Hey there,

I have never had a ball python, or any other reptile for that matter, as a pet before and I have a few questions. First, when I mount the probes of my thermometers should I put the probe on the hot side directly over top of the heat pad directly on the glass or should it be mounted on the wall somewhere? Next, what should my temps on the hot and cold side be at night when the lights are off? Also, when and how should the snake be handled? I have my cage set up already and it's a critter cage 15 gallon with Aspen mulch as bedding and I put a half log on top of the heat pad and I put a water dish on the other side of the tank underneath the 100 watt infared light and I have a piece of driftwood in there which is good for climbing and a few fake plants. I have 1 thermometer probe on the glass on the heat pad and another with the probe on the opposite side of the tank about half way up the wall and I have a hygrometer on the glass closer to the bottom of the tank. I plannon getting the python as soon as I know I have my temps and humidity where they need to be, which will hopefully be soon with the help of you guys. Thanks in advance and if there is any advice about how I set my tank up, let me know.