First timer here. Need to stop freaking out.

[geneticdelight]

Hey there folks.

So, here's the deal. I got what I believe is everything I need to pick up my first BP tomorrow. I've done a TON of research..almost too much, I think. My brain is a bit fried, and I've been getting a lot of mixed answers on my research. I haven't picked her up yet (getting a female) and want to make sure I'm doing everything the best I possibly can for her. So, I'll start off with this...

I bought a 20 gal terrarium tank with a zoo med ReptiTemp UTH, Aspen Substrate, 2 different hide spots, a water dish, 2 separate thermometers, a hygrometer, a clamp lamp with a dimmer, and two exoterra lamps - one for the daytime (60W) and one for night (50W).

First off, does anyone have good experience with the UTH I have? What mode do you keep it in, typically, for a temp right around 90? I've been keeping mine right smack dab in the middle since I plugged it in a few hours ago. Right now the temp is at about 92 on the hot side and 80 on the cool side. From what I've read, that's about normal. Hope it stays that way.

Second..about the lamps. I've read on different sites that a basking lamp is needed, and then I come here and on the caresheet it says no supplemental lighting is needed. What gives? What do you suggest? I've got the set up for a basking lamp if I need it. If not, I can take it back to the petstore and get a few bucks back into my wallet.

Third..about humidity. So far, I haven't tried anything to keep the humidity up besides keeping a sheet of plexiglass over the water part of the cage. It's at 49 percent humidity right now. What do you folks do to raise the humidity a bit? I wish I would have gone with coco bark as a substrate now, but the aspen will have to do for now. I do have spray bottles and can mist the side of the tank a couple times a day..whatever makes it the easiest on the snake.

Lastly..feeding. I've read in multiple places that you should feed yr BP in a separate container, especially with aspen substrate, so they don't ingest it. I've also read that feeding in a separate container will get the BP more used to handling. What do you suggest?


Sorry, I know these are all incredibly n00b questions. I just want to make sure I have everything right BEFORE I bring my snake home. I'd hate for her to be unhealthy at all. Thanks for yr help!

[llovelace]

1. You heat mat should be on a thermostat to prevent any burns.

2. BP's do not need basking lamps, some people use them to help raise the ambient temps, but they zap the humidity.

3. To increase the humidity, cover 3/4 of the lid with either the plexi or foil it over & tape it off.

4. You do not need to feed in a separate container, if they ingest a small amount of aspen it will not hurt them.

Read through the husbandry section in the forums, you will find a lot of helpful info.

[Skittles1101]

Hi there and welcome! I have pretty much the same exact setup for my one and only tank. Here are a few pointers.
Do you have a dimmer for the heat pad? (not the lamp...)
I use the Zoomed heat pad for 10-20 gallon tanks...and the temps on the bottom of the glass have exceeded 130* which WILL burn your snake. My suggestion is to buy a plug in lamp dimmer from Home Depot for about $10.00. With that same heat mat, the dimmer is set to less than halfway, that is how hot they get. I have seen some really horrific burns from a heat pad, and I'd hate for you to go through all this and then feel horrible when your snake gets a severe burn...The dimmer is a necessity if you do not have a thermostat, which the cheapest one you should consider is either a Johnson or a Ranco, for around $50.00. So if you monitor your temps daily, the dimmer will work just fine...which leads me to this next thing.

I live by a temp gun. Some people will say a thermometer will be sufficient, but you NEED something to monitor that heat pad, and the digital thermometers just don't do it. They are great for ambient temps, but not so much for the actual hot spot located right above the heat pad. I bought mine at tempguns.com because they are having a sale on one of their best models for $35.00, but Home Depot does carry temp guns, and other various online stores carry them. Try not to save for accuracy. Mine is <=2* which means it is accurate within 2* or less.

As far as the lighting, there has been NO research saying that ball pythons need UV light. I have looked and sought it out, and I can't find it. (I know people hate when we say this...) but in the wild, they live in Africa and are nocturnal. They burrow during the day and don't see the light anyways. I have seen many ball pythons thrive without it, and honestly the UV "day" light you have will only suck the humidity out of your tank. For ambient temps, I keep my black "night" light on 24 hours a day. I shut it off as needed, such as if it's a warm day and the temps in my house go above 75*, or the light comes through the window, etc. The night light is more than enough to keep ambient temps, and I found the day light was making it too hot.

Humidity will be a huge problem in a glass tank. I use the aspen bedding and it does nothing to help. I keep a mist spray bottle next to my tank, and spray about 3 times a day. Just yesterday I made him a humid hide made from a $3.00 tupperware container, cut a hole in the side, put some bedding on the bottom (the lid stays on) and soaked some coconut bark in hot water and put it along the back and sides. He checked it out last night, I'm curious to see if he uses it, but that's a good way to not worry so much about the humidity in the tank if she has a humid hide.

