Any advice???

[Carsten]

Hey, so over the weekend I got my first ball python from new england reptile distributers in new Hampshire. The ball python I got is a regular male with a black stripe running down his back. He is about 1 year old. I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice because this is my first snake( except for garden snakes I found wild).

[Cameron Lamb Exotics]

Give him a wicked name

[rebelrachel13]

Congrats on your new snake and welcome to BP.net!!

What kind of advice are you seeking? We could give better answers if you tell us a little about him or what you want to know.

Also, what are you keeping him in now and with what heat sources?

Would love to see pics of your snake! We love pics here!

[satomi325]

Good advice? Make sure your husbandry is spot on. Good husbandry will make a happy snake and less health problems in the future.
And invest in a thermostat if you have a heating pad/flexwatt.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Read this, it will really help:

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

[Carsten]

@rebelrachel13, I am seeking any advice, from feeding tips to tips on humidity levels to tips on handling. He is about 1.5 feet long and when I hold him, he calmly pokes his head around and flicks his tongue. He has a 10 with a water dish in one corner and a hiding log on the other side. There is a special mulch I got from the pet store that is the correct type of mulch for snakes. As heat, there is a small heat pad on the bottom of the tank but it does not provide enough heat to keep the tank warm, so I bought a heat lamp that keeps one side of the tank between 85-90, and it keeps the other side around 80.
@Reptilecam- I named my snake Nondo, which means snake in Swahili or someplace.

Hear are some pictures:
http://us.mg4.mail.yahoo.com/ya/down...Inbox&inline=1

http://us.mg4.mail.yahoo.com/ya/down...Inbox&inline=1

http://us.mg4.mail.yahoo.com/ya/down...Inbox&inline=1

http://us.mg4.mail.yahoo.com/ya/down...Inbox&inline=1

[The Serpent Merchant]

Does your heat pad have a thermostat regulating it? if not it will get hot enough to kill your snake. What are you using to measure temperatures?

To insert pictures upload the images to photo bucket (it's free) then copy and paste the "IMG" code into a post here on BP.net

[Carsten]

@ The Serpent Merchant
there is two inches of mulch covering the bottom of the entire tank. I was worried that it might get too hot too, so i felt the mulch above the heat pad, and it was just warm, so that is why I added the heat lamp. For a thermometer i have a zoo med thermometer that have a probe on it.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Well you have 2 issues:

first off the heat pad can't heat through that much substrate (needs to be 1/2" or less)

Second you do need a thermostat either get one or unplug the heat pad there is documentation of them melting plastic and getting to 130 + degrees (if you want proof of this put the thermometer probe on the bottom of the cage directly over the heat pad.

Simply having all that substrate won't protect you. BP's will sometimes dig down into their substrate then they are on the bottom of the cage where it is too hot. they get burned and you have to go to the vet or worse your snake dies.

Here are 2 good thermostats don't waste your money on the thermostats sold in pet stores as they are junk.

The hydrofarm thermostat, sold on Amazon for $30 these will work but lack accuracy and safety features. these should be replaced with a better thermostat when possible.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR..._bxgy_ol_img_b

The herpstat. These cost more but are extremely accurate and have multiple safety features built in. (starting at $99)

http://spyderrobotics.com/

[Carsten]

the heat lamp that I have have a thermostat with it that turns the heat lamp down if the temperature inside the glass terrarium goes above 92 degrees Celsius.
@ The Serpent Merchant, do you know if there are any better heat pads that are safer for my snake?