First ball python! Could use some guidance.

[KMG]

They're junk. I don't spray them if that's what you mean. I take them out when I spray. After I spray the humidity is getting inside them once it's replaced. The problem being that's what I need it for. I have a temp gun and the temps have always been fine. But I need them to read the humidity and they don't last. I wouldn't advise anyone to buy them.

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I never take mine out and have a wireless sensor as a double redundancy that reports to a unit in my living room so I can monitor my cages from anywhere in the house. All the units are really close in both temp and humidity.
That's three accurite units that match three separate wireless units. They work for me fine. I have even compared them with my cigar hygrometer and they agreed with that.

[TheBallPython]

They may be to tall. You could cut it in half so the ceiling of the hide is lower. Or just put a good clump of moss and maybe it will hide under the moss.

As for the humid hide. I leave the moss in all the time but I only keep it damp during a shed. The rest of the time I will spray it real good and allow it to dry back out.


These are cheap, sturdy, and easy to clean.
http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

I cut them down a few inches and she went in no problem. Thanks! She was very huffy about me rooting around her cage though (kept puffing up). Hopefully she gets used to it.

[KMG]

Good deal. I'm glad I could help.

Some snakes huff and puff forever, its not a problem. Just a snake being a snake. All my bloods and occasionally my ball huff and puff. My lil hoggy likes to musk me, which is always fun.

[scooter11]

I never take mine out and have a wireless sensor as a double redundancy that reports to a unit in my living room so I can monitor my cages from anywhere in the house. All the units are really close in both temp and humidity.
That's three accurite units that match three separate wireless units. They work for me fine. I have even compared them with my cigar hygrometer and they agreed with that.

Yes the ones I use are the smaller ones that are kept inside the cage. They are fairly inexpensive. The ones kept outside the cage with the sensor inside it work quite well. But for something simple to keep in a tub in a rack, those are a waste of money IMO. The more expensive ones are probably better, but not economical when you have upwards of 30+ tubs. I'm still searching for an economical solution and open to suggestions

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[KMG]

I understand Scooter11. What about running a humidifier in your snake room? You could put it on a tstat like a Herpstat with a humidity sensor and keep the whole room constant. Then you would only need to monitor the room and I would monitor one cage on each side just to know what the tubs were sitting at.

In my tubs I don't track the humidity. I just mist daily and more often during a shed. I only track my pvc cage.

[TheBallPython]

Hey guys, I have another question. It is now Saturday and I was planning on feeding today. The problem is, the hydrofarm still hasn't arrived yet. Should I feed her before the proper temperatures are in the tank? The tank has been getting to about 82 degrees. Not sure if they need higher temps to digest properly. And if the answer is yes, I should still feed, how do I go about thawing the rat? And I plan on feeding in separate area. How long do I wait after she eats to move her?

Thank you!

[TheBallPython]

Oh, never mind. I just checked my tracking number and it's out for delivery! My other questions still stand though. And how long should it take to establish a proper heat gradiant? Where should I put the heat lamp now? On the same side as the UTH?

[MsMissy]

I would wait until you get your temperature up and the thermostat installed. He/she needs higher temps to digest.

As for the feeding in another enclosure.... completely unnecessary and in my noobish opinion, would be more stressful than anything as you would need to move her back to her tank/enclosure afterwards. She won't like being messed with for at least 24 hours after.

[MsMissy]

Oh, never mind. I just checked my tracking number and it's out for delivery! My other questions still stand though. And how long should it take to establish a proper heat gradiant? Where should I put the heat lamp now? On the same side as the UTH?

Oops, we were posting at the same time. The heat lamp you will want on your hot side. Are you going to put it on a dimmer? That will help as those lamps can get toasty. Won't take too long to get your temps up once both are set up. Don't rush it, let it gradually increase with the dimmer <provided you use one> on the low side. You aren't too far off on your temps now. Should be an hour or so???? The veteran guys here would know better.

[TheBallPython]

I just heard that giving them another feeding place can help prevent them from being aggressive in the tank. I know a ton of BP owners do it?

And no, I don't have my lamp on a dimmer. I didn't even know you could. I'll have to get one today. I am confused though.. first you say put the lamp on the hot side, but then talk about using the dimmer on the cool side? And it is my assumption that the UTH goes on the warm side, correct?