first ball python

[shadow120]

i got my first ball python tonight form a friend of mine who dosent have time for it anymore. ive been reading these forums and other sites for a while and have wanted to get one. i brought it home tonight and got him all set up. thought i would post some pics for everyone. he had ceader in the tank when i got him i cleaned the tank and and im using shreaded paper from our paper shreader is this ok? in the morning i am going to get him a good uth and heat bulb for the light.

[llovelace]

welcome, you've come to the right place

[Kaorte]

Glad to see you got him off the cedar. A few substrate alternatives are paper towels, newspaper or aspen. The shredded paper should be fine. Cedar is TOXIC to ball pythons so keep your eye our for signs of a respiratory infection (wheezing, mucous, open mouth breathing).

Also, I would invest in a proper lid and cage clips. Weight alone isn't always enough to stop a ball python from escaping.

It would also be a good idea to get a hide exactly like the one you have now for the other side of the tank, then put the water bowl in the middle. Ball pythons need to thermoregulate (they need a hot side and a cool side) and if they don't have two identical hides, they won't thermoregulate properly.

Also, I would recommend getting an Under Tank Heater (UTH) instead of a heat lamp. Ball pythons really benefit from belly heat as they don't bask like lizards do. Also, they are nocturnal and don't need supplemental lighting.

Make sure you also get some good digital thermometers to measure your temps!

[bsash]

Welcome to ball-pythons.net, hope you enjoy it here.

[Danounet]

His eyes are blue? Looks like he is going into shed. Don't bother him too much until he sheds.

[steveboos]

Yeah by the looks of his skin, he really really needs to shed soon! Also i'm glad you took him off cedar, cedar is pretty much bad for everything and everyone, except furniture. Good luck with him and keep that humidity up like crazy for the next week or so!!!

[shadow120]

heres a pick of him now with the paper and 2nd hide

[Moofins07]

Yes, he definitely looks to be in the blue stage. Also, if I'm not mistaken, I see a dented eyecap. If you didn't know, dented eyecaps are caused from low humidity. Along with the digital thermometer Kaorte recommended, try and get a digital hygrometer, as well. The Acu-rite digital weather station will have both a temperature reader, as well as humidity. You can get it at Wal-Mart for $20-$25.

For now, just spray the tank a couple times a day to keep his humidity up.

PS: Heat lamps suck out tons of humidity. So if you can, try to keep the tank at the proper temperatures without a lamp.

[shadow120]

its not a dented eye cap a rat got one of his eyes about 4 months ago

[Moofins07]

its not a dented eye cap a rat got one of his eyes about 4 months ago

Oof. I'd be surprised if that BP isn't hesitant about eating.