Finally took the plunge

[jclaiborne]

I just joined two seconds ago and I got my first ball only this weekend and have no idea what I'm doing! I've read care sheets and everything online, but need some advice from experienced snake owners. My terrarium doesn't seem to be able to keep to a good humid level. My snake seems to be ok, no problems that I have been able to see. I held it this morning and it was fine in my hands for a little then constricted tightly on my hand and didn't let go until I lowered it back into the terrarium. I've held it a few times before then without it doing that, should I be concerned? Thanks for any advice you can give me!

How is your terrarium set up? What size, substrate, heating etc. Other may chime in, but I was told to leave my baby in the terrarium for at least a week undisturbed so they can get acclimated to their new environment. I had to do that with my corn because he was a spaz when I first got him.

[Perry_Koda]

My terrarium is a 20 gallon, I have a ceramic 50 watt bulb over a stone and wooden hide, I have a water dish on the cold side with a branch over one side of the dish and against the corner. I think she prefers the wood hide so I'm thinking about getting another one to put on the cold side of the terrarium. I also realized my thermometers are both on the same side so I need to move one of them to the warm side when I get home from work. So would you suggest that I try not to hold it for a week? According to her feeding schedule I need to try and feed her on Thursday. I bought a plastic tub for her feeding. Thank you so much for your advice and help!!!

[jclaiborne]

My terrarium is a 20 gallon, I have a ceramic 50 watt bulb over a stone and wooden hide, I have a water dish on the cold side with a branch over one side of the dish and against the corner. I think she prefers the wood hide so I'm thinking about getting another one to put on the cold side of the terrarium. I also realized my thermometers are both on the same side so I need to move one of them to the warm side when I get home from work. So would you suggest that I try not to hold it for a week? According to her feeding schedule I need to try and feed her on Thursday. I bought a plastic tub for her feeding. Thank you so much for your advice and help!!!

I would leave her alone until thursday then...Do you have any substrate in the tank? If you are trying to keep humidity up i would use a good substrate, mist it and put a towel over the screen top to keep up the humidity. What is it at now? Temp?

[Perry_Koda]

I have aspen substrate. When I checked this morning the temps were 77.8 Fahrenheit for the cold and 26-27 Celsius for the warm and humidity was at 40%.

[jclaiborne]

I have aspen substrate. When I checked this morning the temps were 77.8 Fahrenheit for the cold and 26-27 Celsius for the warm and humidity was at 40%.

Thats not a very big variance. Try an UTH with a thermostat for the warm side to get higher than 80 F. As for the substrate I have had bad luck keeping aspen moist because it tends to mold, I would put a towel over the screen to keep in the moisture: Substrate and Furnishings

In the wild, these pythons tend to inhabit savanna and grassland habitat, residing primarily underground in rodent burrows. Underground, the relative humidity is much greater than above ground, so while the savanna is not known for being particularly moist, these pythons do thrive best with a secure hide that is also packed with damp moss. The damp moss and tight quarters help these shy snakes to feel safe and secure.
Reptile bark (orchid bark), cypress mulch, pulverized coconut husk (bed-a-beast), or a mixture of both are prime choices.
Avoid any excessively drying bedding including pine shavings, sand, or paper products. And never use a cedar bedding...cedar is toxic to all snakes!
When designing a terrarium for this species, keep in mind its secretive nature. Provide ample places to hide on both the warm and cool regions of the enclosure. Half-logs, cork flats, cork rounds, and grapewood all make excellent hides for ball pythons. Additional climbing structures (sticks, rocks, plants, etc.) may be used, but avoid over-crowding the tank.
Water and Humidity

Water should always be made available to ball pythons in a sturdy dish large enough to allow for occasional soaking. Water should be checked daily, and replaced immediately if fouled.
Ball pythons require localized areas of high humidity within their cages. Once or twice daily misting of the entire enclosure with room temperature water in a hand spray bottle should be adequate in most situations. Do not allow the substrate to become saturated. A good misting schedule should result in the bedding drying out almost completely between mistings. Use of a cage fogger is another simple way to increase humidity in the cage without completely soaking the bedding. The rolling mist the fogger typically creates also makes for a natural, tropical effect within the cage!

[DSpythons]

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Pretty normal. I really enjoy my ball python over my corn since my corn is crazy . He started off calm for a few years and in the past year he loves to squirm and bite. My ball python just chills on my arm and does not try to get away when I pick him up like my corn does. Well, good luck!

[jclaiborne]

Pretty normal. I really enjoy my ball python over my corn since my corn is crazy . He started off calm for a few years and in the past year he loves to squirm and bite. My ball python just chills on my arm and does not try to get away when I pick him up like my corn does. Well, good luck!

Thank you! I enjoy both, but my corn is a mover! I can't just sit and hold him like a can a BP i have to constantly "walk" him in my hands.

[Perry_Koda]

Thank you so much for all of your help, I really appreciate it!!

[S.I.R.]

Congrats on the new BP and welcome to the forum. BPs are a lot of fun but require a lot more patience than corns. We have several corns as well and it is nice to work with different types of snakes. Good luck with the new BP.

[jclaiborne]

no problem...I am a noob to the BP world but have had corns all my life. Let me know if you come across anything else.