Quote Originally Posted by JLC View Post
Way too hot. Those pads can get REALLY hot when not regulated with a thermostat (or at least a rheostat/dimmer switch). And ball pythons are not capable of knowing if a surface is too hot to lay on.

I honestly can't say if that is a shed or burn or both, but I CAN say that you need to do something about that heating pad, even if you have to borrow money from Mom. Go to Lowes/Home Depot/Ace and get a lamp-dimmer...it's a little sliding switch on an extension cord that you can plug your heater cord into...then dial it down. To measure the temperature, you also need a thermometer...which can also be found at the hardware store or WalMart...a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer that also measures humidity. The dimmer switch is usually less than $10 and the thermometer is less than $15.

The aspen bedding should NOT look wet...at all. And all wastes should be cleaned up as soon as feasible. While the snake is in the healing process, I would take the aspen out and replace it with clean newspaper or paper towels. With those, it's very easy to see if the snake has left a mess. You can spritz the paper/bedding when misting the cage, but it should never, ever be soggy.

wouldnt the paper towel/newpaper substrate provide very little seperation from the glass thus making it hotter?