New to all things Reptile

[Whiskey333]

Hello to all my new Ball Python friends. I am very very new to all of this and would appreciate all advise so i can do this right. Here is what i got for my set up at the moment. i went out and bought a ZILLA Deluxe snake kit. 30"L x 12"W x 12"H, 2 lamps with day blue bulb and a night black heat bulb. Humidity and temp gauge, tropical mist spray, bark blend reptile bedding, with the hide and water bowl.I also picked up an Under the tank heater. I traded those out for something bigger (hide & water bowl) because they just seemed to small for him. I've looked around on the threads for some info and think i may have gone to big on the hide and water, as seeing they need 2 hides. My current set up in the tank is night light, hide and he under tank heater on the left side of my tank and day light and water dish on the right. If theres anymore/less that i need it would be very helpful. And thanks again for the helpin hand

[Daybreaker]

I'd ditch the sticky analog thermometer/humidity meter and get a digital one like an Accurite. I find the sticky ones were very inaccurate in measuring temps.

Also you NEED a thermostat for your UTH as it can get way too hot: hot enough to cause serious burns to your snake. I use the VE-200, but since you only have one snake I know a lot of people recommend the Hydrofarm thermostat on Amazon (roughly $30). I'd get a lamp dimmer in the meantime so it doesn't overheat or simply unplug it if your temps are staying right.

[PorcelainxDoll]

Make sure you have a thermostat to regulate your uth. They can get very hot and burn your snake. Look up hydrofarm thermostats on amazon they are very affordable about 30$.. Thermostats are not optional when it comes to an uth.

Also 2 hides at least is recommended one on the hot side one on the cool.

If your temp guages are analog obes make sure you get a digital one with probes that measures indoor outdoor temps and humidity, you can find accurite ones at walmart for 12$

Also bps dont need any special ligjlhting. They do very well with kust our normal night and day hours. If you have a xold room you can use a lamp to raise.the ambient temps. I recommemd a blue or red one.

Make sure your hot side is 88-90
Cold side 81-83
Ambient 84ish
Humidity 50-60

Welcome to the site and welcome to the addiction


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[Capray]

Welcome! Generally it is suggested that you use digital thermometers and hydrometers, such as Accurite and Fluker's etcetera, because they are more accurite. Make sure the tank heating pad is on a thermostat (hydrofarm, herpstat) or at least a light dimmer (found at hardware store)... if you use a light dimmer, spend a couple of days using it and monitoring the temps with the thermometer. The lights are only necessary if you cannot maintain consistent temps with the heating pad, so whatever works for you.. I have to use a heat lamp only at night and when there is cold weather. Thank you for doing your research!

[Whiskey333]

Thank you all for your input on this ill get on it right away. Question though how big/small a hide do i need and or recommend im just guessing but he/she is about 18" long? And yes it does it cold here i am in the Chicago area, so i figured why not gettin the UTH. And thanks again. oh and one more thing how would i be able to keep the Humidity at said percentage while away at work. it was low from what ive read like 40% ish but got home from work and it was like at 25%.

[PorcelainxDoll]

I would find something small enough that he xan squeeze into and he can feel it touch him on all sides. I use cereal bowls in my tub. You can use flower pots, bowls, ect.

In my big boy tank i use exo terra hide they come in all sizes.

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[RestlessRobie]

Welcome to the Forum nice to meet you I would recomend taking a good look at the caresheet lots of great info in there. Glad you found the forum lots of great people with tons of great info here As for hides too small is a good thing Balls love to hide and actually prefer tight fitting hides. I used cut plastic flower pots until the get to be over 500G they seem to grow quickly and replacing hides can get expensive if they hit a growth spurt. Also if you are using and aquarium I would black out 3 sides to help your new friend feel more secure here is a pic of my hatchling set up I used.




Feel free to askif have any questions lots of answers around this forum

[AK907]

Placing a water bowl over his UTH can also help raise humidity. If your tank has a screen top, you can cover a portion of it with aluminum foil and that will help trap humidity. With this you should be just fine with the occasional misting of his tank with a spray bottle.

[darthkevin]

When I go to work I take a towel and I heat it up as hot as my tap water will go. I leave an inch or so space in the mesh on the cool side then I cover to nearly the large dome I have with my light. I have a 20 gal Long and it seems to do the trick it also will keep your heat up on the cool side if you have issues with that like I do. I went to Wal Mart and bought 4 plastic bowls for 2 bucks and I cut a hole in them then I smoothed them out with a sander dremmel tip. Tiberius love them. He also recently started taking up burrowing and climbing. He burrows under the flat water dish I got him but before too long I am going to have to stop that because he is starting to tip it so the water comes out and gets the cypress all wet.

It sounds like the pet store got you with the 2 lamps because BPs are nocturnal and don't need 2. I only use a backlight with Tiberius and am actually considering a ceramic heat source instead. Always go digital with thermometers as they mostly come with a probe so you can get a better reading and are generally more accurate. Get a thermostat for the UTH and then you should be set.

Make maure his hides are IDENTICAL because if he feels more secure in one over the other he won't thermo regulate. You can also buy some plastic plants from a arts and craft store for cheap and attach them to the cage to be more visually appealing and will provide more security. I used cardboard to cover the three sides of my tank and although ugly it is effective.

Best wishes to you and your new addiction and welcome to the site!

- - - Updated - - -

When I go to work I take a towel and I heat it up as hot as my tap water will go. I leave an inch or so space in the mesh on the cool side then I cover to nearly the large dome I have with my light. I have a 20 gal Long and it seems to do the trick it also will keep your heat up on the cool side if you have issues with that like I do. I went to Wal Mart and bought 4 plastic bowls for 2 bucks and I cut a hole in them then I smoothed them out with a sander dremmel tip. Tiberius love them. He also recently started taking up burrowing and climbing. He burrows under the flat water dish I got him but before too long I am going to have to stop that because he is starting to tip it so the water comes out and gets the cypress all wet.

It sounds like the pet store got you with the 2 lamps because BPs are nocturnal and don't need 2. I only use a backlight with Tiberius and am actually considering a ceramic heat source instead. Always go digital with thermometers as they mostly come with a probe so you can get a better reading and are generally more accurate. Get a thermostat for the UTH and then you should be set.

Make maure his hides are IDENTICAL because if he feels more secure in one over the other he won't thermo regulate. You can also buy some plastic plants from a arts and craft store for cheap and attach them to the cage to be more visually appealing and will provide more security. I used cardboard to cover the three sides of my tank and although ugly it is effective.

Best wishes to you and your new addiction and welcome to the site!

[Whiskey333]

can i just place the moist towel on top of the screen will that work? and im just havin issues with keepin the temp constant on both sides. i dont know what im doin right/wrong. are both bulbs supposed to be on either ends of the tank or side by side.i have them on either end. the day light hardly breaks 86 on its own. and i have it that runnin on a timer of like 8am till 8pm for the day/night cycle and the cooler side which i thnk it should be is hotter. its currently sayin 90-92 but also in mind i have the night light runnin all day with a UTH on. and i know i need to keep me a thermosta for it but funds are very limited atm.i also went and got me 2 temp gauges (digital) and just to be sure where is the best place to put it just hnagin or underneath