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Hello from a newbie!
Hey guys, I'm very new at BPs and I need coaching. I want to make sure he can live comfortably.
Last week I was given a BP from a person who clearly didn't want it... so this poor guy has had a really rough start. When I got him ( in his 50 - 60 gallon tank, that was a nice surprise... I thought I was getting a tank half that size.)
He had one hide, water dish that was smaller than my fist, a thermometer at the top of the tank and one heat light and not enough substrate to cover the whole bottom of the tank. I assume it was aspen chips, but it was so dry that they were getting crushed into powder by his weight.
In the substrate was at least 6 different skins (which weren't in one piece, just chunks. He still had his last shed along his right side) and I couldn't count the ammount of poop that was stuck to the bottom of the tank. OH! and when I asked the guy when the last time he fed it he said "uuuh, no idea".
So since then I've put new substrate which actually fills the bottom of the tank, a water dish he can actually fit in, two hides, a piece of wood that he loves to climb, and some plants that he tries to climb. With the heat light only, the temp was getting to about 24C, so I bought him a heating pad, and two thermometers for either side.
With the higher humidity the strip of old skin that looked really tight left within two days.
I fed him once all the skin was off ( I was warned that if that skin was really stuck from not being in the right climate, it might rip when his food goes through him?) It was the most terrifying moment of my life, I must say; I've never fed, or seen a snake fed before. That was an experience.
But other than making the tank look pretty, I need help!
He clearly wasn't handled much with the other owner. He hissed at me the first night - which was ok, because I'd be cranky too after all that moving. The second night he hissed and then bit me when I put in his water dish.
I know he's not a pet that I can handle a lot, but some touching would be nice.... will I ever be able to get him used to me?
Also, I have live plants in the tank... are there ones that are harmful to them?
He's about three feet long (I would say, clearly I haven't been allowed to measure him), what size rats should I be feeding him?
Can he get too hot? With the tank so huge there's a nice temperature difference... but if it gets too hot for him in the hot side, will he move?
I'm sure I'll think of more questions as I go.
Cheers!
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