IM NEW TO THIS HELP! Hatchling acclimation! Photos included!

[misshendrixx]

Hello,
I am a new Ball python owner and needed a few tips and advice.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions!

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]


Background
I have a hatchling who arrived on this past Thursday.
I purchased her from a very reputable breeder on Morph Market and the breeder has been in constant communication with me regarding her.
I have been letting her aclimate so I have been trying not to bother her other than misting her tank and refilling her water .
I have only handled her to remover her from her shipping box and place her in the tank.
I was told by the breeder she will be going into shed soon.
She did look a bit dull but being new to this I am not 100% positive.
I don't want to bother her and stress her too much.

Setup
I am currently housing her in a 34x18x12 Exo Terra.
I am using a 50 wat UV heat emitter to keep her warm side around 90-93 degrees.
Right now the dome lamp is directly on the screen until my lamp stand arrives.
Her cool side sits around 80-84.
The sides of the tank are blacked out.
I have a heating pad hooked up to a thermostat that is set to 88.
Do i need the heating pad temperature set warmer? I have a thick layer of aspen covering the bottom of the tank as I was afraid it would burn her.
The probe for the heat pad thermostat is inside the tank in-between the glass and aspen bedding.
Does the probe need to go directly on the heat pad or in the tank where I have it ??

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]


Behavior
As I stated I have not really handled her.
Initially when she arrived she was exhibiting typical hatchling fear response.
Huffing and becoming very stiff and still when i set her in her tank.
However the second night I had her I caught her exploring around the tank using both sides and even taking a dunk in the water bowl.
I have plants attached to the inside of the tank and to my surprise she tried to climb them.
[IMG][/IMG]

These plants are to clutter the sides of the tank and I wasn't expecting her to try and climb them.
The large piece of mopani wood is secured with a thick vine to keep it in place and create a larger hide in the back of the tank.
She has spent most of her time in her warm hide and usually stays there for most of the day.
I haven't seen her much since her first night of exploring.
Im worried, is this because of shedding?
Also what hide can i expect her shed in?

Feeding
I was told her last meal was on Friday of last week.
I know you're not supposed to handle them while they're acclimating so I did not feed her the next day on Friday.
When should I feed her? I was thinking Monday because that will have been about 5 days of leaving her be?

Any tips and suggests are greatly appreciated!
Thanks for taking the time to read my post!

[Bluebonnet Herp]

Ooh, she's pretty.

First off, get a temp gun. You can get these at pretty much any tool warehouse or home improvement store. Every aspiring snake keeper eventually learns they need to have a temp gun. Also, be sure to watch humidity in tanks. The only reason I ever stopped using tanks for my ball pythons was because of humidity problems.
As for feeding, pretty much just offer her something whenever you can. If she takes it, great. If not, wait a week. Snakes usually don't really care to count the days - if they're hungry and comfy, they'll eat. Nothing much to it, really, and the "waiting a week" is not a rule per se. Hell, I usually end up just trying to feed new arrivals on the same day I feed my other snakes.

You'll know when she's happy and comfortable as ball pythons eventually just settle down and sleep all day in their hides, living up to their "pet rock" title.

[spellbound04]

It seems like you're doing a really good job and your new baby is stunning! Good luck!

1.0 Normal
Normal doesn't mean boring!

[PitOnTheProwl]

Thermostat probes should never be in the tank on the floor.
Fluids can change the reading and your animal can move it.
It should be outside between the UTH or on the UTH.
You would then use a temperature gun to get the reading of the inside floor UNDER the substrate.

[misshendrixx]

! I went out and purchased a temp gun and it has given me a lot better clarity !
Ill try offering her some food tonight .
Aprreciatethe advice ! Thanks

Ooh, she's pretty.

First off, get a temp gun. You can get these at pretty much any tool warehouse or home improvement store. Every aspiring snake keeper eventually learns they need to have a temp gun. Also, be sure to watch humidity in tanks. The only reason I ever stopped using tanks for my ball pythons was because of humidity problems.
As for feeding, pretty much just offer her something whenever you can. If she takes it, great. If not, wait a week. Snakes usually don't really care to count the days - if they're hungry and comfy, they'll eat. Nothing much to it, really, and the "waiting a week" is not a rule per se. Hell, I usually end up just trying to feed new arrivals on the same day I feed my other snakes.

You'll know when she's happy and comfortable as ball pythons eventually just settle down and sleep all day in their hides, living up to their "pet rock" title.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for your suggestion. I have moved the probe outside the tank !