Just got a ball python

[sypher]

My friend and I purchased a male and a female ball python we don't know how old they are but they are about 12" long. We have them in a 10 gallon tank with carpet bottom for now (my friends idea) we have a heat lamp, hiding spot, and water for the lads but we don't know if we have them fit for the best. I'm going to by cypress mulch for the bottom and maybe make a bigger cage with plexy glass,



Give me your suggestions on what to do with this... humidity settings and everything else

[Smulkin]

http://www.ball-pythons.net/Sections...s-secid-1.html

Lots of good stuff there - check it out.

[sypher]

what size of tank is required for a 12" = 15" BP??? and like heating pad under the tank what should we do that shows us a good pic but what should we see / observe

[Marla]

Not sure what you're asking with "what should we see", but for hatchlings like that you can use a 10 gallon tank or similar-sized Rubbermaid-type container. However, it is absolutely preferable that you house them separately. It's not as if they'll fight, but they will compete for the best place to thermoregulate and if one snake gets sick it will be harder to tell which it is and possibly less needed because the other one will likely get sick as well. There are a number of good substrate choices, including the cypress mulch, but if you use a loose substrate like that it's a good idea to put newspaper, paper towel, reptile carpet, or something similarly solid as a bottom layer in case they decide to burrow (as they sometimes do).