Habitat/Food Advice

[CBP]

Hello!

My kid excitedly got a baby Ball Python and a habitat in January this year.

The snake has grown quite a bit since then and is eating well and shedding, so I'm not overly concerned about it, but the kid was away for a few weeks and while caring for the snake I noticed that it hangs out on the opposite side of the tank from the lights and the hide.

I have a few photos for your review:
https://imgur.com/a/zL85A0d

Three questions:

1) Is the habitat large enough for the now larger snake?
2) Is the lighting setup (white light on a daytime timer and IR light on all the time) a bit too much (there's also a heat pad under the water bowl side)?
3) We've been feeding a Medium Mouse from Arctic Mice once a week, should we go larger?

Thanks for your time and attention!

[wnateg]

What's the wattage of the IR bulb? It's probably too hot. You can use an infrared heat gun to measure though:

https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Lase...dp/B00837ZGRY/

Edit: Also, I just saw the uth was on the water side. That's probably why he's over there. But my concern would be that if the side with the ir bulb is too hot, you don't have a temperature gradient for him to thermoregulate.

Plus, there should really be two hides, one cool and one hot.

[Luvyna]

Agreed that it looks like it might be too hot. What are the temperatures in the tank? There should be one warm end in the range of 88-92F and a cool end with temps from 77-80F. Are all lights/heat sources regulated by thermostats? BPs also don't like bright light and want a dark place to hide, so this snake would benefit from two hides, one on the side with the lamps and one on the other side.

As long as the snake can stretch out fully in the enclosure, it's a good size. It's hard to say for sure looking at the photo of the BP coiled up, but I think your enclosure size looks fine for that BP.

Nice banana morph BP by the way and welcome to the forum!

[CBP]

What's the wattage

I just checked and the white light looks to be 100w and the IR 75w.

I'm planning on getting two thermometers for the tank soon so we can better dial things in.

[sur3fir3]

You need a few things.

1. Thermostat for all heat sources
2. Digital Thermometer and Hygrometer
3. IR Temperature gun
4. 2 Hides
5. CHE

First is a thermostat for heat sources. you need one tstat for each source (These are in order from most important to least important.)
2nd is a digital thermometer and Hygrometer (humidity gauge)
3rd is a gun to measure temp
4th is a second Hide.
5th Replace the light bulbs with a CHE. Since the BP doesn't need a light source more than a regular bulb I don't think you need the light bulbs. a CHE is better because it generates heat with no light.

Now for cage size, that is an appropriate size. Now for feeding the Mouse should be 10-15 % of the weight of the BP. Also if you have access I would try to switch him to Rats when you can.

Please make note that you need to have the thermometer and tstat BEFORE you bring the snake home. Just make note of that for the future.

[PitOnTheProwl]

What are the surface temperatures?
How are you regulating your heat sources?
You are better off with a temperature gun.

[Craiga 01453]

Hello, welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping.

Based on the description and pics there are a few things to point out...

1) I don't see any mention of thermostats?? VERY IMPORTANT - ALL HEAT SOURCES MUST BE REGULATED BY A THERMOSTAT.

PLEASE unplug your heating equipment until you get them regulated by thermostats.
Those heat mats can spike to temps over 120° which can cause serious burns or even be fatal for the animal. Unregulated heat lamps can also spike enough to "cook" a snake.

2) I don't see any thermometers or hygrometers?? How can you monitor temps and humidity without?

3) Where are the hides? There should be at least two so the animal can hide and thermoregulate without choosing temps over security or vice versa.

4) Aspen substrate doesn't hold humidity well at all. You may want to switch substrates. But until you know your humidity you won't know if a better substrate is needed.

5) Your snake is curled up in a corner on the opposite side of the lamps cause it's way too hot over there. There's no way you need two bulbs on such a small enclosure.

[sur3fir3]

You need a few things.

1. Thermostat for all heat sources
2. Digital Thermometer and Hygrometer
3. IR Temperature gun
4. 2 Hides
5. CHE

First is a thermostat for heat sources. you need one tstat for each source (These are in order from most important to least important.)
2nd is a digital thermometer and Hygrometer (humidity gauge)
3rd is a gun to measure temp
4th is a second Hide.
5th Replace the light bulbs with a CHE. Since the BP doesn't need a light source more than a regular bulb I don't think you need the light bulbs. a CHE is better because it generates heat with no light.

Now for cage size, that is an appropriate size. Now for feeding the Mouse should be 10-15 % of the weight of the BP. Also if you have access I would try to switch him to Rats when you can.

Please make note that you need to have the thermometer and tstat BEFORE you bring the snake home. Just make note of that for the future.

I did not notice that you had no hides. Get a hide asap. you can make it out of a plastic bowl or bottom of a flower pot.

[Valyndris]

Looks like everyone above covered everything but I'd like to emphasize that the ball python definitely needs a hide on each side as that is what ball pythons like to do is hide in a cozy little hide perfect for their size. One on a cool side of around 80 degrees and one on a warm side of around 90 degrees.