New to the Hobby and wanted to introduce myself <3

[MamaRhea]

Awesome! You're definitely off to a great start. And once everything is dialed in and running optimally it's easy breezy. Just daily checks on equipment and temps and you're good to go.
The only thing is you will want to get your heating equipment regulated by a thermostat asap. For the time being, you'll want to unplug the UTH heat mat.
A thermostat regulates the temperature, just like the one in a home or car. It also limits the temps the equipment can reach, eliminating any chance of burns caused by heat spikes. Heat spikes can even be fatal.
So essentially, you'll hook your UTH and lamp up to thermostats (or a single thermostat depending which brand and model you choose). This will keep your temps at a safe, stable temp, keeping your snake safe.
There are lots of options. Some people will say HerpStat or Spyder Robotics are the only way to go, they can be pricey.
I've been using JumpStart brand for years with no issues at all. You can get those for around $30.
I've included a feeding chart that is great for juvenile BPs as they grow into adulthood.
Switching to rats while they're young is definitely a good idea. Most tend to switch easier when young.
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Ok I will look into thermostats and purchase one asap, and in the mean time I will unplug the UTH. I'd rather her be a little chilly for a day or two than get cooked while I am not home.

That feeding chart is helpful! I'll have a much better idea of what she needs once my scale I ordered gets delivered so I can weigh her, but in the mean time I will buy a rat fuzzy on Saturday and see if she takes it. Fingers crossed! In your opinion is she looking skinny? I am not experienced enough to know the difference between a skinny snake and a healthy snake on sight LOL

[Craiga 01453]

Ok I will look into thermostats and purchase one asap, and in the mean time I will unplug the UTH. I'd rather her be a little chilly for a day or two than get cooked while I am not home.

That feeding chart is helpful! I'll have a much better idea of what she needs once my scale I ordered gets delivered so I can weigh her, but in the mean time I will buy a rat fuzzy on Saturday and see if she takes it. Fingers crossed! In your opinion is she looking skinny? I am not experienced enough to know the difference between a skinny snake and a healthy snake on sight LOL

Sounds good!!!

She looks a little underweight, but nothing drastic at all. She'll fill out in no time. At that age they grow pretty quickly.

[MamaRhea]

Sounds good!!!

She looks a little underweight, but nothing drastic at all. She'll fill out in no time. At that age they grow pretty quickly.

That's a relief! Thank you!

[Craiga 01453]

That's a relief! Thank you!

Very happy to help. Don't be shy, ask any questions you may have moving forward.

And keep up the good work!!

[MamaRhea]

Very happy to help. Don't be shy, ask any questions you may have moving forward.

And keep up the good work!!

Thank you again!

What do you all think of this thermostat? I can get the one "with only temperature" and then get a second temperature sensor, and have both the heat bulb and the UTH plugged into it. That way if one or the other areas gets too hot, the one causing it will turn off. I'm thinking I would put one sensor in the hide over the UTH, and one up a little higher in the corner of the tank to monitor the bulb.

https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Tempe...ets%2C204&th=1

[Bogertophis]

She looks a little underweight, but nothing drastic at all. She'll fill out in no time. At that age they grow pretty quickly.

MamaRhea, honestly I was thinking the same thing from your photos, but I'm glad that at least she's eating for you. You should know that it's typical
for snake breeders to feed hatchling or neonate snakes on the light side if they intend to sell them. Just be patient- when you raise a young snake, they don't tend
to appear to put on much weight* for quite some time, for several reasons: they grow longer at an imperceptible rate & their meals are mostly going for "maintenance"
rather than growth. Also, they're eating younger prey which are less nutrient dense than more mature ones. *So the answer for many members here is to periodically
weigh their pets for reassurance. Just be aware that any handling, including weighing, may stress out a young snake, so if yours ever starts refusing to eat, it's time
to reassess what you're doing, both in terms of housing (temps. & humidity & "security") and interaction. From where I sit, you're off to a great start.

[MamaRhea]

MamaRhea, honestly I was thinking the same thing from your photos, but I'm glad that at least she's eating for you. You should know that it's typical
for snake breeders to feed hatchling or neonate snakes on the light side if they intend to sell them. Just be patient- when you raise a young snake, they don't tend
to appear to put on much weight* for quite some time, for several reasons: they grow longer at an imperceptible rate & their meals are mostly going for "maintenance"
rather than growth. Also, they're eating younger prey which are less nutrient dense than more mature ones. *So the answer for many members here is to periodically
weigh their pets for reassurance. Just be aware that any handling, including weighing, may stress out a young snake, so if yours ever starts refusing to eat, it's time
to reassess what you're doing, both in terms of housing (temps. & humidity & "security") and interaction. From where I sit, you're off to a great start.

That is fantastic information, thank you! I'm definitely relieved that we have had zero issues with feeding so far, I know that can really be a nightmare for some people so I really feel like we dodged a bullet there. I'd love to think it's because my husbandry is perfect, but more likely she's just naturally a good eater

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