Help for a newbie - Python On Cold Side!

[SandmansDreams]

Hello everyone,

I have never owned a snake before and am in a bit of a pickle...

After one of my cats brought home a garter snake last Fall I fell in love with the creatures and decided on keeping a Ball Python as a pet. I researched all I could about these snakes and have done the best I can to establish a good habitat to meet all its needs. I purchased a hatchling (hatched August 2016) from a local breeder last Thursday. It spent a few hours on the hot side under the hide before migrating to the cold side. It has not left since. Today is Monday. She DOES move around quite a bit at night when I turn off the hot-side lamp, but there's more...

As you can see in the pictures I have attached, this is a 20-gallon tank. I have secured aluminum foil around the OUTSIDE of the tank on the back, both sides, and the top (with squares cut out for the lamps), leaving ONLY the front open for viewing. I have a hot side with a UTH and a 50-WAT overhead heat lamp. Hot side temp is kept at approximately 90 degrees. The cold side also has an overhead nighttime heat lamp that I keep on constantly even during the day (the hot side lamp is turned off at night). The cold side is kept at approximately 80 degrees. The tank also has a heavy flat-bottom water dish in the middle of the tank. Foliage and vines run throughout. I have been having a bit of trouble keeping the humidity levels up, so I've been misting the tank about 3x day. If I don't do this, the levels tend to fall to 30% which as I understand is too low.

At first, I thought my BP was insecure at the size of the hot-side hide, since she is just a hatchling. I moved it around a bit and hung some of the plastic plants so that they hung somewhat in front of the opening, thereby providing a bit of privacy. This does not seem to have helped. Perhaps I need to replace the hide altogether until she has grown??

As I mentioned before, she migrated to the cold side and hasn't really left except at night. Even when she is on the cold side, she likes to lay ON TOP of the hide and NOT under it. In addition, during the last 24-48hrs she has climbed high up into the vines of the cold side, just under the cold side heat lamp, and seems to be basking there. She's been doing this both during the day and during the night.

Am I doing something wrong here? I'm afraid she is too cold, or that the tank is too big for her to feel secure, or that something else is off that I am missing here. I'm brand new to keeping any kind of snake, and I just want to make sure I'm giving this snake the best possible life -- food, security, comfort, etc.
Is this just a quirk of my particular BP and I'm being paranoid? Or is this some symptom of something I am doing wrong?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I look forward to reading your response!
THANKS!

P.S. I have not yet handled her or tried to feed her. I have left her alone so as to adjust to her new environment, but I will need to try to feed her within the next 24-48hrs. Her last meal was on 1/27 according to her breeder card.

[chakup]

Get an accurite and ditch the stick ons and you'll then have a better idea on temps. Are the che's on dimmers or ??

[SandmansDreams]

Not currently using ceramic heat emitters.
I have 3 heat sources - 1 daytime lamp on the hot side; 50W. 1 nighttime lamp on the cold side (that stays on constantly, even during the day so as to maintain level ambient temperatures); 50W. And 1 Large UTH from ZooMed stuck under the hot side hide.

I will look into the accurite thermometers. After I get advice on what to do here I plan to make a run to pick up the appropriate supplies.

[tttaylorrr]

welcome to the forum! most people recommend 6qt tubs for hatchlings. this is a great link to help hatchlings. i would recommend reading it!

however, for your set up now: some general husbandry observations/tips/questions based on your post:

a tip for her security: it's a good idea to have two identical hides on each side of the gradient. with 2 identical hides, the snake doesn't have to choose which one they like and sacrifice regulating for security.

you mention your temps; what are you using to monitor temps/humidity? ALL sources of heat MUST be regulated by a thermoSTAT. i see an analog attached to the side there, but unfortunately those are practically worthless in terms of accuracy.

if you're having trouble with humidity, bulbs definitely don't help. i wouldn't use them if it's at all possible to maintain proper temps. however you can try to add a larger water dish on the hot side to bring humidity up.

