I recently had a baby ball python kind of fall into my lap. He came with an entire, basic set, so he just moved from one home to the other, with all the stuff he was used to coming with him. Upon initial inspection the cage looked clean but yesterday I noticed a poo, not a very fresh one either, in the aquarium. It blended in with the douglas fir substrate he came with, which is why I didn't spot it initially. It made me concerned that the previous owner didn't likely think to regularly sanitize his stuff, or clean out his tank. Today I am going to the pet store to buy an under tank heater and thermostat and a couple other odds 'n ends that I feel would be beneficial to his well being, and I'd like to set them up in the never-used tank I have.

I'm on day three of having him and noticed he is showing symptoms of going into shed now, but I really want to get him into a fresh, clean tank with aspen bedding, a humidity chamber, etc asap. Should I wait until next week, to let him finish his shed & acclimation to new surroundings, or do it all now? I want him to feel comfortable so he will be more likely to feed next week, but I don't want him hanging out in a bacteria-infested habitat either.

So far he doesn't seem exceptionally stressed, he sleeps in his hide in the day, comes out at night to explore and do a little basking under the lamp, and he's drank water each day I've had him so far. He hasn't hissed or struck at me when I've stuck my hand in there to give him fresh water. Surely he is stressed in some way, but not to a point where he's balled up in a corner or lingering near the top of the cage all night long. What do you's recommend?