New owner

[Amanda.P]

Hi,
i just got a new ball python 4 days ago, she is my first so i have almost no idea what i am doing.. i have been having problems keeping the heat up, so im wondering what i could do.. the cold side was only about 70F the first night and the warm only 75 maybe... since then ive tried insulating the sides and back, as well as half of the top. Since doing that both sides are around 78-80. i know thats not warm enough for the hot side, so im wondering what else i could do.. i have one of the heated mats under the (supposed to be) hot side, but i dont feel much heat coming from that, and i have one overhead lamp with a nightime and daytime bulb, each 100W. im scared to invest in a second overhead lamp because i heard rumors that could dry the snake out? Any tips would be helpful!

also, she has been in a hide for a few days, when i bought her the store clerk said she refused to eat the thursday before and just to feed her the next thursday (tomorrow). Ive read some people dont hold or feed their new snakes for a few weeks.. i was holding her the first couple days.. Anyways my question is should i try to get her out of her hide and attempt to feed her, or just wait..?? thanks for any help!

[Morris Reese]

1.) is this a young snake? Post a picture if you can
2.) what kind of home do you have her in? Post a picture if you can.
3.) what are you using for hides? Post a picture if you can.
Most will tell you to leave them and not hold for a week or two. If you can get your snake to eat the holding is ok in my opinion. Let's see if we can help you with husbandry first and we will go further. Give a little more details to your housing and let's see what we can do. I guess you can tell we like pictures!!
Congratulations and welcome to the addiction of ball pythons!

[Mr. Misha]

Hi and welcome to the forum. What's the size of the tank you're using?

This link is a good start on how to properly set up a glass tank:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=201740

In regards to the drying out the snake rumor, it's not true. Ball pythons do need humidity but they need heat even more. So if it's between heat and humidity, for now, choose heat.

If you can, take a photo of your setup and post ip up here.

Also, do you have a thermostat for your heat mat? Without a thermostat, heat mats can get very hot and can burn your snake.

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[Amanda.P]

How do you post pictures lol??

The store clerk said she was just a baby, and yea she is pretty small
a 20g tank
the hides, there is a fake plant she loves to lay ontop, i have a pretty big rock like thing. i know she probably wont go in it yet because it is too big to make her feel secure but i thought it would be good incase she grows, and a fake long thing with some different holes in it, that has been where she has resided over the last 2 days. as well as a larger water bowl. i heard to get one big enough for them to curl up inside without the water overflowing, that was the best size i could find..

you say i can hold her if she lets me feed her, so should i try to get her out of her hide when its time to feed or wait until the day she comes out on her own?

Ill post pictures as soon as i can figure out how

[Amanda.P]

No, i dont have a thermostat for the heat mat, it was just a mat that came with a snake owner starter-kit like thing.. is that a valuable investment??

[Rob]

No, i dont have a thermostat for the heat mat, it was just a mat that came with a snake owner starter-kit like thing.. is that a valuable investment??

Thermostats are mandatory

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[Mr. Misha]

No, i dont have a thermostat for the heat mat, it was just a mat that came with a snake owner starter-kit like thing.. is that a valuable investment??

A thermostat is necessary thing if you're going to be using a heat mat because it will make sure that the heat mat only heats up to a certain temperature. Check out the link I posted. Thermostats range from $30 bucks to $300.

You can download the Tapatalk app for your phone and just post photos straight from your phone.

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