I've got that lamp seen behind the tank. I chose to use that window because it faces the north and doesn't shoot direct sunlight in. Her half-log hide is perfect for her for now. She fits in there quite snug and sometimes I comtemplate getting a bigger one. the long narrow long will be gone in about a month, her size is catching up to it but she still moves well through it.

[kane_abel]

By the way, thanks everyone for their help and input whether it sound harsh or not.