Dropping my feeder in substrate!

[indygunnerguy]

What is the ideal humidity? I have read that it should be higher when they go into shed mode, but BPs do not generally need a lot of humidity otherwise. Is that incorrect?

[reptilemom25]

What is the ideal humidity? I have read that it should be higher when they go into shed mode, but BPs do not generally need a lot of humidity otherwise. Is that incorrect?

BP's DO need humidity, not as much as a rain forest snake, but more than say, a sand boa. Opinions differ a bit on exact numbers. I tend to use 50-60% and bump to 70 for a few days when I see mine are in blue. It has worked well for me.

[Craiga 01453]

Sounds like you may have jumped the gun a bit and brought your BP home before you were prepared.

Here's a link to get you started

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ius)-Caresheet

[Craiga 01453]

Yes, you NEED a thermostat. ALL HEAT SOURCES SHOULD BE REGULATED BY A THERMOSTAT.

Yes, you need a temp gun
Yes, you need feeding tongs
Yes you need a hygrometer
Yes those dial style analog thermometers and hygrometers are unfortunately junk.
Yes you need a scale.

Time to do some homework. Ask questions, we're happy to help.

Also, this chart should help with prey size

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[Zincubus]

Ok, a few things: first, welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping!!

1) assuming you're talking mice fuzzies, they're WAY too small for a BP. BPs eat hoppers right out of the egg for their first few meals, typically only 3-5 meals and quickly move up to small adult mice.

2) are you using feeding tongs? If not, you should be. You'll find an appropriately sized prey item will be easier to hold as well, not much to grab into with fuzzies.

3) I keep a tub of hot water with me while feeding. If the prey item gets too cool I simply dip it in again til it's warm enough.

4) ARE YOU SURE the prey is warm enough when you're offering? The prey item should be around 100°. If you're unsure if you're getting it warm enough use your temp gun to check.

5) don't offer on back to back days. That will just stress the snake and lead to more refusals.
Wait at least 5 days between offerings.

6) you CAN leave the prey item. But I would iffer from tongs first. If the snake doesn't strike, reward the prey, set it and walk away. Some BPs really require privacy when they eat.

7) DEFINITELY don't use a seperate feeding tub. Feeding tubs are old school and proven counter productive over time.
Feeding tubs increase the chance of refusals, increase the chance of regurgitation and increase your chances of being bitten.

So, now that I've tackled what was in your thread, please tell us more about your setup. The more you tell us the better we can help.
There are two major reasons a new snake will refuse food. 1) husbandry and 2) stress.

Starting with husbandry...
- what size and type enclosure?
- how are you heating the enclosure?
- are all heat sources REGULATED BY A THERMOSTAT?
- what are your temps? How and where are you measuring the temps?
- are properly sized hides offered? How many?

Now on to stress...
- are you handling the snake at all? Handling (especially new snakes) stresses the snake. Stress = refusals.
- is the enclosure in a quiet area in the house?


Answering these questions will help us help you, and of course, your new snake

Simply put some paper / card down over the substrate and feed over the card ... also try heating with a hairdryer a split second before offering to the snake .. feed at night and in low /dim light ..


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[55fingers]

I thaw my rats in a Ziploc bag in water and then hairdry to dry and warm it up. It's not as wet and gets less substrate stick to it if you do that.

[indygunnerguy]

I bought a digital thermometer, and it says that I am pretty much right at 80. I am going to purchase a thermostat online as my local place did not have one. My heating pad is plugged in all the time so if it is only at 80 do I need another heating pad?

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[mikemooch]

I bought a digital thermometer, and it says that I am pretty much right at 80. I am going to purchase a thermostat online as my local place did not have one. My heating pad is plugged in all the time so if it is only at 80 do I need another heating pad?

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Absolutely. I’m assuming the thermometer is measuring the ambient temp? The glass directly above your UTH can be in excess of 150 degrees. If the snake burrows he will get burned.


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[indygunnerguy]

Absolutely. I’m assuming the thermometer is measuring the ambient temp? The glass directly above your UTH can be in excess of 150 degrees. If the snake burrows he will get burned.


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Yes the probe is suction cupped to the glass just above the substrate, so I assume it's measuring ambient temperature. I definitely don't want him to get burned. Now I'm scared that he will before my thermostat comes! There is so much to learn! No amount of reading could have ever prepared me for this lol.

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[Bogertophis]

... There is so much to learn! No amount of reading could have ever prepared me for this lol. ...

Don't panic...very soon this will ALL become second nature... You've already gotten lots of great tips which I won't repeat.
Thanks for giving me the giggles imagining you trying to feed your snake with chopsticks... It totally explains all the "dropping", & trust me, this all gets easier.