My new baby Firefly BP, shedding and eating question.

[Jmau1989]

Hello all,

I am new here and new to snakes though I have owned many other reptiles. My new baby ball didn't eat for over a month after I moved him into his tank at my place. I was freaking out but now he finally eats and will take an appropriate sized mouse every 6 days about. He is a great eater, displays very normal healthy behavior and is very docile and not too shy.

my concern however is with 3 mice down the hatch and closing in on 2 months in a week or so I haven't seen him shed or found any feces in the cage.... Am I missing the feces or would it be too hard to miss???

He he acts very healthy and eats very well so it seems like he is digesting just fine but I haven't seen any evidence or shedding. I read they will shed mostly once a month about so I'm a bit concerned.

thanks for any advice.

[200xth]

Are you sure the mice are big enough?

Did he lose weight while on his month long fast?

Temps and humidity level of his enclosure?

If he's only eaten 3 mice in the last 18 days with a month long fast before that, he may not have to poop or shed yet. Some of mine poop regularly...some poop at apparently random intervals.

[Crazymonkee]

Two of mine poop when they shed. One poops a lot and the other I've had since the 19th and I'm not sure what she's gonna lol.
I wouldn't expect a shed yet for your guy. What size prey are you feeding?

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[Jmau1989]

I am no expert but he certainly didn't seem thin at all not did he display any odd behavior during the 5 or so weeks he didn't eat. My concern was just based on the elapsed time as a new owner not because I noticed him looking thin or behaving strangely. He is definitely thick and healthy looking at this time.

I am am looking into another heat source I have a red bulb heat lamp above his cage keeping the temp around 82 or so degrees. He is in a room alone where the door stays closed with no real traffic. I keep it that way to trap the eat in because it will drop to 79 or so if the door is open too much.

Humidity is not perfectly known but I have a large water bowl I keep diligently clean and full.

[Jmau1989]

The mice are definitely big enough he eats the white mice you see at pet stores typically. So pretty much a normal sized white mouse not a pinky or fuzzy.

[Crazymonkee]

Does he have a hot spot of 88-90 its important for digestion for him.
Also you need something to measure humidity, with a bulb it sucks the humidity right out.

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[Jmau1989]

If I get a UTH where should I place the probe to determine the heat? Should I have a UTH and a heat lamp??

[Crazymonkee]

If I get a UTH where should I place the probe to determine the heat? Should I have a UTH and a heat lamp??

What size is your tank?

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[Crazymonkee]

If I get a UTH where should I place the probe to determine the heat? Should I have a UTH and a heat lamp??

If you get a uth you need a thermostat to go with it. The thermostat controls the heat of the uth. At the very least you can get a light dimmer at home depot for about $11. Without it the uth can hit 130 degrees easily and cause burns.
If your room is 79 that is fine for an ambient temp, as long as you have that hot spot of 90

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[Jmau1989]

I'm going to the store now to get a UTH and a second hiding spot and something to monster humidity. The tank is pretty big. Not sure exactly ATM though from examples I've seen I think it's fine for him. Working on getting the 90 degree spot and a second hide plus a grasp on the humidity.

What at is the easiest way to keep a consistent humidity when you aren't home all the time?