I picked up my first Ball Python/introduction :)

[grizzjr1]

The act-rites are usually in the section by the lightbulbs/ air conditioner thermostats. but I have seen in them in a bunch of other places as well (outdoor section, paint section, etc.)

in the wild BP's are nocturnal... during the day they stay in rodent burrows or termite mounds, then come out to hunt at night. because of this day/night cycles really aren't necessary. Bp's love dark hides that are nice and snug... That isn't to say that they are bad, but your BP will be fine without one. I use fluorescent lights for viewing on a 12 hour schedule.

Make sure that your tank isn't directly in front of a window, as the tanks can act like a green house and get really hot.

Alrighty, I decided I'm not going to open the blinds until I can be in there a full day (on the weekend) so I can know how far sunlight travels into the room. He is far away from the windows but I have no clue where sunlight hits and where it doesn't. The blinds haven't been opened more than 3 days since the beginning of the summer haha. The room lights are fluorescent and would probably be sufficient if the sunlight does shine on the cage too much.

Hello Mason, and to BP.net.

I would suggest not using the heat pad until you get a controller. If your room stays around 80F, then your BP should be fine for a few days until the thermostat arrives. Just don't feed him until you get the belly heat running. A thicker layer of substrate over a belly heat device is actually worse than a thin layer, because it will start acting like an insulator and trap the heat under it along the glass, and if you snake happens to push the substrate out pf the way, there is a good chance for a burn.

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Alight, I unplugged it before work. My A/C unit is telling me its 80 degrees and the hallway which has a thermometer reading 83 feels about the same. I will be going home at lunch if we aren't too busy (might have to wait until after work) to remove some of the substrate.

I think adequate advice has been given, so I'll just say welcome!

Also, good to see another WI herper

Thank ya! What region of Wisconsin are you located in?

Last night when I was trying to fall asleep I heard a little movement and even some water sound, but I didn't want to disturb him. This morning when I turned on the lights I looked in the enclosure and it looks like he did a fair amount of moving around! He even came out and said hi, then when he went back into his hide I turned on the light, he just poked his head out as if he was telling me to turn that damn thing off lol. I'm glad to see he was exploring Also, this is a noob question I'm sure, but what do the 1.0, 0.1, 1:0:0, 0:1:1, etc in front of your animal lists in your signatures? I have a few guesses but I'm not sure haha.