New owner! Couldn't be happier but need some help

[CrocodileFace]

OOOOH SO PRETTY! I love the normal look better than most morphs!

Can you cover 3 sides of the tank with dark construction paper or something? I think it will be much better for your wee one.

I"ll figure something out... Would cardboard work?

[Amp625]

anything works black is best it just makes him more secure

[jason221]

You may want to consider ditching the half-log hide and using two identical hides that cover him on all sides (like the one next to the water dish in the picture). It helps if your BP likes one hide better than the other; that way, he won't have to choose between warmth and comfort.

[CrocodileFace]

You may want to consider ditching the half-log hide and using two identical hides that cover him on all sides (like the one next to the water dish in the picture). It helps if your BP likes one hide better than the other; that way, he won't have to choose between warmth and comfort.

Didnt think about that... Another good idea I'll work on finding another one of those containers.

I just covered the cage yesterday!

[CrocodileFace]

One More Question... I just ordered an UTH yesterday on Amazon, is there anything else i should do? I have a heat/Humidity gauge in the tank already. I don't want him to burn himself

[Amp625]

One More Question... I just ordered an UTH yesterday on Amazon, is there anything else i should do? I have a heat/Humidity gauge in the tank already. I don't want him to burn himself

Thermostat is extremely important i wouldn't even plug in a UTH without one, reptitemp 500r are the cheapest but if you want a really fancy one go with a herpstat or a helix. I have a herpstat for my UTH for lil curtis and it works great.

[bpqueen]

1) The hydrofarm thermostat is great for the price, and I love mine. Forum search for thermostat and it will undoubtably come up. I ordered mine through Amazon.

2) You can keep humidity up by placing some foil wrapped pieces of cardboard at the top of your tank between your lamp/s (if you are using any). I use 5 I think and have a 20gal tank with aspen bedding. Forum search for humidity and tank and you'll get all of your answers. There are also pics on one of the cage setup stickies.

3) If you are tuly worried about the humidity, get a Fluker's mini dripper and have it drip really slowly into a small ramiken of sphagnum moss and/or spread some damp moss around on your substrate and re-damped once daily. Don't forget to change that once a week as well to avoid mold.

4) Using the above two methods plus a once daily spritzing of the plastic plants I have in the tank, I have had 0 humidity probs (went from high 40s to high 50s) and 2 perfect sheds!

[Joelolly]

You will find various opinions on a feeding. Some will tell you that you will have a greater chance of getting bitten if you feed in there living quarters as they associate the opening of the cage with feeding time. But if you handle your BP on a regular basis as I do this usually wont happen. I personally feed them in there same habitat. For humidity I went and got this 13.00 humidifier that fits in the palm of your hand and it last 9 hours before refill. Keeps Humidity at 60. Last two sheds were perfect, they lasted about 24 hours and it was over.

Where did you find that humidifier?

[CrocodileFace]

Instead of cluttering the forum with threads I figure I'd just ask here... I just got the last of my setup today. The UTH and Thermo stat came in the mail and they are in the cage so I removed the Overhead lamp I had, my question is now it's so dark in the cage all the time is that okay for him? I want to be able to see him so I was thinking could I put the lamp back on top with the average light bulb in there just so I can look at him?

Thanks for all your help guys

EDIT: I plugged the pad/thermo combo (have it set to abt 95 since heat will dissipate through the bedding a little) about 10-15 minutes ago and it's barely warm yet... is that normal?

[anatess]

Instead of cluttering the forum with threads I figure I'd just ask here... I just got the last of my setup today. The UTH and Thermo stat came in the mail and they are in the cage so I removed the Overhead lamp I had, my question is now it's so dark in the cage all the time is that okay for him? I want to be able to see him so I was thinking could I put the lamp back on top with the average light bulb in there just so I can look at him?

Thanks for all your help guys

EDIT: I plugged the pad/thermo combo (have it set to abt 95 since heat will dissipate through the bedding a little) about 10-15 minutes ago and it's barely warm yet... is that normal?

A ball python is nocturnal - so, no, it doesn't need light at all except some sunlight through a window into the room to give it a sense of daytime/nightime. If you want to see your snake - just use your regular room light.

Okay, do this for me - put your hand under your armpit. The heat of your armpit is around 97 degrees (unless you have a fever). The floor of your tank shouldn't go higher than 95 - so your armpit would be slightly hotter than the floor of your tank. Make sense?