My new Ball Python

[N1GHTRA1N]

Hey guys, got a new Ball Python yesterday. I named him Duke and he is my first reptile. So far so good and he seems to really enjoy being handled.

Here are a couple of pictures. I'm waiting on a thermometer and hydrometer and I need to get a stick or vines for him to climb. The tank is a Exo-Terra 24x18x18 glass terrarium, I have plantation soil and some forest bark for the substrate (both from Exo-Terra). I have a large Exo-Terra water dish and hiding spot. The plants are positioned to create another good hiding spot on the cooler side of the tank. I also have a Exo-Terra under tank heater on the side with the cave hiding spot.

What do you think? Any suggestions.

[mrshawt]

Having a UTH without a rheostat/thermostat is dangerous, especially without a thermometer to measure the temps.
Soil is not recommended as a substrate. Aspen, Repti-bark, paper towels, and newspaper are all good.
You'll want two hides - one for the hot/cool sides.
The climbing branches are not really necessary as bp's are terrestrial snakes for the most part.
And make sure you get digital hydros/therms, not analog.

Check this out, it has a lot of helpful info:
caresheet

[N1GHTRA1N]

Having a UTH without a rheostat/thermostat is dangerous, especially without a thermometer to measure the temps.
Soil is not recommended as a substrate. Aspen, Repti-bark, paper towels, and newspaper are all good.
You'll want two hides - one for the hot/cool sides.
The climbing branches are not really necessary as bp's are terrestrial snakes for the most part.
And make sure you get digital hydros/therms, not analog.

Check this out, it has a lot of helpful info:
caresheet

I have a separate digital themometer I user for PC temps. The warm side is around 86-88 degrees and the cool side is around 79-81 degrees with the air temp 4 " from the top hovering in the low 80's. From what I can tell that should be okay. I plan on keeping a close eye on it and will buy a rheostat.
The plantation soil is actually a compress coconut husk fiber and according to what I read it is suppose to be good, in fact the link you provided said coconut husk based substrates are good.

If you look in the back left area near the grassy stuff you'll see a plant that he loves to hide behind. When he is hiding behind that he isn't visible unless you really try to find him. I figured that would be a good enough hiding spot, will it work or should I get something else?

Here is one in my hand too.

[rocky88]

and get a 10 gallon aquarium

[mrshawt]

A cave-type hide (I would get another of the one you have) is preferred, because they like to be hugged by something on all sides. Not to bore you, but they hide in termite mounds in the wild haha.

And welcome to the forum btw!

[icygirl]

Very pretty. I can see you like landscaping the terrarium.

In my opinion, that setup would be great for a small gecko or lizard, if you took away the UTH and added some branches. Your ball python will probably outgrow it in maybe six months or so. Also, since they tend to stay on the ground (though there are some exceptions of climbing ball pythons), the vertical space will not really be used much. I might stick a branch in there just to see if he'd use it.

Assuming the lamp is mainly for the plants and not for heat, be careful about its wattage. You didn't mention the type of bulb you're using; go with a compact fluorescent that won't emit a lot of heat. Incandescent lights tend to dry out tanks in no time and will overheat your ball if left unregulated.

There's a cheap, digital, two-side thermometer and hygrometer you can get at Wal-Mart for $11 made by Acu-Rite. Works pretty well and a lot of people on here use it.

Finally, you want to be very careful about using soil in there. Soil that isn't made for reptile substrate can have bugs, bacteria, and fertilizers in them that would cause problems if ingested accidentally by the ball python. Their bodies are not equipped to deal with foreign bacteria.

[StormSerpent]

Welcome! I'm sorta new here too...

One thing, is wait on handling. I know, I know you can't resist, but you need to let him settle in and don't handle him until he is comfortable and eating. This is very important. I am currently having trouble with my python because I needed to change his terrarium and stressed him out a bit and he hasn't eaten yet.

But its good you are here! It shows that you care

[N1GHTRA1N]

and get a 10 gallon aquarium

I have a spare 10 gallon aquarium. I was planning on using it for feeding him. Why do you suggest I have a 10 gallon aquarium.

[StormSerpent]

Babies are quite scared, makes them feel a bit more secure, your tank is very "open" per say, and it could scare him.

EDIT:
Plus with that sort of tank, a lot of vertical space is unused, especially with a primarily terrestrial snake. I know the cage is nice though, maybe you could always fill it with another herp

[N1GHTRA1N]

Very pretty. I can see you like landscaping the terrarium.

In my opinion, that setup would be great for a small gecko or lizard, if you took away the UTH and added some branches. Your ball python will probably outgrow it in maybe six months or so. Also, since they tend to stay on the ground (though there are some exceptions of climbing ball pythons), the vertical space will not really be used much. I might stick a branch in there just to see if he'd use it.

Assuming the lamp is mainly for the plants and not for heat, be careful about its wattage. You didn't mention the type of bulb you're using; go with a compact fluorescent that won't emit a lot of heat. Incandescent lights tend to dry out tanks in no time and will overheat your ball if left unregulated.

There's a cheap, digital, two-side thermometer and hygrometer you can get at Wal-Mart for $11 made by Acu-Rite. Works pretty well and a lot of people on here use it.

Finally, you want to be very careful about using soil in there. Soil that isn't made for reptile substrate can have bugs, bacteria, and fertilizers in them that would cause problems if ingested accidentally by the ball python. Their bodies are not equipped to deal with foreign bacteria.

Yeah.. I wanted the terrarium to look pretty nice and wanted a bit of variety so he'd enjoy it.

The plants aren't real so the light isn't for them. I figured I'd give him a bit of consistent lighting that could be used. The bulb is a 60W Exo Terra Neodymium daylight bulb. I heard they were pretty good, it is an incandescent though. Do you think it will be a problem?

Also will he really out grow this tank in six months? Everything I read online (and was told by the pet store) suggested this size tank should be good for most Ball Pythons for the most of the life. Everything I read suggested a 20-30gallon tank and my 29 gallon aquarium I have has a smaller surface area than this one. The surface area of my 29 gallon is 360 sq inches and the surface are of this terrarium is 432 sq inches.

The soil I'm using is also made for reptiles, it is Exo-Terra Plantation soil that is actually made from coconut husks.