Hi everyone,

I need a little help. I've been lurking here for the last few months, learning all that I could about ball pythons in general, preparing for a day in the somewhat distant future when I would actually acquire one. I've always been into reptiles, but never really had an opportunity to own any because the people I lived with weren't thrilled about the idea.

So, I convinced my husband we should start with a corn snake, and set up a nice display tank so I could get my feet wet with the whole snake husbandry thing before jumping into bps. We started checking out Craigslist to look for a nice display tank, and found one that was absolutely perfect, with a nice stand.....and a ball python. So, instead of my starter corn snake, I have a beautiful normal, about 2-3 yrs old, no idea what sex.

We just got the tank/snake at 5pm on Sunday, and were up til midnight getting all the supplies to set him (her?) up properly. The people who had him kept him in a 55-gal tank with an UTH that they only turned on in the winter, one log hide, and a screen lid with nothing to hold in the humidity. In Las Vegas! Anyway, I see some stuck shed on his head, but what worries me are his eyes. They look like cracked glass. Are those retained eyecaps?

We've got him set up in a 31-qt tub, and finally got the heat pad set up tonight. Right now the Accurite's showing 81 on the cool side and 88.2 on the hot side with 58% humidity. We've got the heat pad on a dimmer because the local pet stores that were open last night didn't have any kind of thermostat, and I think it should work for now. While at the store, we mis-remembered his size, and ended up getting a water bowl too big, and hides too small, but we've better hides coming in the mail.

He's taken the move remarkably well, hasn't hissed or struck, or even seemed particularly irritated. His previous owners fed him one live mouse every Thursday, and I'm wondering if I should go ahead and offer one this Thursday. Is that too soon? And it seems like he should be eating more than that when looking at his girth. This all caught me a little unprepared. Please take a look at my setup, and see if I can improve anything. I think I just need moral support, lol.

Anyway, here's the pics: