New Ball Python Owner.

[Terretes]

Hello everyone. I am new the forums as you can tell lol, but I have just bought a Het for piebald male Ball Python two days ago and I am currently housing him in a 20 gallon long. I have a heat lamp and a heat pad on one side. Over the pad is a hide for him to stay under and on the cool side is his water dish and a 3 in 1 Rock cave that he has been in since I have brought him home. A friend had gotten him from a reptile show about two hours away for me. He knows his snakes he has several right now, but he didnt get the info I had learned to get when purchasing a new snake. I have no idea how old he is or when he last ate. His cage is pretty bare right now because I have ordered several new hides and accessories from the internet due to the fact that where I live all we have near is a Earl May . When I first got him i wasnt the first to hold him. First my girlfriend held him, then her little sister held him, and then they gave him to me. I wanted to leave him in his container until I got him into his cage, but no one would listen to me. After a minute of me handling him he started moving a little strange and struck my right thumb. It didn't hurt, but it scared me because I didn't want to jerk and hurt him. But I am on here asking for any advice that can benefit me in the long run and how long I should wait to feed him and hold him again. Thanks

[ballpythonluvr]

You should give him a week to settle in before handling him and feeding him. After about 48 hours after feeding him you will be able to handle him.

[Skittles1101]

Well, what I'm wondering from all that is how are you monitoring that heat pad? What is a humidity in the tank. Just so you know you are definitely going to have humidity problems with the heat lamp above.

Oh, and welcome

[Terretes]

Lol thanks. And the heat pad a is a little baby exo terra pad and it barely gets hot enough to hurt my finger. I separated the ball from the direct glass the heat pad is on with a sheet of part towel just to be sure he don't burn himself. And I've learned that if he is too dry he will dip into his water dish

[ballpythonluvr]

Even though that heat pad is little and doesn't feel hot to you it could still get hot enough to burn your snake. It is sooooooo important to have a thermostat to control the temperature of the heat pad, even it if it is only a small one. If you can't afford a thermostat you could always get a dimmer switch to control it. Congrats on getting a new snake and welcome to the forums.

[Skittles1101]

I use a small zoo med heat mat for my one and only tank, and to the touch doesn't feel hot and without my dimmer or thermostat it was reading over 130* full blast ABOVE the glass......you HAVE to get something to monitor the heat in the tank or you're going to end up with an injured snake. Also, I have NEVER seen my bp "dip" in his water on his own. My suggestion is to mist at least 2-3 times a day, and invest in a dimmer that costs $10.00 at Home Depot and a temp gun to check temps. Tempguns.com having a sale on the PE-2 for $35.00.

Here's a pic of what your heat mat can do to your bp...just be prepared for graphic
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-me...(graphic)

[Drumsinthenight.]

Welcome.

Correct temps are very important if you want a healthy feeding ball python.

A temperature controller of some king is necessary such as a thermostat or rheostat or even a dimmer switch. you will need an accurate thermometer to monitor the temps. set your heat tape,heat pad or mat at 90-92*F. don't keep your set up(tank) in a cold room. don't handle the baby until it settles into its new cage and is feeding well.

Good luck.

[Terretes]

Okay a dimmer switch would be fine bc I cant get a thermpatat for a little while bc I have to order one off amazon? And i've seen him dip in his water already

[Skittles1101]

A dimmer is useless without a way to read the temps though, I suggest a temp gun or at the very lest a digital thermometer. If he's dipped in his water he's probably soaking because of lack of humidity....misting should keep him from having to soak.

[Kinra]

I've noticed no one has given any advice on how big or how often you should feed your BP. That is important information to have. The pet store I got my first BP from told me to feed her one live mouse once a week. Given her size that was too small for her. You want to feed him something that is about the same width as the thickest part of your snake. I'm sure other people feed differently, but that's the rule of thumb I use. Feeding once a week should be fine if you are feeding the right amount.