Critique my Set Up? (pic included)

[Kaya.Alexander]

Hello,

I'm new to these forums, and to being a ball python owner. I've owned many other reptiles but this is my first BP - she's a black pastel lesser.

She's 9-10 months old (750 g and almost 2 feet) and she's in a 40 gal breeder. I know you're all going to say an aquarium was a bad choice and that I should put her in a tub but this is what I have to work with. I'm a little stressed about her set up and concerned that it's going to affect her health/happiness. I'd like more experienced owners to critique my set up and tell me how I can improve (except for recommending I move her to a tub as that is not an option).

She has two identical hides on each side of the tank, with an UTH under one of them. I have a digital temp probe in each hide, as well as an Acurite thermometer/hydrometer in the middle of the cage to monitor ambient temp. The UTH is hooked up to a thermostat, and the thermostat probe is also in her warm hide (on top of the UTH). I have the thermostat set to 93*, but the other temp probe always reads about 3 degrees cooler so I'm never sure which one to trust? One will usually say 88-90* and the other at 92-94*.

I have clear plastic wrap on top of the entire screen lid, except for where her 100 watt CHE is resting above the warm hide. There's also a 12 watt LED light shining above the tank on a 12 on/12 off cycle, but it doesn't put off any heat. The plastic was an attempt at keeping the humidity and ambient temps up and it seems to work for the most part. She's on a combo of forest floor cypress mulch and eco earth coco bedding, with damp sphagnum lying sprinkled in the tank to aid with humidity. I had to add the CHE as the tank was pretty cold with just the UTH. It has seemed to help, but the ambient temp in the middle of the tank is 78* and inside her cool hide is 68* which is obviously way too cold.

Any tips on how to fix this? I thought about getting a 150 watt CHE instead - but right now the surface temperature (used my temp gun) directly below the CHE, on top of her warm hide, is 95*... so getting a stronger one would make a surface temp that could burn the snake! Should I use a heat bulb instead or would it even make a difference? I have no idea what to do! Luckily, she's just been in her warm hide since I got her so she's staying warm enough for now.

For reference:

Humidity fluctuates between 55-65% depending on if I misted or not

cold side is 75* ambient temp with inside cool hide being 66-68*

middle ambient is 78-80*

warm side is 88-92* ambient with inside warm hide being 88-94*

Also, I have another question if you feel so inclined:

She has been eating live food her whole life, but I would like to switch her to frozen/thaw. She's currently eating a large mouse once a week. Is it possible she would take to a f/t at her first feeding? I only got her a week ago. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

[tttaylorrr]

welcome to the forum! you're off to a great start, but made one major mistake:

The UTH is hooked up to a thermostat, and the thermostat probe is also in her warm hide (on top of the UTH).

big, dangerous no-no!!! your snake can push the probe around, pee on it, poop on it, or water can get to it and create a false reading which can cause your UTH to rise to dangerous temperatures.

this is how the UTH + 'stat + probe should be set up:



regarding your feeding question: i'll allow someone else more experienced to help you there.

EDIT:

Any tips on how to fix this?

move the CHE over to the cool side?

EDIT 2: also, i'd get another one of those leaf vines to put in the enclosure to give it a more cozy and secure feel; it looks very open atm.

[Kaya.Alexander]

Thank you!! I didn't realize that about the thermostat - what temp should I set it to since it will lose some heat after traveling through the glass and substrate? Also, its a very snug fit between the table and the tank so the probe will be snug too, does that pose a problem? I've heard there should be some air flow down there but there really isn't any (the inner grooves of the tank fit into the top of the table perfectly).

I forgot to mention in the post but I have lots more branches and plants on the way to make it more secure - so no worries there

[tttaylorrr]

Thank you!! I didn't realize that about the thermostat - what temp should I set it to since it will lose some heat after traveling through the glass and substrate? Also, its a very snug fit between the table and the tank so the probe will be snug too, does that pose a problem? I've heard there should be some air flow down there but there really isn't any (the inner grooves of the tank fit into the top of the table perfectly).

you'll need to play scientist and run some tests to see what temp the thermostat needs to be at for a proper hot spot, and be sure to measure the temperature BELOW the substrate, NOT on top of the substrate.

usually you raise the thermostat no more than a few degrees higher than 88-89° F.

as for raising the enclosure, you can get some styrofoam or craft foam blocks to use as risers to get some air flow. when i used glass tanks, i used styrofoam blocks, and i cut a groove for the thermostat probe into the block under the warm side so that the thermostat probe could lay flat against the UTH (hope this makes sense).

[Kaya.Alexander]

Ok, just moved the probe to underneath the tank and will adjust accordingly with the temperature.

What did you think of the temps in the viv? Any ideas for increasing the ambient temperature?

Thanks

[tttaylorrr]

Ok, just moved the probe to underneath the tank and will adjust accordingly with the temperature.

What did you think of the temps in the viv? Any ideas for increasing the ambient temperature?

Thanks

keep us updated on how it goes.

i mentioned this in EDIT 2 of my first post: move the CHE over to the cool side. that's how i set up my glass enclosure when i still used them.

[Kaya.Alexander]

Ok, even though it will cool down the warm side ambient to probs about 75-80? Sorry for all the q's

[tttaylorrr]

Ok, even though it will cool down the warm side ambient to probs about 75-80? Sorry for all the q's

no need for sorries, ask all the questions you need; we're here to help!

and yes, as that's far more acceptable than the temps you have now going below 75° F. experiment with its placement a bit until you're happy with your readings.

[Kaya.Alexander]

Now that the thermostat probe is under the tank...

I had the t-stat set lower earlier today (like 92*) but that caused the inner temp to be super low, so I bumped it up to 96* on the t-stat, then came back after about 5 hours and it's 84 degrees in her warm hide according to the digital thermometer and my temp gun. Do I raise the t-stat more? There's about a half inch of bedding, and one thin paper towel under that so she isn't in direct contact with the glass. I did, however, put the thermometer probe on top of the paper towel and under the bedding.

I don't know what to do

[Zincubus]

I've just scanned all the posts and it's clear you are on the right tracks ... I'm sure it will soon be a perfect set up .

Good to hear that you have branches and more plants coming !

My question is regarding all those temps you've listed .. just wondering what type of thermometer you're using for the all
Important SURFACE temp readings ?

Oh and put some card or black paper on the back and side panels just to give some security.

Also I'm wondering if you need such a huge water dish ?

It's a Royal and they rarely ( if ever lol ) soak through choice so I'd replace it for much smaller one and it will give more surface space to use .

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