New to Pythons

[ElWray]

I have several different pets, and Ive always wanted a ball python.
Went to get crickets on friday, and I saw one, and just had to get it.
Ive done research over the last while, so Im not 100% clueless, but I am still new (i realize not all info you read is good, but I think Ive got a decent understanding)
Here is a pic of the snake. Its not sexed yet, and is 8 months old. Its name is Leopold Butters Stotch (or just butters) Pretty sure its a normal. I have 2 hides on either side of the tank, with a thermometer, and hydrometer. Water dish in the middle, and I am using paper towel for now (yes I know theres news paper in the pic). I was told Cyprus mulch is best for them.
If anyone can tell me what I am doing wrong, or any tips, it will be much appreciated!
Thanks!

[redstormlax12]

First thing is welcome to the addiction.Now aquariums are awful for ball pythons. They lose all the heat and humidity is almost impossible to keep constant leading to bad sheds. Unless its a good petstore they probably suckered you into buying all the pet store stuff. Forget it. With herps the stuff you get at the pet stores are usually useless like the dial thermometers and hygrometers. The best thing to do is go to your local hardware store and buy a probe digital thermometer. Its much more accurate and can measure ambient temps and hot spots much better. And if you can get a temp gun that will make your life a million times easier with temps.

Instead of the tank go to wal-mart or a similar store and buy a tub and a human heating pad that doesnt shut off after a certain amount of time. Or instead of the heat pad get some heat tape or an ultratherm heat pad. Judging from the picture that ball isn't 8 months old, and if he is, he has been desperartly underfed. But he doesn't look skinny so he's most likely in the 2-4 month area. Tubs are perfect. They keep heat and humidity great, are easy to clean, and extremely inexpensive. Id say get a tub in the 20qt area.

For a substrate newspaper and papertowels are just fine, and most actually prefer it over aspen or cyprus. Never use pine or cedar, though some do, its not recommended as it can be harmful to reptiles.

Do you know what your temps are. The hot spot should be around 90 with a ambient of around 80. How are you measuring the temps? Humidity should be 50-60%. Here is the caresheet from this site:
http://ball-pythons.net/modules/Sect...warticle&id=59

And your right saying its a normal. Dont bother making a thread asking if its a morph. As far as the sex, we cant tell from a picture. You'll have to take it to a vet to be probed. You can pop it, but since your new to snakes I wouldnt recommend it.

But congrats on the new pickup.

[ElWray]

I trust the pet store, since they have never offered to sell me anything. They all own several snakes and/or lizards each. I got the tank, because thats what I have for everything else I own.
Temp is about 93 in the hot end, and humidity is about 60-64%.

They were not positive on the age, just told me about 8 months. I know that girl only has lizards though, so maybe she just didnt know about the snake.
So news paper/paper towel, always, or just for now? Will be a million times easier if I just stick with that.

Ive looked into how to sex it, and yeah. I do NOT want to try myself. I am new to pythons, and I dont want to hurt it, so I will either not worry about the sex, or ill get it to a vet.

I use tanks for everything else, but the tub sounds a lot more sensible, as it would be darker during the day. (its my understanding, that they prefer the dark)

Other than that, if there is anything else I am missing, let me know!!
(BTW the snake has no problems at all with me handling it. I assume it would let me know, otherwise)

[ElWray]

PS- The humidity in general seems to be around 60, as I am about 6 blocks from the river. Should I still mist the cage at all? Or leave it?

[kane_abel]

Leave it. Only raise the humidity when it is showing signs of shedding. Then raise it to around 70-80%

[angllady2]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping a ball in an aquarium. They ARE a little harder to maintain, but not hazardous or anything.

Substrate is mostly a matter of personal choice, as long as you stay away from cedar/pine shavings. I will say I use aspen, and I like it, but that's me. I will also mention after seeing the amount of waste my 2200 gram female can produce, I can't imagine what her enclosure and herself would look like if I used newspaper.

The big things for ball pythons are proper heat, and belly heat is best for digestion, proper humidity, and nice tight hides.

You can find a wealth of information here both by doing a search, and by reading the caresheets and stickies here.

Gale

[mechnut450]

i only can say make sure you have the lid secure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! these guys are escape artist. ( most snakes are) I had a corn shimmy up the temp probe cable and get to the far end of the trailer with out getting eaten by a dog, 4 humand seeing it and mom's 10 or so cats( they go in and out al lthe time) and only got caught when mom went to bed cause it slither across her toes. and that was pretty goo considering the little guy was a snow and stuck out. d

[stormshadow]

I'd like to say that I have never used tubs because I find them ugly. I use an aquarium because I find it becomes more of a piece of furniture and looks nice. That said, I only have one snake right now.

[snakesRkewl]

IMO tubs hide them better and give them the security they seek.
Tanks "work" but being nocturnal unless your up at night they aren't much of a show animal.
To me aquariums are awesome, for fish

Pictures of the set up?

"Temp is about 93 in the hot end, and humidity is about 60-64%"
How are you taking temps and with what?

93 is too hot for the ambient temperature anywhere in the tank.

Ideally 87ish for the warm end, 78-80 cool end and 90-92 for a hot spot.

[AkHerps]

I use tanks and block of the sides and back with black construction paper. I also supply all of my reptiles with a humid hide, so no shedding problems here, they use it when they need it.