[SandmansDreams]

I just came across that link this morning actually and was considering it.

To answer your questions; I do not currently have a thermostat attached to the UTH or the overhead lamps.
Looks like I'll add that to my shopping list for this afternoon.

Right now I have a thermometer on the hot side and the cold side, and a hydrometer in the middle of the tank.
However, I was not aware that these are practically useless I suppose I'll have to drop the extra cash for digitals in addition to a matching hide(s).

Would you recommend I transfer her into a tub then?
Or would trying to adjust the habitat set-up be more efficient?

Thanks so much!
I really want to do the right thing here.

[tttaylorrr]

I do not currently have a thermostat attached to the UTH or the overhead lamps.
Looks like I'll add that to my shopping list for this afternoon.

please unplug the UTH immediately! they are dangerous when unregulated and reach over 100° easily and quickly!
here is an Amazon link to a cheap thermostat i have used. it's on/off style but it works well when properly set up to a UTH. that thermostat does not work for bulbs; i believe bulbs need a lamp dimmer (found at lowes). i don't use bulbs so please listen to others about how to properly set them up.

Right now I have a thermometer on the hot side and the cold side, and a hydrometer in the middle of the tank.
However, I was not aware that these are practically useless I suppose I'll have to drop the extra cash for digitals in addition to a matching hide(s).

it happens: i had those too when i first got my ball, but no more than a week as i realized they were highly unreliable. another Amazon link to the digital thermometer/hygrometer i use, but i got mine at walmart.

Would you recommend I transfer her into a tub then?
Or would trying to adjust the habitat set-up be more efficient?

i'll leave that to someone more experienced to give a proper answer. personally, i'd try to fix the set-up she has now. it's possible that she can thrive in a 20gal, as i had a hatchling do well in a 20gal, but that's no guarantee and the 6qt tub is a tried and tested method for helping hatchlings that are having problems.

Thanks so much!
I really want to do the right thing here.

absolutely. i'm actually dealing with a stressed hatchling myself right now. i've got to make adjustments to her tank (happening today, actually) and hopefully she'll settle and eat for me! if my adjustments don't work and she refuses to eat a couple more times, i'm changing to the 6qt tub.
good luck! you're doing just fine. keep asking questions, we're all here to help.

[SandmansDreams]

OK. I ran upstairs and unplugged the UTH right away.

I just called every local pet store I could and it looks like none of them carry UTH thermostats (including the big chains).
I'll need to order this online through the link you provided (thanks much for that!).
But this begs the question; with the UTH now unplugged will she be alright for a few days while I wait for delivery?

For the hides and the thermostats I'm headed into Walmart this afternoon to pick them up.

I really cant thank you enough.
I'm sure my snake does too!

[tttaylorrr]

But this begs the question; with the UTH now unplugged will she be alright for a few days while I wait for delivery?

she will be fine for a few days as long as your other temps are within proper range. they handle cold temps much better than hot temps.

I really cant thank you enough.
I'm sure my snake does too!

i'm sure she does. hopefully others can chime in and answer the questions i could not.

[chakup]

Since you're gonna be shopping look at what that stuff will cost then compare the extra now to upgrade to something like a t8. I spent alot making a glass enclosure work, it's now in the garage and a 2nd t8 is on its way.

[CALM Pythons]

Zoo Med UTH's get up to 141° so thats why your snake wont go in the hot side Hide. I have a 30 Gallon for quarantine and use a Dimmer from Lowes on the UTH. I only run it 3/4 and its 95 on the outside of the glass bottom and that pans out to 90 inside above Butcher Paper. Keep your substrate thin where the UTH is and you have to let the UTH regulate up to eight hours when it's on a dimmer to find the temperature. The dimmers cut the electricity down and it takes a while for them to max out and regulate. Start around 3/4 and that should be somewhere between 80-90 on a Zoo Med using the Lowes 4' dimmer cord and raise/lower from there.
https://m.lowes.com/pd/Lutron-Creden...Dimmer/4462387