newby needs advice

[COLDBLOODED262]

ok the wate bowl sounds fine depending in the size of him but from you description it seems fine and for the humidity i have a 60 gallon glass tank and glass is verry dificulto to keep proper humidity and temp so what i do is cover the hot side of the screen top with foil and cut a hole in it for the light and just cover the cool side with a dry t shirt or thin sheet for ventilation and mist the all the plants and substrait in the mornig so the foil keeps the heat in and the shirt traps the hmidity.
also i would not recomend using a wet towel cuz it can transfer bacteria into the air of you snakes enclosure.

[sweety314]

You can use a UTH and newspaper, as long as you use a digital themometer, and reliable THERMOSTAT to control the heat...your snake should be just fine. The reptile carpet is nice *that's what I started out with* but you'll find that it can get pretty grungy and it will trap bacteria in it...you can never REALLY get it clean and sanitary enough.

2 identical hides so he doesn't have to choose btwn security and thermoregulation. Using the AcuRite is a fantastic step in the right direction.

Yeah...if it's too cold, he won't eat. They have to have 82-84* on the cool end and 92-94* as a hot spot. (<80* and you're pushing the chance of his getting an upper respiratory infection, too. ) Too cold, and they know the food would just rot in the gut...so they don't eat. That was Baby's problem when I first got her. (My roommate looooooooved the AC, no matter what the weather and house temp was. )

Covering the screen w/plexiglass or tinfoil, or (something)---I've got GLAD Press 'N Seal on a couple, tinfoil taped down on one, and plexiglass over another---except for just a couple quarter sized spots on opposite sides, for ventilation---will REALLY help you boost your humidity. Heat lamps are notorious for drying out the air. With Flurry's, the lid's covered, except for where the small heat lamp sits on top. The UTH was the cool end (the bedroom was cold, and the heatlamp gave a 93* hot spot. But Flurry was on aspen, and I kept a bowl of water on the UTH and would occas. mist the bedding if the humidity was too low.

Now, all my snakes, but one, are in the 84* bedroom closed off, and the UTHs are the hot spots.

[mambo_chris]

From what i gather...a petstore is not the best place to buy your snake....there is a difference between captive born and captive bred. And a breeder wont sell you a non eating snake...i understand yours was eating fine but a breeder is the best way to go

[JoshJP7]

Heres what I do for pretty much all my set ups... 2 zilla hides(3$ a piece), water bowl from target (3$), lil climbing thing from pet depot or whatever (15$), flexwatt or some kind of heat pad (flex is like 6$ some of the others are up to 40$), thermostat(35-300$), 2-in-1 hygrometer/thermometer (13$ walmart), and a rubbermaid tub (66qt for babies and 96qt for young adults-adults 15$)... so for like 100-125$ you could be ready to rock... below is a picture of what my babies get... the girl in this pic is like 250g or so... mid summer 07

[Phin]

Elvis ate today!!! and I'm very happy.

Yesterday I went to the hardware store and bought the stuff to build a rheostat. Played with it all day and found the spot where it was at 87 and 82. this way I can change it from night to day temps. I know it's not the best idea but it will work until I can buy a thermostat. Also My humidity has leveled out at about 60%.

I'm guessing the new temps and humidity change has made him happy.

From what i gather...a petstore is not the best place to buy your snake....there is a difference between captive born and captive bred. And a breeder wont sell you a non eating snake...i understand yours was eating fine but a breeder is the best way to go

After much research on the subject I have to agree totally and my next snake will be bought from a breeder.

[JoshJP7]

just so you know BPs dont need night/day temps... As long as theres a warm side and cool side they will thermoregulate themselves. Glad to hear he ate for ya.

[colemaj]

Hey, I was in your position a couple weeks ago(no dead snakes, luckily) but below is what I did on a budget to make it work.

I hooked up a UTH on the warm side and found the sweat spot for an overhead CHE(or blacklight bulb if the money isn't there for a CHE) To keep the humidity up I used aluminum foil tape on both sides of the screen except where the heater was. Spagnhum moss is also a cheap alternative and helps hold water a little better. To keep the temp regulated make srue you have a thermometer on the other side of the glass from the UTH. I would notice taht air temps would seem fine but the UTH was running over 100. If the UTH is on a dimmer/rheostat just make sure to keep it in a lower range. Dual hides is a fantastic thing to have as well. My snake is rare and will eat regardless of the conditions. Before I found the site I had it too cold and one hide, she still ate like a champ. Also Keep a close eye on your snake while it adjusts for signs of Respiratory infection, Mites, etc. If it starts weezing or has any thing bizarre in it's nostril's mouth take it to a vet asap. It should be fine, but with any new snake it's a good idea to keep an eye out. Also, I learned quickly that even the dumbest questions get no flaming. This is the only forum I've ever found that is devoid of flaming towards new people.

Second, and I'll probably be corrected on this... but My snake won't eat from tongs, or anyone else's hand but if I dangle the prey by the tail she goes for it. If you're not too worried about getting tagged, you can try it out.

Best of luck, I know a lot of this was redundant but I just thought I'd lend the advice I found that worked.

And oh yeah, once you get one BP be prepared to want another. And another... and another... Lol