Quote Originally Posted by mattchibi View Post
Im not discrediting you... but you are saying some things that dont quite make sense and might not be the best advice for someone new.. No undertank heater because they can easily burn your snake? Really? This is only true if a proper thermostat or dimmer isn't used to regulate the temps. In fact, an undertank heater controlled by a proportional thermostat is by far the best way to provide heat to your snake. Just FYI if you didnt know.

As for the UV day glo bulb, BP's dont need light, especially not UVB light. Constant overhead light creates stress in ball pythons. Ambient room light is sufficient if you want to provide your snake with a 12 hour day/night cycle. If you want/need to use a bulb to increase ambient temps, I suggest a Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE for short) or an infrared 60 watt bulb. Both of these can be used with a dimmer and you can keep it on top of the tank 24/7 . It will drain the humidity though, so dont use it unless you have to (if your house is super cold)

And as for the multiple hides. You are right, it does not need multiple hides. It does need at least TWO though. One hide on the cold side, one on the warm side. Reason being so your snake can thermoregulate. DEFINITELY provide it with two identical hides on both sides so that your snake does not have to choose security over temperature. There might be a reason why your snake is so "social"...

And last, as for the feeding in enclosure linked to cage agression thing.. thats a myth. Snakes are super-predators. They can use their tongue and their jacobsons organs to "smell" their prey. Unless you smell like rodents, you wont get bit. Just wash your hands before and after handling your snake and you should be fine. Of course there are some naturally aggressive ball pythons, but once "tamed", as long as you dont smell like a rat you wont get bit.
I don't fell disregarded like I said no 2 ppl agree when it comes to BP you rarely find multiple sources be it books, internet, owner, or herpetologist that are consistent. Snakes have diff personalities and prefer different things. My BP I referred to refused constantly to use the cool side hide as more than a bathroom(easy cleanup but still) refused it while identical the the warm hide and preferred a swim, a dry off bask on top of his tree and then a nap is his warm hide. He also often prefers to remain exposed while napping wrapping around and through the roots of his ceramic tree which is on the coolside everyday he's got a morning and evening routine and I was mistaken when I said undertank I meant ceramic heating rocks are bad as snakes in general can not detect heat accurately on their bellies and can't tell too hot my dads ball from when I was young was purchased by a exotic pet store and as follow up a week later my dad went in to hear his snake was dead on the heat rock the morning after he sold it. And they don't require UVB but is helpful in production of vitamin D, also brings out color of balls very well and is needed for the light schedule as I use infrared lighting and nightglow and without visible light for roughly 12 hours(which is what they have in their natural habitat which is not a tuberware

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