New Ball Python Questions

[courtneyrae427]

Hello everyone!

I just bought a new Ball Python this week, and he's a true charmer. He's sweet as can be. When I held him at the pet store, he did the ball up thing, but after a minute or so, got very curious and started exploring, and wrapping around my arm. I brought him home, put him in his cage, and let him be.

So, after I put him in his tank, he explored and did the normal things. He has been very calm and subdued now, which I know is a good trait, and he ate well for me (yay!) when I fed him. He's never tried to snap at me or do anything that's freaked me out so far. But I do have a couple of questions for everyone.

So, I have an aquarium with a screen top for a cage (please for the love of god don't start flaming me, I know the problems and risks associated with it) but I would like some advice on keeping the humidity up. Currently, I'm misting 2x daily and laying a towel over a portion of the top of the tank, and it holds it at about 45-55% humidity. I was wondering if using a piece of pegboard would be a bit more efficient, because then it wouldn't be a damp towel laid across the top, and would perhaps provide a better bit of circulation.

Or would it be better to just provide him with a humid-hide to use as he pleases? although with it being winter, and me being in an apartment, I have trouble with the humidity being over 10%. How much would a humidifier help in the room?

The next question I have is does anyone have any clue why my snake is curling up on the backside of his hide, and not actually using it? He seems to like to lay in the corners of the tank more than anything, and he sticks to the cooler side (kept at about 80 degrees) His warmer side is 85 with a heat lamp that provides a basking spot. I've seen him once on this basking spot.

The tank is set up with two hides, a wood piece for him to lay on a little higher on the warmer side if he'd like, a water dish, and fake plant shrubbery which he tends to drape his tail behind. I have a humidity monitor, and a temperature gauge on both sides of the cage. I'm currently using aspen bedding, but planning on switching to the repti-bark when I do the full clean of his cage at the end of the month mark. One of the hides is a half log, which I've read they're not overly a big fan of. the tank is 36x12x18. I've read somewhere that crumpling balls of newspapers or paper towels and placing them in the tank may give him a more secure feeling.

He's very responsive, and not very 'energetic', which is supposed to be a good thing, but I've also read on here that a hiding bp is a happy bp, so I'm wondering if I should provide smaller hides for him, or if he just doesn't really like to hide.

Thanks everyone for your time!

[The Serpent Merchant]

85 is a bit cool for the hot side. Try to get it between 88-92. There are a few possibilities for why he isn't using the hide. The few that immediately come to mind are that the hot side is too cool and/or the hide is to large for the snake.

Check out these two threads, they cover care and cage heating:

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

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

[Evildrdee]

To cover the top of your screen, try Glad Press N Seal. Works awesome. Just keep it at a distance from the light; which is also drying your tank out. I suggest UTH, Under tank heaters. Better for balls, they like belly heat.

[martin82531]

Like Aaron mentioned 85 is a bit cool for the warm side. I would suggest picking up a UTH and a thermostat to provide your basking spot, use the the lamp if you need to increase your ambient temps. I would also try two identical hides if they are not already. Here are some suggested but of course not all inclusive links.

Hides:
http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

UTH:
http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiT.../dp/B0002AQCKA (Can be purchased at your local Petco/Petsmart, just double check on the size you need)
http://www.reptilebasics.com/heat-tape (flexwatt in general is a common UTH, repltile basics will assemble it for you if you request it.

Thermostats:
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...arm+thermostat
http://spyderrobotics.com/

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers - this link includes information about the different types of thermostats. (on/off verse proportional)

[Kaorte]

I hear the word "temperature gauge" and I am picturing those round dial stick on things. If so, trash them. They are so far from accurate you will be amazed at what your temps read with a digital thermometer.

Your temps might be warmer than you want, so please be sure to get a digital thermometer and hygrometer so you can get a more realistic view of your temps and humidity.

As for hides, I've seen people use the half log hides, but I think the ball pythons would choose something more snug (like a rock cave) over the log.

and good luck with your new baby! Any pictures??

[Griffith]

Ditto to Kaorte's statement on the round temp gauges....

Run to Pet Smart and get a digital thermometer with a probe. Made by Zoomed, and costs about $8-10...one of the best investments for the health of your snake

[kitedemon]

I personally don't hold with covering up air flow to increase humidity. Yes it works, just like a plastic bag over your head increases humidity, does it sound like a good idea? How much ventilation is needed I can't say open tops don't vent out as well as you might think either.

Yes room humidifiers work super well I currently use this method.

Variation one,

You need a larger amount of water mass. Misting is useless as it is a small amount of water and dries quickly. I used to do this with open top tanks. Place a drip tray (the thing that goes under a plant) or low plastic container on the bare floor of the cool side. I would cover it with substrate (coco coir aka eco earth) about 2 or 3 inches deep banked toward the warm side (only 1/8 -1/4 deep over the warm side uth) and then poke a hole down to the tray and fill the tray with water. It will evaporate and has humid air rises humidify the lower end of the tank. It keeps the surface where the snake is dry and yet adds lots of humidity into the hides. simple, effective.

Variation two,
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...arium-Solution

This takes a bit more effort but in the end is a far better solution. It solves the open top and as hi/low vents are far more efficient it remains well vented, while reducing heat loss and humidity loss. I have a few now and a number of commercial PVCx enclosures and feel that the differences are so slight it doesn't matter much. It also helps with ambient temps if you install a fluorescent light and blue led night lights.

[courtneyrae427]

Thank you all, I am going to try the substrate over the drip tray to start. I'm not a large fan of cutting off the air flow either. No pictures currently, trying to get the little one all settled in first. She actually hid all day yesterday!

[Newballer]

Hey, sorry for the mild hi-jack. Is it alright to keep two males in the same inclosure? Thanks ahead of time.

[Griffith]

Hey, sorry for the mild hi-jack. Is it alright to keep two males in the same inclosure? Thanks ahead of time.

No. Don't keep any of them in the same enclosure. If you can't afford a second enclosure, then you can't afford a second snake.