About to get my first ball!

[PixieMaple]

Hi! I just joined, and my name is Steph. I'm getting my first ball python on Tuesday, and I want to make sure I get everything right.
First of all, I'm getting a 2008 normal male, who weighs about 1000 g. I'm having a hard time picturing what size he'll be, so I had to guess when buying his hides.
Heres info about his home: 30 gallon long (12x36), paper towel substrate, a water dish in the middle (however I'm not sure it's big enough for him to sit in?), two hides on opposite sides, which i made from two small overturned wicker baskets. I have some additional plant deco for privacy. I also have a spray bottle for humidity. Unfortunately I don't have a UTH, only a 75w heat lamp. Will switch to UTH with next paycheck. All I need now, I think, are a hydrometer and thermometer. What size mouse/rat do you think a snake of this size would be eating?
Thanks!

[LGL]

Welcome to BP.net!

All I need now, I think, are a hydrometer and thermometer.

A lot of people use an Accurite available at Walmart for around $13 (if I remember correctly). I've heard good things about them.

What size mouse/rat do you think a snake of this size would be eating?

He should be eating one small rat per week.

Everything sounds fine. Best of luck!

[Ham]

When you get your UTH you will need to get a thermostat to regulate its temperature otherwise the snake can burn himself very badly if he were to lay directly on top of it... Even if it has substrate over it, the snake can burrow down and lay over it, they will not notice they are burned until it is too late!

[PixieMaple]

Thank you! Yes, once I get the UTH I'll be sure to do that because I'm deathly afraid of burns after seeing some of the pics on here

[I<3Dreamsicles]

Get a UTH AND Thermostat...

I second the acurite.

Well hes an 08 hes not going to be small. The heat lamp will lower humidity alot, and I dont think paper towels would hold humidity that well but I havent tried it.

[Ham]

I reccomend Cypress Mulch as a substrate, it holds humidity very well, and is highly mold resistant!

[PixieMaple]

Ok, will look for some cypress mulch. I have some substrate that I bought awhile ago, but on the bag it doesn't say what kind it is, so I didn't put it in my tank. It's reddish pieces of bark, no smell or anything. Sorry, don't have a pic or anything.

[Crazy4Herps]

The only concern with cypress is that it can contain harmful spores. That said, I've known people who use it successfully. Your substrate sounds like either repti bark or cypress mulch.

I've used all sorts of heating methods over the years, and I'm going to tell you what I've concluded: lamps in glass cages are not practical. Buy and set up a UTH with a trusted thermostat (I like Johnsons) before you purchase your snake. It can take hours for temps to stabilize and you may have to adjust the t'stat a few times.

I also vouch for the Acurite.


Welcome to BP.net! If you have any other questions, ask away!

[Ham]

Holy Moly Spores?

Are you serious? What kind of spore? mold spores?

I have always been told cypress mulch is mold resistant, I dont want to hurt my snake, but cypress is what I have always used as well as the reptile shelter where I volunteer...

Can you tell me more about the spores? (Just trying to be cautious)
I love the humidity properties of the cypress, would hate for it to be a problem.

Do you think baking the mulch at a high heat before using it will destroy any harmful spores?

[Crazy4Herps]

Gosh, let's see... I'm sure I was reading an article on this... I'll try to find it.

Honestly, I don't think it's an issue. Whenever there is a discussion on cypress the spore issue seems to come up, but there are so many people out there who use it, I don't believe it's a big worry.

And yes, baking it at 200* for a few hours would do it.

Okay, here's a discussion on RTB.com on cypress.
http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/boa...cypress+spores

http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/boa...cypress+spores

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...cypress+spores

Really, it doesn't seem that anybody has very much info on it. There are so many areas of reptile keeping where absolutely NO research has been done. We need some biologists looking into this stuff.