my first snake

[dg1013]

hi i just got my new baby ball python and just want to ensure i am doing everything right i have the temperature set to 85 on the warm side and 80 on the cool side with a water dish and the humidity is at 45% i just have green AstroTurf at the bottom of his tank (guy at the pet store said that is best for begging snake owners). Also i have been handling him the last couple days and i read that i should let him settle in for about a week before handling should i stop handling him now or just continue handling him since i have been already?

-Damon

[Kinra]

You should bump your warm side up a bit. 85 is a little cool, 88-92 would be better.

AstroTurf is a pain to clean, news paper or paper towels would be easier because you can replace them instead of having to clean the AstroTurf.

How are you supplying heat? If you are using a heat lamp you should look into getting a heat pad, but these need something controlling them preferably a thermostat but a dimmer will work (you will need to monitor it closely).

I would also stop handling him until he starts to eat for you. I don't handle any of my new snakes until they have eaten at least once for me and then it's only for short periods until I know they will eat routinely.

The care sheet can give you some more pointers: Care Sheet

Welcome and congrats on your first BP/snake!

[R_lopez]

Warm side should be around 90-95 and humidity should be around 50% also leave him alone for a week if you keep handling him it causes stress on him and will make him not eat so best to do it leave him alone

[DellaF]

Congrats on the new BP. Please take time to read the caresheet. I would give him a week to settle in before handling.

[llovelace]

Welcome to BP.net , yes please take the time to read through the care sheet

[dg1013]

thank you for the advise i read over the care sheet and im going to go to the pet shop to look into some heating pads to raise the temp i am currently using a heating lamp do you recommend a light and heating pad and do i turn off the heating pad at night as i would with a light?

[Plissken]

welcome aboard
I'd leave the pad on at night...keep the tank from getting too cool and Balls are nocturnal, so he may like to be out and about and warm his belly under the stars.

[Kinra]

thank you for the advise i read over the care sheet and im going to go to the pet shop to look into some heating pads to raise the temp i am currently using a heating lamp do you recommend a light and heating pad and do i turn off the heating pad at night as i would with a light?

You shouldn't need the lamp with the heat pad and you can leave it running all the time. Please remember you need at least a dimmer for the heat pad, they get extremely hot and can burn your snake.

[dg1013]

ok thank you everyone for the advise i now have the warm side at 92 the cool side at 80 and switched from using heat lamps to a heating pad with an adjustable thermostat and the humidity is at 55%.