New BP owner in need of help.

[middle_skirt]

I bought a BP this week, and had a lot of confidence that any questions I had could be answered by the local pets at home (boy was I wrong.) they sold me a bearded dragon viv which i am trying to make suitable for my 18month royal python, I could guess around 3-4feet long.
The python wont eat and spends a lot of its time at the cold end of the tank behind the hide, in the corner. I was also sold a heatmat bundle that was too small for the tank meaning all I have to work with are now the thermostat and the gradient air measure that came with set as the heatmat is no use.
In a dire attempt to get some heat into the tank I bought a 60W daylight basking light that could be fitted to the top of my tank ( as its meant for beardies). this heated it up reletaively so but was still not enough. I then bought a 100W bulb which seemed to be a bit better but couldn't be left on over night, so now I've bought a 100W ceramic bulb in the hood that's mean to case the basking bulb as one of my last attempts to get some constant heat into the viv as I know the snake is most probably stressing out.

Currently I have two shelters sold to me but i am doubting that the one is big enough. any recommendations for shelters?
and the only form of heating i have in the tank is the one ceramic bulb in the hood mounted externally to the cage, which is attached to the thermostat meant for the heatmat. the viv is long but not all that high and the bulb recommends being mounted 40cm away from pets and my tank is only 42cm in height so I figured this is the best I can do with the resources as the hood also helps keep some humidity in the tank.
I am worried for my snake and more than willing to spend the money but I have no faith in the store near me anymore as they'll agree with you on whatever you say aslong as you pay up. I have attached some photos (hopefully if its works this time) anyone can make any recommendations?
how to maintain a constant heat with what I have in terms of a viv granted I know its not ideal?
Where can I buy shelters that I feel may need to be bigger?
Are the probes in the right places? (The probe for the ceramic light is in the cold end and the probe for ambient air is just right of the ceramic light, common sense would tell me this is wrong as the light could affect the reading but without drilling holes I don't really know what else to do)
Is it normal for the snake to not be eating and what appears to me to be not basking and spending a lot of time in the colder end behind (not even in) its hide?

I'm sure a lot of these questions may seem idiotic to a regular but I had far to much faith in the local pet shops and have been kindve left in the deep end. I am pretty well aware of the needs of the snake, but not the equipment or how best to deal with what has been sold to me
Any help is greatly appreciated.

[LittleTreeGuy]

You should first go to the BP Husbandry forums and look for the sticky thread that shows proper tank setup. This will get you started on the right track. There are a lot of things that can be fairly easily modified, but you should start here first.

Your tank is almost all wood... most tanks/tubs use UTH (under tank heaters) but I don't see that as a good option for you, as heat isn't going to penetrate that particle board very well. I think for heat, your best option would be to look into a radiant heat panal (RHP). Probably something in the 80-120watt range for a tank that size, or maybe even better, two 40 watt panels. This would allow you to keep one side a little warmer than the other, giving you a hotspot on one side and cooler side on the other. With the radiant heat panels, you can set them on a thermostat, or maybe even a dimmer switch and just dial it in until you get the temps you want, then you're all set.

If you have a ball python, they like hides that are tight... that they can feel against their body when they're inside of it. You can buy these online, just search for snake hide or reptile hide. Just make sure it has an opening, and an open bottom, so if you lift it up, you can get to your snake. If you want to go cheap, you can get some colored plastic bowls and cut a little "door" into the side of them and there ya go. It is preferable if you have one on each side of tank, one on the warm side, one on the cool side. It's even better if they both look and feel the same to the snake.

That would be start... just keep asking questions and keep researching. People have made good homes for snakes out of far less than what you have here. Yes, it will take some work, and yes it may take a little more money, but it can be done. I guess you have to decide if you want to invest in making this tank work, or maybe just returning this one and buying one that is better suited for a snake. I would probably advise you in that direction, but i'm still pretty new to this as well, so hopefully others will chime in with more experience.

Best of luck!

[JodanOrNoDan]

I am sure others will chime in but I don't think you local pet store did not do you or your snake any favors. There is no shame in making a mistake only in not correcting it. For example, I am guessing by looking at your desk that I could keep four to six adult ball python enclosures in the same amount of space (I use tubs). These snakes require and are "happy" in far less room than you may think. Please read the sticky husbandry threads on this board to get pointed in the right direction. A proper set up will most likely cost you far less than that one did.

[middle_skirt]

Any vivs you could recommend with a setup you may know works? I am trying to avoid having to do anything that may stress the snake with nothing but my own knowledge (which is very limited)

[JodanOrNoDan]

I only have ball pythons and I don't keep any as display snakes. I keep mine in tubs and racks. Ball pythons just don't need vivariums and they do not make good display snakes. If they are comfortable they very rarely do anything unless they are hungry. The problem with ball pythons with a lot of people is that you will always desire more. After the initial cost of the thermostat it only costs me about $15 max for the environment (tub and heat tape). I'd rather spend my money on the snake then blow it on an enclosure the snake won't appreciate anyway. If I want to see them I take them out. This is just me though. Hopefully someone with experience keeping balls in a display type environment will answer you, but at the very least, if i were you, i would take that enclosure back. It is too big.

I know you may also be tempted to look at fish tanks. In my opinion, you can try it but it is a much more difficult endeavor getting everything right. It can be done but for what? The snake is going to spend most of its time hiding anyway.

[middle_skirt]

Thanks for the reply, I will go to the pet shop in look of a medium sized, possibly glass vivarium allowing UTH, any suggestions in terms of measuring the temperature within the cage, if I had UTH would I still use a ceramic just to increase the ambient? How would be best to measure this? Thanks again

[donnies3274]

try diping the mouse in warm chicken broth and then offer it to your snake. this has worked for me many times in the past,

[LittleTreeGuy]

Thanks for the reply, I will go to the pet shop in look of a medium sized, possibly glass vivarium allowing UTH, any suggestions in terms of measuring the temperature within the cage, if I had UTH would I still use a ceramic just to increase the ambient? How would be best to measure this? Thanks again

While Glass isn't ideal, it would probably get you a better setup than what you have. Probably something in the 20-40 gallon range, and as little height as possible. You don't want something tall. You will likely get a metal screened lid for the top of it. Depending on your room temperatures, you may very well still need a CHE for ambient temperatures.

Now, with a glass viv and a screened lid (and CHE), your humidity will drop very low, very quickly. There is a thread here on the forum about setting up a glass viv. It has some good info that would be helpful for you. You'll likely end up needing to either get some plexiglass to put over your wire screen top with a hole cut out for your CHE, or even covering a piece of cardboard with foil and covering up part of your lid with that, could help keep humidity in as well.