Petco (Ball Python) Help

[DVirginiana]

Do you have a thermostat? (Not thermometer; this is a device that regulates UTH heat output) I don't think I've ever seen a chain petstore that tells people they need those. They're absolutely necessary to keep your snake from getting burned.

You probably won't get sick animals from Petco, but they're known for poor husbandry and a general lack of knowledge about the exotic pets they sell, so you probably got a very stressed out animal.

[tkdlover123]

I was actually going to buy one but when I touched the bottom of my terrarium, it wasn't burning or hot at all. Also the substrate is barely warm so I'm using a night heat lamp to raise my temperature in the hotter side of the tank

[Eric Alan]

I was actually going to buy one but when I touched the bottom of my terrarium, it wasn't burning or hot at all. Also the substrate is barely warm so I'm using a night heat lamp to raise my temperature in the hotter side of the tank

Hands are a POOR indicator of the temps required for ball pythons. Also, your ball python WILL dig in the substrate, so it's useless to gauge temperature based on the top of it. Please spend a few dollars on a probed/infrared thermometer so you can be a better informed keeper about your new animal's habitat in all locations.

[DVirginiana]

First of all, you NEED a thermostat if you have a UTH. UTH's can easily get up to 120 degrees, and when they fail, they fail on, meaning that they continue to get hotter and hotter rather than turning off. If you'd like I can look up twenty threads with pictures of severe burns caused by a UTH without a thermostat to prove this, but trust me you need one.

Also, what kind of thermometer are you using to measure temp? If you have an infrared or laser thermometer you can actually point it at a surface and it'll tell you what the temp is.

[tkdlover123]

Thank you for the information. I will go to Petco right now and buy one.

[tkdlover123]

I use the zoo med one that comes with the humidity gauge

[DVirginiana]

I use the zoo med one that comes with the humidity gauge

Hate to break it to you but you wasted your money. Those are absolutely worthless and nowhere near accurate enough to montior temps for a BP. The humidity for BPs can kind of be ball-parked, but the temps need to be pretty spot on. You should be able to find a laser/infrared thermometer somewhere in the $20-30 range.

EDIT: You are talking about those little circular-looking ones that stick to the side of the tank, right?

[tkdlover123]

I see. I saw Petco using them for their ball python terrarium so I decided use to the same one. So if I buy a thermostat, should I put the temperature to 90 or 95? I know that ball pythons need about 90.

[tkdlover123]

Yes, it's the one that sticks on the side of the terrarium. I will buy the laser thermometer too but man I wasted some money

[DVirginiana]

Always better to do the research before buying the animal. Could've saved a few bucks.

Yeah, those are no good. Before I knew better I almost killed one of my frogs using one. The humidity gauges are no better, but BPs are more forgiving of humidity mistakes than temp ones.

I have mine set at 90. Never seen it get above 92 even on really hot days. My ambient temp stays around 80.

Makes me also think; you've got a tank probably? I personally recommend drilling holes in plastic tubs (cheaper and keeps humidity in better) but you'll probably end up needing to cover about half the lid with either tinfoil or clingwrap to keep the parameters in the right range. Also, even if you have those cage-clips they sell, put a heavy book or something on top. BPs are deceptively strong. I wouldn't trust mine in anything with a lid that didn't latch closed.