Hi all , I'm a new Ball Python owner , and new here as well . Tigergenesis sent me over here - thought you guys might be able to give me some advice . I want to give my boy the best possible care , so any advice is welcome/appreciated .
Let me tell you what his short history/setup is first .
I got him 11 days ago today . He's (I think it's a he anyway) a 3 month old baby , he was 18 inches long when I got him , but I swear he's grown already , at least another two inches or more - is this possible ? He looks bigger around too . Anyhow - I brought him home in the afternoon , and by evening , offered him a rat pup . He had never had one before , had been eating mice . But - after about 15 minutes of "sniffing" with his tongue , he ate it . He seems very comfortable with me - tries to climb up me if I put my hand in his house , and he'll hold perfectly still so I can stroke the top of his head - will even start bumping my hand with his nose if I stop !
I had him in a ten gallon until payday . Now , he's got a 40BR - big enough , right ? two hides , a big rock water bowl , and temp/humidity gauges - an under tank heater , and a heat lamp . He seems to like his new house , cruising around all over in it when he's not asleep . He ate again , on Saterday , only this time , it took him less than 30 seconds to grab the rat .
Ok - now with the questions . I have him on Pine bedding , that's ok ? The guy at the pet store had told me to use red cedar chips for him , I'm really glad I tried to read up on him before I did that - since he ate right away , he would probably have been dead . But he seems to like the pine , he loves to burrow under it .
I have his gauges about six inches up in the middle of the tank - that's in the wrong place , huh ? His temp reads from 80 at night , to 85 during the day . Humidity is turning out to be a problem . At first it was only reading 45 - but , I moved his water a bit closer to the warm end , and covered 2/3 of the top with cardboard - now it's staying steady at 55 . Still not enough - right ? Tigergenesis says , the heat lamp is probably partly to blame . His under tank heater , is not underneath - when I brought it home , the directions said , if you don't have a stand , to place it on the side of the tank , either at the end or in back . After ten hours , it wasn't warm enough in the tank - so I got the heat lamp . It also says , you can't move it , once it's stuck on - is this true ?
How often should he be deficating ? Some sites I read , say only once every 4 - 6 weeks , while others say about once a week . Confusing ! Either way , he's eaten twice , and hasn't yet "went" at all , as far as I can tell .
That's all I can think of for now - thanks in advance , for your help !