Simple snake noob questions

[Sunnieskys]

We have all been the noob. I did six months of research and had an enclosure set up before getting boople. While some people come off brash I guarantee they have only the best intentions for you and your snake baby. Sit back, hang on and enjoy the ride lol. In the end everyone here (including you now) are here to help everyone else who is new. I promise you we all care, even if we sound snotty sometimes . I'm the snot who calls out people with stick on gauges...lol I'm nasty about it lol.hate those things!

[Queenofredlions]

Regardless if you feel you have done the necessary research or not, Craig is providing you solid advice. I would highly recommend listening to not handling your new ball python until he’s eaten 3 meals with you, despite how you THINK you are reading his behavior. Be careful not to anthropomorphisize him. It’s an easy thing to do. Why not play things safe and be patient? You’ll have plenty of time to hang with your new buddy later. No need to rush

no doubt it’s solid advise, I just don’t appreciate being accused of not doing my research like I see happen to every beginner.

[Craiga 01453]

Ah there it is. The “this noob is asking questions they clearly didn’t do any research”.

just to clarify

if I didn’t do any research before getting my snake I would have had more than 4 rather simple questions to ask. I simply couldn’t find THOSE questions that I’d been asking myself.
I was getting bedding BEFORE I got my snake, so I guess I did my research before getting the snake. 🙃🙃 (wouldn’t make much sense to get it afterward now would it?)
And yeah actually it WAS aspen bedding, I even saw the post on this forum, that’s why I asked about it. 🙃 id even post a link if I had more than a phone to work with.
And I think if my snake was that against being picked up he wouldn’t relax on me the second I sit on the couch. He’s already 2 years old and the previous owner told me he was fine to handle since he wasn’t a baby. I took his word for it. My bad if I was misinformed at the time.

I’ve done my research (I’ve already even read both those posts you linked (;<) and I can even read properly. Stop accusing beginners of not doing research. I’ve spent hours looking through this forum, and unfortunately, see people jump to conclusions because god forbid someone misses reading something and needs to ask about it. Like do you KNOW how rude it is. Have some faith. Don’t brush my hours or research to the side. Thanks.

HOURS of research...nuff said.
Not weeks, not months, hours...

[Queenofredlions]

HOURS of research...nuff said.
Not weeks, not months, hours...

At least 3 hours a day for a week. When I wasn’t at work or sleeping, I was on the internet. Sorry for not making myself clear. If I didn’t research long enough please tell me what I’m missing.

I know temps, how an enclosure should be set up and what it requires, feeding (ALREADY knew the snake was to be fed in his enclosure, just had a concern about the substrate because god forbid I worry about my snake getting sick from what I’ve seen on these forums, and the question about the mouse that my friend decided to just go ahead and buy for him) signs of an RI, how to check for an RI, anatomy, housing a second snake (not planning on), shedding and how to bathe him if he’s having problems shedding, what too hot and too cold looks like to a snake, the difference in striking and relaxed necks, how/when not to handle, why not to take your snake outside (however according to the owner he took them on motorcycle rides so I’m not sure what that brings my snake to), signs of stress, and throwing up its prey can kill it

theres more but I don’t think I need to give you every detail. I hope you get it.

My reasoning for having a “quick” research is because my coworker and I were talking about our pets. He mentioned he had 2 snakes. I said “I want a snake some day but havent budgeted for the set up”
he told me he’d give me his snake and everything with it for $100 because he’s parting with them since he’s not home with them often. My other coworker took his other snake.
He had me pick it up a week later, I did my research during and after(so I’m still currently looking at information that will help me in the future) that time period, after I had already had a general idea of what snake/reptile care included. I looked into it months ago but wasn’t persistent about it because I didn’t see myself getting one any time soon.

I researched strictly ball pythons, read tons and tons of forums on here, watched YouTube videos, googled terms im unfamiliar with. I do not plan on breeding.

If you have any secrets as to what takes months to research, please do share because clearly there’s a lot I’m unaware of.

I have a thermometer (I’m at work and can’t tell you the current temp because I’m at work)and have my enclosure with 2 hides, a water bowl, heating pads, aspen and paper bedding, I have one wall of enclosure covered because there’s nothing but floor and wall, the red heat light that I do not keep on constantly, a piece of wood for when he’s shedding, and 1 leafy thing which I’ll be getting more of. What am I missing. Because even if I had researched far before hand, I’d be comfortable and confident with a snake with my knowledge now and honestly wouldn’t expect that I needed months and months of research.

[MissterDog]

At least 3 hours a day for a week. When I wasn’t at work or sleeping, I was on the internet. Sorry for not making myself clear. If I didn’t research long enough please tell me what I’m missing.

