First time BP owner

[Germx]

Hello all. Like the title says I have my first BP. I am looking for some fine tuning advice that may help me out in, both the short term and long. I have a few years experience with other herps and inverts and my husbandry is good with them. I would like to continue this with my newest addition.

BP
About 18 in
weight unknown
Currently eating 2x frozen hoppers a week

Tank
20 gallon 30x12x12 screen top with 2/3 covered
Aspen sub
2 clay planting pot saucer hides on opposite ends
1 plastic planting pot with sphagnum moss in the very middle
Sphagnum moss in 3/4 corners
One water dish (cleaned daily)

Heating
One 10-20 gallon UTH
One overhead heat lamp 75w red bulb (cycled on and off)

Thermometers/hygrometers
One digital thermometer with probe in bedding above heat pad
One digital thermometer/hygrometer with probes in center
One mercury thermometer on cool end
One infrared thermometer to test surface temps

Temps/humidity
ambient 80
hot spot 95
Humidity 40%-60%

1. Mostly I would like to know if there are any improvements that can be made. My BP seems to be doing well. He is hiding consistently, and eating.
2. The temp on the UTH seems high to me. The probe on the glass can go as high as 110 (with direct contact to the glass beneath the sub) infrared reads about 95 consistently.
3.There are a lot of BP guides out there and a wide range of information. Are there any tell tell signs that you are doing something wrong with your husbandy?

Long post, sorry, but many thanks if you read and reply

[BumbleB]

You're missing the most important part, a thermostat. An unregulated heat pad can easily heat up to unsafe temperatures and burn your snake. I'd unplug that right now and use only the heat lamp to keep the Temps up until you can get a thermostat in there. A lamp dimmer can also work but needs monitoring and adjusting as the Temps in your room fluctuate. Thermostat options are hydrofarm, vivarium electronics, helix, and herpstat. Shop around and remember you get what you pay for, a $30 hydrofarm will malfunction way before the $100+ thermostats but the more expensive ones work better and once set up you barely have to worry about them

[AnnaK231]

Temps/humidity
ambient 80
hot spot 95
Humidity 40%-60%

2. The temp on the UTH seems high to me. The probe on the glass can go as high as 110 (with direct contact to the glass beneath the sub) infrared reads about 95 consistently.
3.There are a lot of BP guides out there and a wide range of information. Are there any tell tell signs that you are doing something wrong with your husbandy?

Long post, sorry, but many thanks if you read and reply

First and foremost like mentioned above, unplug that UTH until you get a thermostat. Or a lamp dimmer while you wait for a thermostat to come in the mail. They DO get ridiculously hot and your snake can (and will if it gets too cold) burn the crap out of their belly. The healing process is long and expensive.

Here is a good thread to read, sounds like you have a good set up except for the UTH being without a thermostat. http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-With-Pictures!

I want to say your ambient temp could be a little higher. Double check. As for your light bulb, you can also get a dimming thermostat (I *believe* herpstat are dimmers) and put the bulb on that so you don't have to use a timer or something.
Basically as long as your numbers match up, the snake is shedding fine, eating fine and doesn't seem agitated you're good to go.

[Germx]

First and foremost like mentioned above, unplug that UTH until you get a thermostat. Or a lamp dimmer while you wait for a thermostat to come in the mail. They DO get ridiculously hot and your snake can (and will if it gets too cold) burn the crap out of their belly. The healing process is long and expensive.

Here is a good thread to read, sounds like you have a good set up except for the UTH being without a thermostat. http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-With-Pictures!

I want to say your ambient temp could be a little higher. Double check. As for your light bulb, you can also get a dimming thermostat (I *believe* herpstat are dimmers) and put the bulb on that so you don't have to use a timer or something.
Basically as long as your numbers match up, the snake is shedding fine, eating fine and doesn't seem agitated you're good to go.

I've got it unplugged and will buy one tomorrow. I can get the ambient temps up with just the lamp. The room with all of my critters has a portable heater and even without the UTH the ambient in the room stays above 78.

Most of the care sheets I've read say the ambient should be between 80-85 and should never go below 75 or above 95. Is this accurate? Also thank you for the replies.

[C2tcardin]

You could go to 75 or lower on the ambient for a short period of time and it should be fine.

[AnnaK231]

I've got it unplugged and will buy one tomorrow. I can get the ambient temps up with just the lamp. The room with all of my critters has a portable heater and even without the UTH the ambient in the room stays above 78.

Most of the care sheets I've read say the ambient should be between 80-85 and should never go below 75 or above 95. Is this accurate? Also thank you for the replies.

Awesome! I'd say (and my vets say too) ambient being from 80-85 (with hot spot 88-92). From what I've gathered, anything lower than 79/80 will result in your BP getting too cold, burrowing onto the glass over the UTH or if it stays cold, getting a respiratory infection. I think for an RI it also has to be WET along with cold though. Like mentioned above, if it happens to go a little lower for a day or two you probably won't see any disastrous results. Probably.

[Germx]

Once again thanks for the help. I've noticed that communities like this are the way to go for detailed information versus looking at care sheets. The care sheets are a great place to start but people that are actively keeping the animals are a way better option imo. Hopefully, in time, I can give advice to people that are just getting into bps and contribute to the community as well.

We named our bp Steve. Here's to Steve having a long and prosperous life full of frozen rats!