My setup

[BPmamanow]

I just got my first ball python on Monday, and my friend gave me all of his equipment from his bp that just passed. he told me how to set it all up, so i did before we got him.
I have him in a glass tank, about 1'x2', overhead heat lamp, but not the kind that gives off light, just the ceramic(?) one that gives off heat, over on one side of the tank. he only has one hide right now so I put it sort of half-way on the hot side, and i put water both on the 'cool' side and one under the lamp to evaporate into the air. he also has some driftwood sticks to climb on (on the cool side), which ive caught him doing at night; he just stays in his hide all day. unfortunately i dont think my friend knows much about snakes at all, esp. now that im practically glued to this site. i just have one of those little round thermometors from petco, sitting semi-under the lamp, and it goes between about 83 and 90, most the time around 86 or 7. theres an UTH pad under there but im hesitant to use it without an appropriate thermostat.
so... my questions.. hes been in his hide pretty much nonstop (day and night) for two days now, he explored a lot before that, but now just comes out to drink.. and they did say at petsmart that he was about to shed, so is this because of the shed, or is something wrong? i dont know what to look for in color, because i just got him and they said it had already changed, but i did see his eyes get cloudy blue and now are clearing up. we havent fed him yet, will probably try that next week if he sheds by then, and havent handled him at all except to move him from the box to the tank. my other question is about the substrate. my husband bought this big bag of American Wood Fibers 'natural animal bedding'. it doesnt say on there what kind of wood it is though, so i went on their website and it pretty much doesnt say either, but they also had links that said "we also sell pine or ceder beddings", so im hoping its none of those.. has anyone else ever used this kind of bedding?
fridays payday, so im gonna get a better thermostat and humidity-checker at home depot or walmart, and we have a larger tank too, same width but twice as long which we'll switch him to after he eats well, so im trying to make sure its all set up right.
thanks everyone for your help.

[Jason Bowden]

I was thinking that the ceramic heater may dry out the enclosure a bit, but your temps look good. You do want a warm side and a cool side so your bp can thermoregulate. Watch your humidity, you will want to increase it when your snake is going through a shed cycle.

You'll do fine! Welcome to the forum!

[Kaorte]

Well those round gauge thermometers are useless so you can disregard any reading you get from that.

Ball pythons are shy and secretive snakes. They will often spend days on end in their hides only coming out for a quick drink. This is completely normal. A hiding BP is a happy BP. When they are comfortable they will not often leave their hides to "explore".

You will not be able to find a reptile thermostat in most stores. Some chain pet stores might have them but more often then not you will be stuck buying online. This thermostat: http://charleykanesfunhouse.com/inde...ffee%E2%80%9D/ Should suit your needs.

Along with the thermostat you will need accurate digital thermometers and a hygrometer. The easiest thing you can do is get the accurite weather station with a wired probe. These can be found at home depot, lowes, or walmart. This is what they look like: http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrum...2&sr=1-3-spell

You will also need two identical hides. One for the hot side and one for the cool side. It is very important that they are identical. These can be as simple as an upside down plastic bowl or those fancy rock cave hides from the pet store. Whichever hides you get make sure they are low to the ground, touch your snake on all sides and have a single small entrance. Half log hides are no good for ball pythons.

I would refrain from moving the snake to a larger enclosure until it is eating consistently (for a few months) and is a full grown adult. How big is the tank you want to move to? For an adult ball python a 20g long or a 30g breeder would be plenty. Much more then that can stress out the snake and it becomes more of a pain to keep proper temps and humidity. Ball pythons actually do better in smaller cramped spaces. It makes them feel safer.

As for substrate, paper towels, newspaper, aspen, or cypress mulch are the best for ball pythons.

[stevepoppers]

Unless he's over 3 feet, a 1x2 foot enclosure is just right. I think smaller is better than too big. Get a thermostat when you can and switch to belly heat asap. It's better for digestion and they don't naturally use overhead heat. Do you know how to set up the thermostat/thermometer probes? He is about to shed. The Shedding Process His behavior is a great sign that he's doing well. A hiding ball python is a happy ball python. Idk about the bedding. You do know that a thermometer and a thermostat are different, right? You definitely won't find the thermostat you need at Walmart. Order online. Get a nice one if you can afford it. I'm looking at the Herpstat by Spyder Robotics. A cheaper Alternative is the Reptitemp 500R. It'll do, but definitely get a nicer one if you can afford it. Read all the stickies, etc. Great info.

Edit: Dang it, I knew she'd beat me to it.

[BPmamanow]

yea, i know they're different, just typed the wrong word
ok, good to know hes just chillin.. im definitely gonna get that accurite setup, and ill order a thermostat online, and stop listening to my friend.. lol. he said hes hiding because its too hot in there..
anyways, thank you for the advice.. ill get some good pictures of him when i can, hopefully he'll come out for a bit tonight.
my husband and i are already addicted!

[stevepoppers]

Wait til you see the difference after he sheds. Like a whole new snake.

[abuja]

Welcome, friend! Hahahaha, glad to see you have grown attached to this forum; it will definitely benefit you in the long run. Ditto to the other members' advice to you!

[WingedWolfPsion]

Since no one else mentioned it, I hope you carefully disinfected everything with bleach before setting a new snake up in the habitat of one that died of unspecified causes.

[BPmamanow]

yes, definitely.

[stevepoppers]

equipment from his bp that just passed

Oh crap I did not see that! Definitely find out why it died, if you can.