Please help... Newbie...

[greg728]

Hello -

I just bought my first snake over the weekend - a ball python. (about 26 inches) While doing as much research as I can, I'm starting to get a little confused...

I'm aware of the warm/cool sides - I have a hollow rock/cave looking hide on the warm side. Underneath the tank, directly under this hide, is a heat pad, and I have my heat lamp set up on top of the hide as well. (as per the dude at the pet store's advice) The large water dish is on the cool side, along with a branch and some fake plant leaves.

Some of the stuff I'm reading/being told is a little contradicting...

Some people are telling me to have the tank setup as I just mentioned. (how I have it setup now) Others are telling me, that to keep better humidity, to move the heat lamp over top of the water dish... (to the former cool side)

Does this mean I should still keep the heating pad under his hide? Wouldn't this ruin the aspect of having a warm & cool side for the snake??

I don't think this sounds right to me, but I wanted to make sure. I'm thinking about leaving the setup how it is, and putting another small hide on the cool side. (I have a 25 gallon tank, so I don't want to cram it too much tho)

I'm totally open for any suggestions/advice. Please send some my way!

Thank you.

[MissDixie]

Hi & welcome to your new additction! LOL

BP's don't require or like very large enclosures....equal hides on the warm and cool sides; keep the temps within ranges and the humidity up; use the heat lamp as a supplement if you're having trouble keeping the temp up; cover half to 3/4 of the aquarium (screen top??) with aluminum foil or a towel (something to hold in the humidity).

Keep doing your research....you'll find what works best for you!

[greg728]

Thank you! And yes... screen top. I've always wanted a snake, and to start on a BP (my aunt had one when I was younger & I fell in love) I have to say though I cannot believe how obsessed I am with this lol. It's pleasurable though, I really like it.

[redstormlax12]

The heat pad and heat light is probably a little overkill. The heat pad should be sufficient, depending on your ambient temp in the room. and make sure you have the heat pad ON A THERMOSTAT. It is truly important. An uncontrolled heat pad can severely burn and even kill your BP.

Your going to need two properly sized identical hides on each side of the tank. This will let your new BP choose where to thermoregulate without sacrificing security.

Id say ditch the lamp. They zap away humidity like it's their job. Use some tinfoil on the top of the cage to keep in heat and humidity. But not over the entire top, there still need to be air circulation.

Dont worry about cramming too much into the tank. Some people will fill tubs with crinkled newspaper to help the ball python feel more secure. The only thing is, the more stuff you have, the more stuff you must clean.

If you can, buy a tub that is in the 20qt range. Get a heat pad for underneath 1/3 to 1/2 of the tub. Put some paper towels, newspaper or aspen down for substrate and have a hide on each side of the tub. This setup is cheap and truly the most effective. The glass on your tank will not hold in the heat like it should. The plastic will. You can even use a human heat pad. Look for one without the automatic shut off and on that has a simple thermostat on it. Just something that you can put it on low, med and high. I used these for my BP and an SD tic before their cages got here. And now with the new cages, they are keeping my red runner roaches hot.

Here is a great caresheet from this site.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules/...warticle&id=59

You could probably return alot of that stuff to the petstore and save yourself alot of money. In this hobby the dollar store, wal-mart, lowes and other large cheap stores will become your best friend. Forget petsmart. You'll learn quick that the overpriced stuff they sell is not neccesary.

Well congrats on entering the hobby, and to say what many others will say, So the addiction starts.

[greg728]

I was thinking about ditching the lamp as well. Should I keep the dark light (whatever it is) set up at night time? I was told that they really need this type of light for psychological reasons... Is this true?

My apartment is already pretty warm, and I have my BP away from the A/C. I actually placed the tank in my kitchen right next to my bathroom, so I've been showering (hot showers) with the door open a little which has been keeping the humidity up. (I know it's weird...)

[MissDixie]

I was thinking about ditching the lamp as well. Should I keep the dark light (whatever it is) set up at night time? I was told that they really need this type of light for psychological reasons... Is this true?

My apartment is already pretty warm, and I have my BP away from the A/C. I actually placed the tank in my kitchen right next to my bathroom, so I've been showering (hot showers) with the door open a little which has been keeping the humidity up. (I know it's weird...)

as long as the temps are good then ditch the lamp....and psychologically, they like to be left alone LOL
they dont require any special lighting, the darker the better, ambient room lighting with daylight & dark cycles works just fine

[55Ballin]

I was thinking about ditching the lamp as well. Should I keep the dark light (whatever it is) set up at night time? I was told that they really need this type of light for psychological reasons... Is this true?

You can return the dark light. The guy at the pet shop was just trying to get your money. Do you have a thermometer? If not go to walmart and get an Acurite thermometer/hygrometer(humidity) with a probe for 12 bucks. That is quite essential. Anyways good luck. If you have any questions just give us a shout, we're here to help.

[greg728]

thank you so much everyone!

yea the guy at the pet store was a total butt head...

[tonyaltn]

I run a UTH on a thermostat AND heater as well running 24 hours a day, but I use the Repticare ceramic heat emitter...I use that for 2 reasons, no extra light, and it dont dry the tank out like a regular bulb. The reason I use both is because I have a 75 gallon glass tank and it keeps the ambient temps where they should be while the UTH provides the hot spot. He will only use the hot spot after eating though, he will sit in the hot hide for a day or so after eating then go back under his water bowl only to be seen when I take him out for play time or to eat, lol.
I also use a small 34W regular light bulb since its a dispay tank, but its at an angle so it only provides enough light to make the tank look nice, about 75% of the light is pointed at a wall. I could use alot smaller bulb but I have 34W's all over since I use them in my lamps.
Just over 50% of the top is covered with a foam core board that has a layer of foil on it to help with humidity and ambient temps since its glass.

Alot of people find things that work better for them, or work just as good as other methods, so dont be to worried about hearing different opinions, nobody here will purposely steer you in the wrong direction.