New BP Acting Strange?

[Sogeking]

A few days ago I bought a Ball Python at the pet store and he seemed very healthy and was just a few days old. I took him home and put him in the aquarium but he acted stressed and didn't move for awhile, but I assumed it was normal since he had just seen his new home.

I waited two days and he was wrapped around some pet store plants that were suctioned to the aquarium, this alarmed me since when I was 7 I had a bad experience with my gecko not getting enough heat in his tank in the winter. I opened the air screen and felt his temperature he was cold compared to when i first got him but the thermometer said 90° (which is normal) so I started thinking he might be getting sick. He looked and felt dehydrated and his skin was loose compared to before and the tank smelled slightly rotten.

For my setup I have:
-10"x20" aquarium.
-Water dish.
-Cool hide.
-Warm hide.
-Heat pad (small).
-60 WATT heat lamp (I don't turn it off at night since it's the winter but I should probably get a night bulb to swap).
-Climbing plants.
-Tape (to hold down the screen since clips won't fit).
-Screen cover.
-Aspen shavings.
-Two wood pieces (to hold up the tank for air flow).
-Mist spray (once every other day inside the tank).
-Thermometer.

Please don't hate if I'm doing something wrong! This is my first time with a snake and I've done all the research i can.

[BrandiR]

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...p-w-pics-*DUW*


This will tell you everything you need to know. If you have any tape inside your enclosure (I don't really understand if it's inside or outside), take it out. These "pet rocks" who don't do a damn thing when we're looking like to get into all kinds of crap while we're sleeping. If there's tape that it has any chance at all of getting to, it will end up with it stuck on it at some point and I hear it's quite a PITA to deal with, and it can hurt the snake.

Also, get a thermostat for your UTH so you don't cook the little fella.

[Sogeking]

The tape is just on the outside to close the top since the clips are too large and slip off. Yes, I probably should check the UTH more often since I was worried it might have gotten too hot, the gap between the aquarium and the desk is far so I'll just judge by feeling.

Edit: I see there are a few things I can do to improve the setup. I'm going to get a night heat bulb and another light for the day and some foil tape. If someone could answer why my ball python is behaving like this it would really be nice.

[BrandiR]

The tape is just on the outside to close the top since the clips are too large and slip off. Yes, I probably should check the UTH more often since I was worried it might have gotten too hot, the gap between the aquarium and the desk is far so I'll just judge by feeling.

I really wouldn't judge by feeling. A surface that is hot enough to burn your snake won't necessarily feel uncomfortably hot to you. If it were that easy, we wouldn't need thermometers or hygrometers either. We'd just hold our hand in there for a second and see if it's ok.

[BrandiR]

The tape is just on the outside to close the top since the clips are too large and slip off. Yes, I probably should check the UTH more often since I was worried it might have gotten too hot, the gap between the aquarium and the desk is far so I'll just judge by feeling.

Edit: I see there are a few things I can do to improve the setup. I'm going to get a night heat bulb and another light for the day and some foil tape. If someone could answer why my ball python is behaving like this it would really be nice.

I don't really understand what you're asking, that's why I kind of just ignored that part and discussed the tank set up. The only behavior you described is being still (which is normal behavior) and coiling on or around the plants (which is also normal behavior). If you're asking about why it would feel and look dehydrated, hopefully someone more knowledgeable will respond on that. It doesn't seem like a perfectly healthy looking snake would have loose skin after two days, even if it were dehydrated.

[bumblebee1028]

Hi, and welcome to the site! I'm fairly new to ball pythons as well, but I'll help with what I can and hopefully someone else with more experience can help with the rest.

Ball pythons aren't really active snakes, and a hiding ball python is a happy ball python. That said, I'm a little concerned by the fact that you said that he's only a few days old - has he had any meals? It seems really odd that a pet store would sell a snake that young to a first time snake owner. You said the tank smells rotten. Was everything well cleaned when you put it in? Is it possible he's gone potty, and the tank needs to be cleaned?

What type of thermometer are you using? If it's a dial stick-on thermometer, they aren't very accurate. A digital thermometer with a probe, or a temp gun will be much more accurate. How are you measuring humidity? With a screen top, you'll probably need to cover a good portion (like 90%) of the top to keep the humidity where it needs to be (around 50-60%).

As BrandiR suggested, I would definitely get a thermostat is recommended to keep the heat pad from getting too hot and burning your snake. I would also try to get a night bulb instead of a bright bulb, because I think that would stress him to have a bright light on 24 hours a day. And I'm pretty sure you can just use a night bulb day and night, so no need for two separate bulbs.

The tape is just on the outside to close the top since the clips are too large and slip off. Yes, I probably should check the UTH more often since I was worried it might have gotten too hot, the gap between the aquarium and the desk is far so I'll just judge by feeling.

Edit: I see there are a few things I can do to improve the setup. I'm going to get a night heat bulb and another light for the day and some foil tape. If someone could answer why my ball python is behaving like this it would really be nice.

Sorry, but I must have missed where you described his behavior? Unless you just meant him staying in the plants, which is just him being a ball python.

Hope that helps!

[shadowsnakes]

Young balls love plastic plants. Every pet store I go into has zero snakes in the hdies and they are all curled up on the side of the tank, clinging to the plant suction cup. It is quite funny to find a snake ball with four little heads poking out.

As for being still, what bumblebee1028 said is quite correct. They are very sedentary compared to other species. They are also very easily stressed and he may still be adjusting to the new enclosure. Generally I don't touch new acquisitons for at least one full week and only open the enclosure to refill water or spot clean. Check for tongue response next time you handle him. Wave your hand in front of his face, at a reasonable distance, and watch his actions. If he doesn't taste the air or follow your heat signature something may be amiss.

[Sogeking]

Thanks for the help guys I'm learning alot! I've added foil to the back and sides of the aquarium with foil tape like it said to do.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...AvailInCA%2FNo
This is similar to what I have but I think it's zoo med or something and is stuck down near where the heat pad inside the aquarium.
Right now I'm not really in the position to be buying too much I had to get the aquarium from a friend just to afford him. Tomorrow morning I'll head out and get the night heat bulb and as for a thermostat I might have to order it online if I REALLY need it.

[Sogeking]

He turned around as if he was trying to bite me but luckily I learned about handling them just before so he didn't manage to bite me. It's strange I'm starting to think he's depressed because of the huge light shining on both of his hides it must be irritating to him being nocturnal and all. Right now I'll just stick my hand in and see if he follows it if that's what you were saying.

[shadowsnakes]

I faced a similar issue when getting my first snake. Instead of a thermostat, I played with the thickness of bedding above the UTH until a temp gun measured about 90*F consistently over several days. That was foolish. Not enough caution can be stated about unregulated heat sources! You can easily burn and kill your snake. If cost is an issue then skip the $100+ models and get a $20 in the meantime.