New Snake Mom

[SnakeinmyBoots]

Hey all, I'm a new snake mommy. Kitten and Udon came into my care just 3 weeks ago. A friend of mine has a ball python named JubJub and everytime I went over I found myself spending alot more time with the snake than the people at our game night. I decided I wanted one of my own. I wasn't planning on having two, but these two were on craigslist and not doing well.

Both of them were in pine substrate, what the heck!? Even I knew after 5 minutes on Google how terrible that was and these two were under their previous owners care for 2 years! The largest ball, Kitten had a UTH that wasn't even as wide as her body, and was stuck in shed. Both had retained eyecaps and both had severe rub spots on their heads and noses. So I got them both.

They now have coconut substrate with forest bark mixed in for texture, their own personal humidifiers - Udon LOVES hanging out above his, temp controls, UTH pads - I replaced Kitten's with a much larger 8×18 (she's 4.5ft long and as the vet says "overconditioned" aka a fatty fats McGee, we say she's "voluptuous"). I spray twice a day and keep their UTH at 90°f with an ambient temp of 82°f. Humidity at 60%-70% and both seem quite happy.

I will say, I stress alot. They do have some issues I'm still working to sus out. I lined the underside of their glass enclosure lids with bubble wrap to protect their noses... well Udon was able to slither his way between that and the screen and push his way out. I found him on my bedroom floor. So I covered the openings in the bubble wrap for their overhead heat with tulle fabric and that seems to work. Kitten likes to hang in her water dish alot lately which makes me a bit concerned - no mites, temp checked with digital probe and temp gun show good temps so now I'm moving my attention to her hide. Udon shed for me a week after I got him and had a great shed save for the opened scab from rubbing the lid on his head, but it seems to be healing well. They have refused all meals so far but it is the end of the breeding season. Anyways I'm trying to figure all this out and really look forward to learning all I can from all of you!