New BP Owner with some questions.

[Driver]

I got my new girl from a guy off of craigslist for $40 with enclosure about 2 weeks ago. He said that she was only 90 days old and that he had just fed her 3 pinkies the day before. He kind of worries me because the enclosure he had for her had sand in it and two plane rocks and that was it.
So two weeks have gone by and I have attempted to feed her a hopper on two different occasions. The first time she acted scared of it when it came near her and she turns her head away as if to get away. This second time she seemed more interested but eventually just went in her hide and stayed there after about 30 mins. I killed the hopper and left it out side of her hide. I am hoping it will be gone tomorrow morning.
The only thing that scares me is her skin seems very loose as if its going to fall off.
I have looked through the care sheets and what not. I'm using a 10gallon tank with two hides one on each side and the water bowl with a cover is in the middle. Iv been having trouble with the humidity but just got that figured out the other day.
Is there any suggestions to get her to eat?

[Skittles1101]

Well what are the temps? What are you using to heat the 10 gallon tank? What are you using for substrate? How are you measuring temps?

The skin thing may just her beginning to shed...pictures would be more helpful

Pictures of the setup would help too

[Driver]

The temps during the day range from 90-95 on the hot side and 82-84 on the cool side. Im using two digital temperature/humidity gauges on both sides of the tank down by the substrate. I'm using all natural cypress. I'm Using a heat lamp with a 60w regular bulb, the heat bulbs got way to high.
Good news is it looks like I spoke to soon. I went back in to just make sure that the hopper was dead and not just stunned and it was no where to be found. So it looks like my girl had her first meal with me . I just didnt get to watch
I will put pictures up in the next day or two. I don't want to disturb her right now.

[llovelace]

Bring your hot side temp down a bit.
The heat lamps will kill the humidity.
Are you using a uth?

I'm glad she ate for you

[Driver]

I got a UTH to replace the lamp do to the humidity issue, however the uth only raised the temp 2 degrees above room level, so i took it back. Im going to buy a better quality one here soon.

[kitedemon]

The hot side is a bit high, you could just increase the distance a bit. Humidly can be tricky but temps are much more important that humidity. In the past with others have taken away the only heat source for fear of low humidity. A uth needs some control you cannot just run it unchecked. A rheostat, thermostat, or proportional thermostat, something. Keep using what you are until you get the uth and some control for it. Low humidity is not a massive problem, you could add a humid hide. there are lots of posts on controls and lots of ideas what is best.

[ogdentrece]

I got a UTH to replace the lamp do to the humidity issue, however the uth only raised the temp 2 degrees above room level, so i took it back. Im going to buy a better quality one here soon.

Be careful with this.. the UTH may raise the ambient temperature only 2 degrees above room level, but floor temperature way over that. If it isn't, check to see if your substrate layer is thick. The ambient temperature does not exactly need to be at 90 even at the hot side, it should be more of just be the hot spot on the ground in the hide as long as your ambient temperatures do not go below 80.

[TheWinWizard]

UTH's aren't going to raise the ambient temp that much. They provide belly heat and need to be controlled so the snake doesn't get burned.

[Driver]

Here is a image of the enclosure. Im working on getting a better quality one made just for reptiles. But for now this is what i have. When you say the temperatures are to high. What should they be on the hot side? I was under the impression that it should be between 90-95

[Skittles1101]

Hot spot temps should be between 88-92. 95 is just too hot for long term.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

It sounds like she just feels insecure. I'd work on getting a UTH WITH a thermostat, and try covering the top with something about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way. I also suggest getting black Con-tact paper from Home Depot, it's like $6 for the roll. Just cover the back and two sides with it, it blacks it out so she doesn't feel like she's out in the open....it makes the tank seem smaller and helps them feel more secure.