I am new to this forum and have a few concerns about my python. I believe it is a male so I will just say "he" . I received him last year sometime in July and he was already close to 4 ft. I am not sure how old he is but seemed pretty active and healthy. We got a nice 50 gal. glass home for him which has two plexi-glass openings and wire mesh in the middle, a large dish for water and a heating lamp with one bulb for "day" and one for "night". These were all things to just start off. So anyhow, he was eating well, and very active. I followed some advise from my brother that now I am not to sure it was good advise or not. He had told me that there was no need for nighttime for a snake and that I didn't need a hide for him and that my set up was simple and fine. All the snake needed. He went on about how the decorum of the snakes home is mainly for its owners enjoyment. Anyhow to make a long story short, we moved in January and that was the last time my python ate. January 9th to be exact, he had shed two weeks later. He had become a whole lot more skittish and I am not sure but I think he actually hissed at me a few days ago. I believe I am not doing right by my animal if he is that uncomfortable and think my brother is full of bull.

This week I am starting over, I got a hide for him and another bulb for "nighttime". I also bought some moss to help with the humidity since I am concerned that the heat lamp is making it too dry. The pet store by our home does not have the nice digital meters so I have to find one online. Since I put the hide in his home he has been inside and has not come out at all. He has poked his head out a few times. I put the moss in and am trying to keep it moist but the lamp is drying it out. I mist the inside quite often through out the day. I don't feel like I am doing to good of a job here and would love some feedback. Sorry this is so long and if I have left out any pertinent information, which I am sure I have please ask. Thank you.