New mommie

[BambiValentine]

I have had my baby Calyspso for about three weeks . I am getting a lost in all of the information . Use this bedding , don't use this . Don't use paper you can you newspaper . It should be this hot and this humid . Well I really would like opinions now . From people who have snakes .
What is the best bedding ? Currently he is on news paper . My breeder said to use it because he was young . Just made a foot .
How do I raise the humidity ? Should it be this temp year round ?
Is there places for hides and water bowls that are best ? Like having a hide on the warm side and water on the cool side ?
Should he have branches in there ? He does btw .

Basically I want to be able to talk back and forth with some one . Petstores and such don't seem to know much .
Thank you ahead of time . I realllly love Calypso and I just want him to have the best .

[West Coast Jungle]

Here is a great link http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=30763

also check out the stickies in the husbandry forums

[frankykeno]

I have had my baby Calyspso for about three weeks . I am getting a lost in all of the information . Use this bedding , don't use this . Don't use paper you can you newspaper . It should be this hot and this humid . Well I really would like opinions now . From people who have snakes .
What is the best bedding ? Currently he is on news paper . My breeder said to use it because he was young . Just made a foot .
How do I raise the humidity ? Should it be this temp year round ?
Is there places for hides and water bowls that are best ? Like having a hide on the warm side and water on the cool side ?
Should he have branches in there ? He does btw .

Basically I want to be able to talk back and forth with some one . Petstores and such don't seem to know much .
Thank you ahead of time . I realllly love Calypso and I just want him to have the best .

Welcome to the world of being a ball python parent LOL. It's really not as complicated as it all sounds. First look through our caresheet so you get the basics downpat of the temps and humidity.

To answer some of your questions, temps and humidity should be stable 24/7 all year round for snakes that aren't breeding so get it dialled in and stick with it.

No branches are needed. These are ground dwellers (actually mostly below ground LOL) and they suck at climbing. Instead of branches make sure to provide two tight fitting - no bigger than the snake is coiled up - hides, one for the cool end, one for the warm end.

The water bowl should be easy to clean, not easily tipped and doesn't have to be big enough for your snake to soak in, they rarely soak if they are happy and healthy. I generally put my bowls on the cool end wedged against a corner to help keep them from being tipped (they get tipped anyways, BP's have a sense of humor about a just cleaned home! lol)

Newspaper is fine as a bedding or you can even go with plain white paper towels if you like. Also fine shred aspen is nice if you prefer a more natural look - just avoid pine and cedar as it's not good for your snake.

What sort of enclosure do you have and how big is it? How are you heating it? What are you using to measure temps and humidity?

The biggest thing with a new snake is to let it be. That's hard but it is best for the snake. Give it at least a week to settle in then feed it whatever the breeder was feeding it in the same way (mice, rats or ASF's - live, f/t or p/k). These snakes are creatures of habit so they tend to do what they know. Switching too much up on them when they are still settling in tends to freak them out a bit.

Breathe....you will get it all....breathe....

[BambiValentine]

I am doing exactly what he told me . Went up in size of mice though because he would be starving a few days later . I have a glass thirty gallon tank . large water dish . I have a under tank heater and a heat light .. too much ?I have a digi thermometer right now . temp is usually 85 on the hot side . He has done well so far . he actually likes to be held by me , not others so much . he has a screen top but I think all the heat is escaping . and the humidity . Hints ?lol He is going threw his second shed with me but it seems like he is having a harder time . I didnt know it it was because of the humidity being to low or being to cold .


Should read be for posting lol I meant three months .

[TanyaL]

You have definately come to the right place! When we got our BP, I was amazed at how many different stories we got from store to store. I don't think I encountered a single petstore employee who gave me a bit good advice. If it wasn't for the members here I don't know what our poor BP would look like today but thanks to them, she is a happy, healthy, thriving bp.

The best advice that I can give you is to read, read, read and ask questions. I learned so much from reading past posts. The caresheets will answer a lot of your questions as well.

Good luck and let's see pictures!

[BambiValentine]

Oh yes I think all my questions have been answered thous far . Great . I am hoping to do some shopping and get what is right for him . The pet store sent me in the wrong direction