I've been lurking, but still need some opinions/answers!

[Jynxy]

I have recently taken in a 4 year old, male ball python from a friend who could no longer care for him. I was very excited for my first snake as I was already preparing to get one myself! I was given his 40g tank with Forest Floor Cyprus Mulch, a 20g feeder tank, two UTH pads, two hides, two water dishes, and the little stick on thermometer. She told me she fed him every 4 days, with what I believe was a large live mouse? Not a rat, I know that. I got home, plugged everything in, got him in his tank and all set. Started lurking this website to make sure I have everything set perfect. Unfortunately, the way she had it set up is no where near what everyone is suggesting. The heating pads were put one on each side. Only one hide was used in the tank, the other she kept in the feeder. And the little stick on thermometer read 73F and about 40% humidity. Big problems! No wonder she said the poor guy was constantly escaping!

Since then, I have gotten a new over head light to get the temp up. I have it set up with a hot/cold side now, not with a UTH pad on each side. Identical hides on both sides. Spoke with the reptile caregiver at the exotic animal store about getting him onto small-medium rats every 7 days. (He eats like a champ!)

So my couple of questions here are: I know I need to get a digital thermometer so I can get his temps 100% where they need to be. What's the best recommendation? I had seen Accu-rite digital combo on the sticky post, but do I need one with a probe? The only one I've seen in person so far was a basic stick on. Also I need some sort of regulator for the UTH as well, correct?

Second, I'm looking to go to paper towels over the Forest Floor as 1. I want to start feeding him inside his actual enclosure rather than the feeder tank and 2. today while getting the rat ready, he struck his home tank not once, but twice getting a mouth full of mulch I had to dig out of his mouth (he apparently did this often with his previous owner, hence feeder tank). With the paper towels, I assume I will have to clean a lot more often, and is there anything different I need to do with the UTH to make sure it doesn't get as hot since it's not as thick as the FF?

Sorry this is long! Trying to make everything perfect and also getting prepared for the new, younger BP I was planning on getting next weekend!

[bcr229]

The UTH absolutely must be regulated by a thermostat or it will get hot enough to burn the snake even with the mulch, since ball pythons burrow.

"Heat gun" thermometers work well since they measure surface temperatures, you can find them at any hardware store.

I prefer newspaper over paper towels for my bigger snakes since paper towels turn into paper mache pretty quickly for larger snakes. Newspaper holds up better.

[Craiga 01453]

Welcome! And congrats on your first snake!

Sounds like you're off to a good start making the appropriate changes.

The UTH definitely needs to be regulated or you are risking serious injury to the snake. Unplug it for now.

As long as your UTH is plugged into your thermostat and set up properly you will be fine with the accurate without probes. I use them.
Also, grab a temp gun for reading the surface temps, hide temps, etc...

Substrate is very much a preference thing, with pros and cons to all of them. If you are considering paper just to avoid substrate ingestion perhaps put down a piece of cardboard or a few paper towels/plates prior to feeding. If he gets a little substrate in his mouth it's not the end of the world. Nobody puts paper down for them in the wild. They digest fur and bones, a little substrate won't hurt them. Kudos for ditching the feeding tank.

Good luck, we're here when/if you have more questions.

[Zincubus]

Welcome !!

As mentioned by a few already .. Thermostat essential ( maybe find a used one online ?) .. I swear by orchid bark / reptibark as it looks great and also natural plus it helps to keep the humidity up .

Here's a temp gun if you're wondering what they are ...mine cost ten dollars off eBay ( both items shown below can switch between C and F .



I also get these cheap thermometers ( with probes ) for about 3 dollars each and they're perfectly fine ( the only one that stopped working was a £20 from ExoTerra !)

[Jynxy]

Thank you all for the recommendations and advice!

I've unplugged the UTH for now, and will be heading to the store soon to see what I can find from what you've all mentioned.

I guess my biggest concern with the substrate was his first strike was the equivalent of chomping down on a vertical tooth pick. Gave me chills just thinking about it! I guess I can give the cardboard box trick a try and see how well it goes. Otherwise I'll look into the newsprint as well. I saw a thread with a link to unprinted newspaper I could try.

Thanks again! I'll most likely be back with more questions about the new, little guy.

[Zincubus]

Thank you all for the recommendations and advice!

I've unplugged the UTH for now, and will be heading to the store soon to see what I can find from what you've all mentioned.

I guess my biggest concern with the substrate was his first strike was the equivalent of chomping down on a vertical tooth pick. Gave me chills just thinking about it! I guess I can give the cardboard box trick a try and see how well it goes. Otherwise I'll look into the newsprint as well. I saw a thread with a link to unprinted newspaper I could try.

Thanks again! I'll most likely be back with more questions about the new, little guy.

Many put pieces of card or cardboard down on the substrate then feed over the card - not a cardboard box though. ..


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[Jynxy]

Many put pieces of card or cardboard down on the substrate then feed over the card - not a cardboard box though. ..


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Oops, that's what I meant! I've got a box I was going to cut the flap off to put in.

[Zincubus]

Oops, that's what I meant! I've got a box I was going to cut the flap off to put in.

That's fine ... I collect and use those corrugated strips of card inserts out of boxes of chicks or biscuits ..


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[MJ_Bosley]

Congrats! 😊