I know temps, how an enclosure should be set up and what it requires, feeding (ALREADY knew the snake was to be fed in his enclosure, just had a concern about the substrate because god forbid I worry about my snake getting sick from what I’ve seen on these forums, and the question about the mouse that my friend decided to just go ahead and buy for him) signs of an RI, how to check for an RI, anatomy, housing a second snake (not planning on), shedding and how to bathe him if he’s having problems shedding, what too hot and too cold looks like to a snake, the difference in striking and relaxed necks, how/when not to handle, why not to take your snake outside (however according to the owner he took them on motorcycle rides so I’m not sure what that brings my snake to), signs of stress, and throwing up its prey can kill it

theres more but I don’t think I need to give you every detail. I hope you get it.

My reasoning for having a “quick” research is because my coworker and I were talking about our pets. He mentioned he had 2 snakes. I said “I want a snake some day but havent budgeted for the set up”
he told me he’d give me his snake and everything with it for $100 because he’s parting with them since he’s not home with them often. My other coworker took his other snake.
He had me pick it up a week later, I did my research during and after(so I’m still currently looking at information that will help me in the future) that time period, after I had already had a general idea of what snake/reptile care included. I looked into it months ago but wasn’t persistent about it because I didn’t see myself getting one any time soon.

I researched strictly ball pythons, read tons and tons of forums on here, watched YouTube videos, googled terms im unfamiliar with. I do not plan on breeding.

If you have any secrets as to what takes months to research, please do share because clearly there’s a lot I’m unaware of.

I have a thermometer (I’m at work and can’t tell you the current temp because I’m at work)and have my enclosure with 2 hides, a water bowl, heating pads, aspen and paper bedding, I have one wall of enclosure covered because there’s nothing but floor and wall, the red heat light that I do not keep on constantly, a piece of wood for when he’s shedding, and 1 leafy thing which I’ll be getting more of. What am I missing. Because even if I had researched far before hand, I’d be comfortable and confident with a snake with my knowledge now and honestly wouldn’t expect that I needed months and months of research.

Strange, I see no mention of a thermostat. For someone who has done so many 'hours' of dedicated research I'm surprised you overlooked the most critical piece of equipment.

[WhompingWillow]

Welcome! It's awesome that you've done so much research and are continuing to educate yourself. I am also new to snakes and have found this forum invaluable. I joined a BP group on FB and immediately unjoined because of how narrow the range of opinions were and generally how elitist everyone came across. I've been given some great advice by Craig and others during my short time here and am happy to keep learning from experienced keepers.

From what you've posted, my only questions are whether you have a thermostat(s) for your heating pad(s) and what style hides/are they identical. And sorry if you already addressed those somewhere.

[Queenofredlions]

Strange, I see no mention of a thermostat. For someone who has done so many 'hours' of dedicated research I'm surprised you overlooked the most critical piece of equipment.

seriously? The thing you aim at the enclosure and it tells me the temp? That’s the wrong thing? Cause I got that information from a forum on here.

[Kira]

seriously? The thing you aim at the enclosure and it tells me the temp? That’s the wrong thing? Cause I got that information from a forum on here.

A thermoSTAT controls the heat pads. Without a thermostat your UTH can easily overheat and burn your snake! Unplug the UTH until its connected to a thermostat. Thermostats aren't optional. Here's an affordable one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000N...mostat+reptile

ALL heat sources must be regulated!

[MissterDog]

seriously? The thing you aim at the enclosure and it tells me the temp? That’s the wrong thing? Cause I got that information from a forum on here.

I think you're confusing a thermoSTAT and a thermoMETER (or a temp gun?) Thermometers and temp guns (I assume you are referring to this when you mean aiming?) simply measure your temperatures, they do not regulate it. ThermoSTAT's control your heat sources which prevent spikes in temperatures and overheating, making sure your snake doesn't get burned.

[redshepherd]

seriously? The thing you aim at the enclosure and it tells me the temp? That’s the wrong thing? Cause I got that information from a forum on here.

Nope. Very common newbie mistake... A thermostat is what regulates the heat source, so that your snake doesn't get burned or cooked alive, depending on what heat source you got.
Something like this if you're currently on a budget:
https://www.amazon.com/MTPRTC-Contro...mostat+reptile

Or a herpstat, which is the best kind and will last you years or for most of the lifetime of the snake:
https://www.spyderrobotics.com/index...products_id=24

A temp gun is "aim at a spot and tells the temp".

A digital thermometer is what you place in the enclosure to get the ambient temp.

You need all of these things, but the thermostat is the #1 most important for the immediate safety of the animal.

Also, it really only takes following a good caresheet to get all the basics right. Just stick to this one and follow it to a T and make things easier: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...s%29-Caresheet