Newbie

[Slaugbr1]

I just wanted to say i bought my first ball last month. Very young and i did alot of research before i bought her.

I wanted to start f/t but i had read so much on how picky eaters they are especially the hatchlings. But she took the first mouse and everyone since easily.

Then came the first shed i read so much about bad sheds and left over eyecaps causing blindness and i checked over and over on the computer to match her progress. Came home from work one day to a perfect shed.

I guess what iam asking is do you remember your first couple months because i worry myself sick iam doing something wrong. Nerves of a first time owner

[Skep]

I definitely remember the first couple months that I had my ball python. His first shed with me was horrible, but only because his previous owner didn't pay attention to the temperature/humidity levels at all. I had to assist him with that shed, and every other shed since then has been perfect. He's never skipped a meal with me and he eats like a beast.

It sounds like you're doing a very good job so far, it's great that she's taking her meals and having good sheds.
Could you explain her set-up to me? Ex. what kind of enclosure do you have her in, what are your ambient temps/surface temps and humidity levels, what do you have for heat sources, and what are you using to monitor them?

[Slaugbr1]

Ok so i have a tub set up. Iam using heat pad under the hide its right around 90. And the humidity is almost always perfect. I use a digital gauge for the heat and humidity the only thing that i have been having problems with is the ambient temp i think iam going the have to get something with a thermostat because i spend alot of time trying to get it into range. Any ideas?

[Skep]

Alright. Are you using any kind of thermostat to regulate the heat pad? Some of those heat pads can get well up to 120 degrees, which could potentially harm your snake. I use a HydroFarm thermostat to regulate mine, and it seems to be working very well. I keep the heat set at 97 degrees, which keeps the surface temp around 90 degrees.

Does the digital gauge have probes that you can use to measure the hot side and the cool side of the enclosure?
I think the best thing that you could do to regulate the ambient temp is to get a heat lamp with a red bulb, that's what I use for my snake. The red light doesn't disturb the snake and it can be left on 24/7. The only problem with heat lamps is that they can soak up some of the humidity. I personally don't have any problems with this, since I keep a humidifier running in my snake's room. I hope this helps!