Please Help ball python I'm new to reptiles

[musicalKeyes]

--...His set up looks like this, 12x12x30 it is tall not long. exo terra I got as a display model.

I just wanted to inform you about the problem I had with the exoterra cages and my BP. I had my guy in a Larger size, but still taller than it was long. He was fine for quite some time, and I managed to keep heat and humidity up just fine. However, a moth or two after I got him he started trying to reach the top, as snakes will. His nose just hit the screen, but he only had a little bit of his lower half supporting him, and fell over quite a bit. i went out and bought a new, lower tank immediately; he was falling over so hard he was literally hurting himself, and in that maybe twelve hour time span after he started doing it and before I got the new tank, he had bruised himself and cut open the top of his head. A little neosporin and a shed or two cleared it right up, and the bruise went down within a day or two. (His tank is in my room, where I've recently been spending a lot of time due to bad migraines, so it really wasn't any more than twelve hours, but he still bruised himself up pretty badly.)
So just be careful with those taller cages

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

I just wanted to inform you about the problem I had with the exoterra cages and my BP. I had my guy in a Larger size, but still taller than it was long. He was fine for quite some time, and I managed to keep heat and humidity up just fine. However, a moth or two after I got him he started trying to reach the top, as snakes will. His nose just hit the screen, but he only had a little bit of his lower half supporting him, and fell over quite a bit. i went out and bought a new, lower tank immediately; he was falling over so hard he was literally hurting himself, and in that maybe twelve hour time span after he started doing it and before I got the new tank, he had bruised himself and cut open the top of his head. A little neosporin and a shed or two cleared it right up, and the bruise went down within a day or two. (His tank is in my room, where I've recently been spending a lot of time due to bad migraines, so it really wasn't any more than twelve hours, but he still bruised himself up pretty badly.)
So just be careful with those taller cages

Yet another reason I like tubs. Mine are not particularly tall.

[DLoc]

glass 93.5 substrate 88. I'll upload pics soon. The reason I got the tank is it was on sale 50% off. I guess i should have got the exo terra 3ft box.

[Vypyrz]

Something I'm thinking that might work better until you can get a different enclosure is this. Get a roll of either aluminum foil or wax cooking paper, a roll of aluminum tape, and a piece of fiber board, cardboard, or cork board.

-Remove the screen top, cut a piece of foil or wax paper to about 14" X 14". This will go on the inside of the screen to keep the snake from rubbing on it. Fold the edges around the edges of the screen and tape it to the outside of the screen. You will probably have to cut slits for the screen clips to fit through.
-Cut a piece of whichever type of board to fit over the top of the screen and tape it down. This will help insulate that end.
-Lay the tank on it's side with the hinged doors on top.

By doing this, you tank is now aproximately the same as a 20L tank. It will give you more floor space to provide a better temp gradient. You may have to get either another UTH or one that will cover approx. 1/3 to 1/2 of the floor space. Since you are using a dimmer, I would say monitor the temp of the glass where the UTH is and keep it around 91-92F. If you are using Aspen I would say about one inch thick would be good. As the snake shuffles the substrate or packs it around the temps should be good. If you are using paper towel or newspaper then 2-3 layers would be ok...

[DLoc]

sorry i forgot to mention the substrate is repti bark (pure fur) I just noticed it acts as a insulator. If the probe is covered when on the glass it reads about 2 degrees warmer.

[DLoc]

Thanks everyone for your help so far. I can't upload photos because I can't find a working cam. I'll try and upload some tomorrow. At least I have the temps in the safe zone for now, let me know if I should make any adjustments now. (glass- Hot= 92 -Cold is 73-76 -Ambient measured 1 inch above is 79-80. Humidity is at 60. I'll be getting a 20 gallon pretty soon. What would be the best/ most reliable UTH and thermostat or rheostat to use? (Assuming he's not thermal burned (been 2 days and no brown or red on his belly.
The tank is actually 12x12x18 (inches). I think he's just really stressed right now. He's been under his hide all day and is still there. (11:30pm where I am right now)
*******UPDATE*******
At 12:00pm I left a F/T hopper in his terrarium, and he ate. Please let me know if my logic is flawed. But I believe that means he is happy, and healthy.
Wouldn't he refuse if he had a thermal burn?

[DLoc]

I just want to say thank you to everyone who were so quick to help me out.
It's been a half hour sense he ate. No regurge yet : ) He is climbing to the top of the enclouser by using his hide to boost him up. I'll have to get him a steady branch to explore. I'm going to leave things were they are right now, as he seems to be happy. I did add aluminum foil to half of the top of his cage to keep in some heat and humidity. another quesiton, would it be safer to remove the decorative foam backing? I've heard rumors of balls getting behind them and getting stuck making it impossible to thermoregulate.

[Vypyrz]

another quesiton, would it be safer to remove the decorative foam backing? I've heard rumors of balls getting behind them and getting stuck making it impossible to thermoregulate.

If you are talking about that styrofoam scenery that Exo-Terra puts in their tanks, the yes, I would remove it. The first time it gets urine or feces on it you will have to throw it away anyway as it will be impossible to clean and disinfect...

[DLoc]

I've switched him to a 20 gallon. The hot spot over the glass was at 85 yesterday. Sometime between 12am and 8am it must have dropped, as of 8am it read 73. Ot was obvious he had dug down to get more heat. So I decided to pick him up to start warming him up and he made a faint little squeak. I'm adjusted up to 85 again right now. He only seems to do it when touched not held or laying in his tank. Is this normal or a sign of RI or stress?
Should I take him to a vet? I don't see any mucus on his tank or around his nose. He occasionally is resting on top of his hide. Sometimes he dips his head into his water dish. Humidity is at 80. Do you think I'm just paranoid or what?
(It does get cold in my home at night. Minnesota +drafty house)

I'm going to switch his coldside hide with his warm side hide as he is spending all his time in the cold side. I'm planning to cover half the top of the tank with cardboard to prevent any drafts that may be affecting it. Then I plan to raise the glass temp over the pad to 88 unless someone has a better suggestion. Thanks for any help.

[DLoc]

Ok, so I got a infrared 50 watt bulb on sunday. It appears the temps have stayed constant. Glass over the pad is 89-92. The substrate reads 78-82. (Under the infrared which is over the pad) And I placed a peice of cardboard 3/4 the length of the 20 gallon on top.