New ball python owner looking for advice

[Gizmo66612]

Ok I just recently acquired my first ball python. I should say my first snake ever. He is about a 6 week old ball python..I'm having issues with a good setup. Currently he is in a 20 gal. Tank with the wire mesh topping. Iv got a nice sized water bowl for him to lounge in. Currently using shredded newspaper as a substrate. He has a 100 w red night bulb about 6 inches from top of tank and a 100w blue day bulb also about 6inches from the top of the tank. I have a UTH that I haven't installed yet. My question I guess is I would like a more decorative tank for him. Just having problems choosing substrates...the only substrate I haven't heard anything bad about it newspaper but id rather not use it to make a display tank for my python. My next question is maintaining a steady humidity of about 60%. I have a humidifier rigged up to lightly fog the bottom of his tank. It spikes my humidity to about 80% but then drops down to 40-50% after shutting off the humidifier. All in all I would like some suggestions on how to set up a good tank for my ball but also make it look good. I currently have a 55 gal tank set aside for when he gets older that I plan to slowly build into a really cool set up for my ball.

[carlson]

I have one ball in a tank an I use Eco earth for him with a big bowl seems to do fine with humidity he just soaks if needed. You can also cover up 3/4 the mesh an that will help hold in humidity.

[Gizmo66612]

I have his tank covered 3/4 way with a towel I turned my humidifier off about an hour ago and his humidity is now reading 44%. Iv heard a lot of bad things about the Eco earth cuz it can carry mites and other bugs that can be harmful..I have no experience with it but I just want to be sure it's absolutely perfect for my baby boy. I also heard from a friend that he uses all natural no fragrance no additives fellers earth cat litter as his substrate he says it looks natural and it's safe for the snake..I think it would be too dusty.. Any other opinions on that?

[towelie4365]

First, you need to read this caresheet carefully and fully:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

Under the substrate part it recommends:

"Some viable options for substrate include but are not limited to:
Repti-Bark or Jungle Bark type chips
Aspen
Newspapers/Newsprint
Paper towels
Carpet (harder to maintain)
Cypress Mulch
Coconut Husk-based substrates
Care-Fresh or similar products that do not pose impaction risks"

Just find which of those suit what you're looking for. Coconut husk-based might work, repti-bark, aspen, cypress mulch would probably be the most natural looking, but its whatever you think looks the best. I can't say anything about the cat litter. I personally use paper towels due to the ease of cleaning it--I know I wouldn't clean the cage nearly enough if I used one of those.

You should cover a majority of the top with something more than just a towel--it will keep the humidity in better. Just leave enough open to allow air to exchange.

I would recommend buying a thermostat before connecting the UTH, and an accurite thermometer/humidity reader to tell you if you have the hot spot and ambient temperatures correct. You might want a dimmer switch too for the heat lamp to get the ambient temperature correct. Or, if you don't need it, just the UTH without the bulbs would help maintain humidity.

[Gizmo66612]

Would the UTH be enough maintain proper heat without the bulbs? Especially if I used coconut husk wouldn't it be to thick to generate enough heat?

[trdancer]

as for the first topic about temps: I use two infrared bulbs one 100w 24/7 for ambient, and an 150w for basking, no uth, and I am going to get a thermostat or dimmer for it.
Substrate: I am currently using aspen which is not so good at keeping humidity, but next cleaning I will use eco earth and other dark beddings (I know not to use cedar or pine)
humidity: keep a wet/damp towel above your tank on the screen to keep in humidity, mist it constantly, I am planning to get a misting system soon.

[FireStorm]

Would the UTH be enough maintain proper heat without the bulbs? Especially if I used coconut husk wouldn't it be to thick to generate enough heat?

You really need a thermostat no matter what substrate you use. UTHs can get hot enough to burn, and there is always a chance that the snake could move the bedding and come into contact with it. Here's a link to one you can get for less than $35 with shipping:
http://firestormreptiles.com/weblog/...log-Entry.html

Also, a 20gal is huge for a hatchling, so you will need plenty of tight hiding spots and a bunch of crumpled paper or fake plants. Otherwise, your hatchling may not eat well. As for bedding, I've used cypress mulch and coconut husk and was happy with both.

[MarkS]

I really don't like using heat lamps for heating. It tends to really dry out the air in the tank. One thing that new owners tend to overdo is the heat. Too hot is much worse then too cold. You will need a thermostat, and a good infrared digital thermometer (like one of these http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermometers) is invaluable. Don't guess at the heat.

[mackynz]

Easy fix for screen top humidity woes.


http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...tment-Tutorial

[Kaorte]

Cypress mulch is another substrate that holds humidity fairly well but isn't as messy as the coir bedding.

What kind of thermometers are you using? If they aren't digital then they are probably garbage. First things first, make sure you are reading the right temps and humidity before you start trying to add more heat.