Thousands of people feed in the same container. I do not. I keep a separate feeding container and feed him in there. It's funny because he knows as soon as he gets put in it, he's going to eat, he starts "S"ing up, and all I have to do is dangle the f/t rat for 3 seconds and BAM it's gone. People disagree, but it keeps my mind at peace knowing that he won't take my hand off one day when he's hungry lol.

Another thing I suggest is to get (at Home Depot) black adhesive Con-tact paper and cover the sides and back of the tank. I saw a huge difference in my snake once I did that, it makes them feel secure even outside the hide.

Here is my setup. The only changes are I removed the smaller water dish and put in his humid hide instead. But other than that, this is what my Julius lives in. If you have any other questions feel free to ask

[Skittles1101]

Just to add on I wanted to share this thread I started, it just stresses the NEED for a dimmer or thermostat for your heat pad...

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-me...(graphic)

[shelliebear]

Welcome to BP.net!
I use newspaper as substrate for my BPs now, and feed them in their tanks. It's much easier for me than having to pick them up and move them, especially right after they've eaten. Typically all I do is take some tongs, dangle the rat/mouse in front of their hide, and they'll hit it.
UTH needs to be on a thermostat. ReptiTemp 500r I think it's called is what I use. Since you only have one snake, I'm thinking that or something similar would be your best bet, something meant for just one snake.
Humidity--did you buy one of the round hygrometers and thermometers that stick to the wall of the tank? Those are no good. You should buy one with a probe. Some stores have combo hygrometers/thermometers for around 25$, and it has a probe you can use. It's much more accurate.
To get humidity up, you have a couple of options. A lot of it depends no where you live and how the normal humidity is.
Where I live, the humidity is almost nothing, so I use the screen top duct tape treatment posted as a sticky here in the forum. You could also supplement saran wrap instead of duct tape.
That still doesn't get the humidity up for me, but helps keep in what I put in the tank. I spray with a water bottle 3 times a day, and also make a hide box of sphagnum moss. You need a tupperware container, and you need to put a hole in the top for the snake to get in. Put in the dampened moss, and the snake can use it as needed.
It soundsl ike you've done some good research. Good on you.

[mommanessy247]

geneticdelight-

welcome to the addiction, lol.

everyone's pretty much got all your questions covered but i wanted to add a couple things.

1) i could be wrong here but the only things called "zoo med repti-temp" are the thermostats & the rheostats...i am using the thermostat BUT because it only has a dial and no #'s or digital display, it has to be constantly adjusted when the temps change.
just like Lgray23 here, i also live by my temp gun. i use it to monitor the surface temps that my snake sits on. she likes to move all the bark away underneath her warm side hide box so she can sit on the bare surface over the heat pad so i monitor the temperature of THAT spot so i know if it is too hot or cool and then just make the necessary adjustments as needed on the thermostat.

2) what are you using to monitor your humidity? i didnt see anything mentioned other then the 49% you were getting. everyone here (everyone i've noticed anyways) swears by the accu-rite digital thermometer/hygrometer. there are several different models so you'll need to get one that at least shows the humidity as a %.
here's the one i have...



this one shows the time on top, temp in the middle & the humidity at the bottom.
(#'s on there are not mine. they're just examples of what they look like when being displayed)
to maintain my humidity levels i use a wet hand towel over the screen top of my terrarium. (i get the towel soaked but not dripping)
i cover 2/3 - 3/4 of the screen (whichever helps keep the humidity up at the time). i also spray the bark until it is fairly moist. i actually spray it all then mix it up and spray again so it is evenly moist throughout, not just on the top layer.
i also have 2 water dishescuz from what ive noticed 2 water sources helps better with humidity then just 1.
while staying on the humidity topic but moving on to the issue with substrate,
i have used newspaper (which although it cannot be moistened at all it is the easiest to keep clean).
i have also used cypress mulch from lowes/homedepot (until i found out that it also had cedar in it), which unfortunately if your going to those places, ALL the cypress mulch will have cedar in it & everything else has some kind of dye to make it available in more attractive colors - red, brown, black...
so, now i am using exo terra forest bark& i have to say i'm much more pleased with how it maintains the humidity better then everything else ive tried.
the only problems i have with it are 1) it is dark so it makes it more difficult to see the snake's poo (not good since i'm always going in with my hands to adjust things or mix up the bark when spraying). & 2) when it is handled too roughly, you'll get little splinters but these are easily avoided by just being more careful.
and lastly,
i feed my girl in her terrarium & although i have gotten what i like to call the (stink-eye) for going in when my girl didnt want me there, i've yet to get tagged [knocks on wood].
i just keep an eye on her behavior at all times when i'm in there and if her behavior is threatening enough i just touch her head & she backs off.

well, that's all i've got right now.
good luck with your snake.