Maintaining temp/hum. with starter kit..??!

[obsidiantalon]

I'm aware, thank you! I /was/ at least smart enough to ask about a feeding schedule... They said this one has been fed/eaten every Tuesday.. So I'm gonna go back to the same shop and get a feeder mouse on Tuesday... Coiled around itself, the snake fits in the palm of my hand.. Very small still, should we be shooting for a "hopper" or a "pinky" or what, the first time around?

Thanks again, everyone, for all the advice! I'll try the foil on the cage for humidity.. I'm gonna make the side that has the hide on it now the hot side, she seems to enjoy it that way.. I'll look into getting her (Yeah, like I said.. Dono sex yet, but my gut says she's a she, so for all intents and purposes.. ) another one when I get her first meal.. As well as a UTH if I can't get the heat up there.

I read some posts saying not to handle her in the first day, but we played with her a bit while setting up her enclosure and she didn't seem to mind it. She only did that cute little "Ball" thing they do while actually IN the pet shop. And my family stopped in for the first time to see our apartment. They are all animal people as well, so most of them either held or touched her, and again.. She didn't seem to mind. She stayed loosely coiled in my hands, and even began to explore a bit while they were petting her.

So, to summarize... I need to: Cover one side of the lid, invest in a UTH+thermostat, invest in a better quality digital hygrometer/thermometer.. Anything else?

And once more.. thank you all so much, I didn't expect such kind replies since I'm attacking this as such a newbie!

[obsidiantalon]

Ok, I've covered half of the cage with aluminum foil and the humidity is starting to rise just above 50% now. Ambient temp is sitting steady at 85F and she's still in the hide. Is there any way to know if she's sleeping, or just chilling out in there? And should I avoid moving the hide to check on her?

[cinderbird]

Ok, I've covered half of the cage with aluminum foil and the humidity is starting to rise just above 50% now. Ambient temp is sitting steady at 85F and she's still in the hide. Is there any way to know if she's sleeping, or just chilling out in there? And should I avoid moving the hide to check on her?

There isnt really a way to tell if they're sleeping or just chilling since they have to sleep with their eyes open (no eyelids). A hiding ball python is a happy ball python.

[teebyrd393]

The UTH has to be regulated by a thermostat or a rheostat. Thermostat being the better more accurate choice of the two. The UTH does have the potential to reach dangerously high heats which if unregulated can burn your snake.
As far as the humidity goes, the best way around that is a cheap sterilite tub 15qt with air holes drilled through the plastic. It holds humidity better tahn a wire top tank. I have found that a wet hand towel laid on 1/2-3/4 of the mesh top can help maintain the 50-60% moisture you need. Just make sure the entire top is NOT covered, you need to have adequate air flow. Just rewet it everymorning....easier than constantly misting!
Good luck!

[teebyrd393]

I got a relitively inexpensive thermostat online at "big apple pets" I've had it for two years and it works great! (They're sometimes hard to find if the pet shop is not specialized) You connect a probe to the glass on top of the UTH...under their "warm" hide, right next to the probe from your thermometer/ hydrometer(you can find cheap one's at target) and just adjust the thermostat according to the temp...Once it's set it will keep the temp stabile by automatically turning on and off your UTH as needed! Pretty awesome!

[Kaorte]

I guarantee you if you are measuring temps and humidity with those crappy stick on dials that all of your temps and humidity are around 10* or % off.

Since it looks like you will be purchasing things online for the most part I will give your a brief quick fix to make the tank a little more comfortable for your new scaley friend.

For right now I would just keep one light. Is it a black light or a blue night time light? If it is the later, just keep that one on 24/7 so you can still maintain temps at night without bothering your snake with a huge bright light above him.

Now here is the fun shopping part. Go to the HOME DEPOT or LOWES. Get a piggy back lamp dimmer for the lamp. They look like this: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31WPQ76JOlL.jpg You might have to ask a lot of people where to find this. One person might tell you they don't have it but trust me they have it. Now you must search for the ever eluding accurite digital thermometer hygrometer combo. You should be able to find this is the gardening or seasonal department with the other themometers and such. This particular one looks like so: http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/partshelf/ps-00891.jpg See how this one has that little black probe thing? That is super important. It is supposed to measure the "outside" temp but in this case we are going to use it to measure your hot side temps.

Alright now we are done with our shopping trip! time to set everything up.

First step is to figure out how to use your light dimmer. Here is a thread that discusses how to set it up: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=73275 . Plug this into the wall and then plug the lamp into the dimmer. This dimmer will be your temporary rheostat and will allow you to control the temperature a bit more.

Second step is to set up the accurite. Since you are using lamp heat, you should put the probe on top of the substrate. For now you can just let it sit there, do not fasten it to anything. Put the ENTIRE accurite unit in the cage on the cool side (not under the light). This will measure your cool side temps an humidity.

Hope this helps!

[obsidiantalon]

Alright! Sorry for the delay between updates, but here's where I'm at now!

I've got 3/4 of the screen-top covered with a wet dish towel. I bought an Accu-rite thermometer/hygrometer and the temperature is pretty regular now..

My only concern is that the temp. drops at night, pretty sharply if I turn off the heat lamp.. But if I don't, I'm worried it will mess up her photocycle.. =/

Guess I really just need to invest in some under tank heat. Anyone have a recommendation that won't further break my bank account? (As I said, my fiancee and I are still moving into our first apartment..

Thanks again for all the help everyone!

[Ed Chisholm]

ZooMed makes several different sizes of UTH's, with the most expensive around $45.00 @ PetSmart or Petco. I have two, one for each side of the tank, and they work great with the thermostat controls. I have an Accu-Rite measuring the "hot" side and the Humidity, as well as the ambient temp. I have another digital probe measuring the "cold" side. Identical hides on both sides. My snake seems very happy. She spends a lot of time in both hides, and can be "caught" in the middle of the night hanging out on a large branch I have accross the top of her tank.