New BP keeper, just trying to get it right!!

[christineho]

Hello everyone, I’m so thankful I found this forum! I picked up a young BP from a commercial pet store the other day and have zero knowledge about it. Age, sex, eating habits etc!! It’s frustrating but knowing it’s going to get the best care I can give it now, helps! I’ve been combing the internet for days trying to get everything correct and and you all have made that job alot easier!! Thank you!!

I currently have 1 analog thermometer in the terrarium, but have 2 digital ones with probes and a digital hydrometer on the way! She (we are calling it a girl to personalize her) is in a 20 gallon tank and I have an UTH on one side and a basking lamp, with a ceramic socket, posted on top, centered. I also have a timer coming for that but am now questioning if that’s necessary. From what I’m reading here, light isn’t necessary? Please correct me if that’s incorrect!! She is in my bedroom where I have room darkening curtains but light gets in through the blinds that cover my sliding glass door. So my concern is that she won’t get enough light if I take away the basking lamp. The lid is mesh so I have it covered 75% with foil.

Inside I’ve tried to give her everything I can think of! I have a hide in the warm side and one in the cool side, however she prefers to hang out in the fake vines on the warm side. I added moss around the 1/2 log hide last night to close it up a bit, and move the water off the UTH and put the hide on it instead. I noticed a temp drop after that, so I’m afraid that was unwise!!

A couple of concerns I have: last night she was rubbing her face on i the glass pretty forecefully, so RI is a concern. And she fell a couple of times trying to climb up to the top. She has a huge climbing stick and she literally fell off of it! Is that ok? I just want to give her the best life I can, and as I know nothing about her (in top of being a new BP owner) I’m reaching out to you all for ANY guidance!!

ps: I was going to include pictures of her terrarium but can not figure out how ����:cens0r:♀️

I noticed you said your CHE is centered -- might want to keep that on the warm side so she has an adequate cool side. How old is she? The log hides often don't provide enough security since both ends are open, even with moss.

What are your temperatures at on each side + ambient and what is the humidity at? I wouldn't worry too much about her falling from her climbing stick -- this happens and they learn just like human kids. I would definitely opt for a thermostat so you can help control the environment as vivi said and an IR temp gun (I bought the same one as KMG when I started and I still use it).

Don't worry, you're going to do great. The important thing is that you care enough to make it right!