first experience with bp

[shelby9189]

wow see all the pet stores around here were wrong then.. and where can i get a cage like that no one around here really has nothing to do with snakes a lot of people are scared of them my husband and i love them..

[The Serpent Merchant]

wow see all the pet stores around here were wrong then.. and where can i get a cage like that no one around here really has nothing to do with snakes a lot of people are scared of them my husband and i love them..

Almost all pet stores employ staffs that have no clue how to take care of reptiles.

My cages are made by a company called Animal Plastics. They are made out of 1/2" thick PVC sheets. They aren't cheap but a single T8 cage will last a BP (potentially 2 with the divider) their entire lives.

http://www.animalplastics.com

Here is a thread I wrote about them:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!

[shelby9189]

ok i will def look in to it..

[RestlessRobie]

I will add a little info as well If you buy from a breeder ONLINE or LOCAL ask them to get the snake eating Frozen Thawed F/T it will cut the cost down for you quit a bit. Plus you can order F/T online or form a local Breeder in bulk so you dont have to make a weekly trip to the pet store. If you get a live eater most can be converted to F/T pretty easily once they settle in to a routine. I do have one girl who refues to eat anything but LIVE MICE. But I am working on it she is a rescue and well at this point it is more imprtant to get some food in her rather than worry about switching her to rats and F/T. As others have said I have never fed a mouse pinkie to a Ball Python and have only had one who was the correct size for a rat pinkie. Most hatchling Ball Pythons will eat a rat pup or larger I am glad you have found us here in the Forum lots of great people here with a ton of info. I hope your second encounter with a Ball Python goes better for you they are great snakes

[shelby9189]

yea i hope it goes alot better too.. he was so much fun. mine would only eat live

[shelby9189]

If someone will tell me how to post a pic I'll post a pic of the setup I have that way someone can tell me maybe how I could fix it

[The Serpent Merchant]

How to post pictures: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...with-pictures)

[shelby9189]

[The Serpent Merchant]

ok, there are a few issues.

1. You really don't want the heat lamp inside the cage. If the BP comes into contact with the heat bulb he/she will probably get burnt.

2. It is best to have the heat lamp offset to one side or the other. this allows for a better thermal gradient (hot side/cool side) *if you are only using the heat lamp to maintain the air temperature and not create a basking site then a centered heat lamp is acceptable

3. You should have 2 identical hides (1 on the hot side and 1 on the cool side) log hides aren't the best, as they have molding issues and don't make BP's feel very secure.

4. Are you using 2 different types of substrate in the same cage? what types?

5. I would be wary of the castle, it looks like there are all sorts of places for a BP to get stuck in.

What are you using to measure temperatures/humidity in the cage? Does the cage have a heating pad?

Checkout this thread: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers

[shelby9189]

Ok I am only using the heat lamp I have a mesh top with the locking clips ok yes I have 2 logs my little bp stayed in it all the time but what is the best hide out?? I am using black sand on one side n pine on the other I know no that Im not supposed to use either pet store said it was ok at the time. There is one little hole in castle my little bp would get in and wouldn't get stuck but I see your point of view all I have right now is a thermometer they pet store said I really didn't have to have a humidity thermometer and no heating pad could never find one