New Ball Python questions

[Psycl0n_B]

I've been into snakes since I was a little kid, but was never allowed to have one, now that I'm 19 and out on my own I finally went and bought a Ball Python.

I've spent countless hours researching and obsessing over giving him (I say him but I'm not sure if it's male or female, the guy at the store said female but at the juvenile stage I know it's sometimes hard to be certain.) the best of care.

Anyway, he's in a 10x12x20 tank, I started out with just a hide log, a bowl of water and a 100watt Neodymium daylight bulb. Ive since decided this was far too much for him and switched out for a 50watt "moonlight bulb" and an 8x8 undertank heater. Ive got a thermometer and hygrometer in the tank now as well as a second bowl of water on the opposite end (an empty chip dip container with a hole cut in the lid). After wrapping half the screen lid in saran wrap and a few mistings on the mulch Ive finally been able to maintain a 50% humidity level. As you can imagine this was impossible before with the 100watt bulb.

In the close to 6 weeks now that I've had him he's never given me a problem, eats great every 5-7 days and never struck at me. However, now at the 6 week mark im beginning to wonder when he's going to go into shed...After eating yesterday, he's spent ALL of today soaking in his chip-dip "pool" and I'm wondering if that's a sign of coming into shed OR if the tank is too warm for him with the 50watt moonbulb AND undertank heater going at the same time.

The bulb and heater are both at one end of the tank (the same side an open bowl of water is on to help humidity), his 'pool' is on the other side. The thermometer on the warm side of the tank reads about ~90F with the moonbulb and heater on and now that I turned the bulb off (heater is still on) it's reading ~84F.

So, 50watt moonbulb and undertank heater on 24/7, is this too much? Should I just use the bulb to help supplement heat in the winter? I don't get how he could be hotter now than he was with a 100watt bulb on 12 hours a day...

((also ive included a picture of Legion, posing like a green tree python ))

[Hulihzack]

The soaking doesn't necessarily mean he is too hot, it's quite common for snakes to do that from time to time. The bulb may not be necessary, I would try with the under-the-tank only for a while and see how that does. It will hold humidity better that way as well.

[BuddhaLuv]

I just wanted to say congrats on Legion!!! He is a very handsome snake and that is a great picture of him

I am a newbie to owning a BP myself so I'd rather leave the suggestions to the experienced for you.

Good luck and congrats again!

[Psycl0n_B]

Thanks for the advice so far guys, and man I dunno if it's just because he's my snake or what but I definitely think he's gotta be the most handsome normal BP ive ever seen

[JenEric Reptiles]

VEry nice snake.......sounds almost like me wanting a snake forever but couldent have one since it was illegal in Hawaii .........living in vegas now and my wife and I have 14 LOL everyone calls us the Adams family........snakes,tattoos,peircings lol

[Psycl0n_B]

Mein Gott, constrictors are illegal in Hawaii?!

[JenEric Reptiles]

Mein Gott, constrictors are illegal in Hawaii?!

all snakes are illegal in hawaii......hawaii has thier own kinda like hr669 law nothing invaisive allowed no snakes iguanas etc..........

[Psycl0n_B]

Sad, but I suppose I can understand...speaking of HR669, has everyone sent their letters to their local representative? I know I have.

http://www.nohr669.com/

[TheOtherLeadingBrand]

Beautiful snake!!

I never use bulbs... my snakes have under the tank heat pads in winter and as of now, are outside (in an enclosed/screened area) with natural Florida heat and humidity, which they LOVE! lol

But yeah, I think you likely don't need the bulb IMO

[trott]

Pick up a lamp dimmer from home depot(about 10 bucks) for the uth. If your using a tank you want to be able to control all heat devices. Lamp on one end (50w) bulb should be fine, and uth on the other. If you have the dimmer you can control the heat sources to give you 92(uth side) and (80-82) lamp side.

Get rid of the log hide and get a nice snug fitting rock hide or make one yourself. But you want it snug. And place that over the uth. Pick up a digital therm. Accurites are best because they measure hum. as well and place the probe under the hide. Your snake will spend most of its time under there so knowing that temp is most critical.

Damp towel works better that saran wrap as you can bump up your humidity as much as 20% + if need be. You'll have to worry more about the Hum. in the winter as furnaces dry the air in your house. It's also to important to watch the room temp in your room. If your room temp goes up so will your enclosure temps. The only way to avoid this is to run a t-stat.
Hope this helps.