starter set up

[anthony marshall]

ok i got a baby normal ball python for starters beutiful color alot of alien heads on the skin. my set up is like this.

1. 20gal glass tank with mesh top

2. 10-20 gal size uth stuck to the side of the tank as i have it on the floor right now till i have more time to make a stand

3. fir chip subtrate from the snake kit

4. sizable water bowl i am using bottled water and conditioner
two hides on on each end

5. 60w uvb light in a clamp on holder at the opposite end of tank from the uth on 12hours off 12 hours

6. stick on thermoeter but plan to upgrade to a dual purpose digital therm/hydrometer in a week or so

my room stays pretty warm in southern california so i am not to worried about heat.

thats what i have now

i also plan on getting something for the little one to climb on. should i put this under the light

i am thinking of using ripped up newpaper as a sub after the fir is used up. what do you think of that?

the snake already ate a live small mouse that i gave it so its eating right off the bat.

any sugestions on what else i shuold do to keep it happy and active.

[Adam_Wysocki]

my room stays pretty warm in southern california so i am not to worried about heat.

Unfortunately, because ball pythons are cold blooded, providing them with anything less than what they actually require for proper temperature could result in the refusing food, developing bacterial infections (including but not limited to upper respiratory infections), and given enough time ... death.

"pretty warm" and "not to worried about heat" are not good enough when it comes to taking on the responsibility of caring for a cold blooded animal.

Substrate, water bowls, water conditioners, and whatever else you want to put in the tank are nice, but above all else make sure you do everything you can to keep your ball python at the temperature he/she needs to be kept at to survive. 82-84 on one side, 92-94 on the other .... lose the stick on thing and get a digital ASAP so that you know for sure ... it sounds like you spent a few dollars on your animal and your setup, a $15 thermometer should have been the very first thing you bought ... your ball python is counting on you to take care of him/her the right way ... make like Nike and "just do it".

-adam

[anthony marshall]

ok i will get one today but what should i do if the levels are off at all to either raise temp or lower and same with humidity how do i raise and lower that?

[daniel1983]

ok i will get one today but what should i do if the levels are off at all to either raise temp or lower and same with humidity how do i raise and lower that?

The best way to keep a constant temperature is to get a thermostat. Check out these: http://www.mgreptiles.com/thermomain.html

Humidity you can control by misting and sealing off part of that wire mesh top. Ball pythons(like most snakes) do not require UVB light so that light is not really necessary unless it is a mercury vapor bulb and you are relying on it for heat.

[anthony marshall]

I just went with what the guy at the pet store told me i should get for now the temp on the little strip thing says its in the 80- 84 range is that too low

[Adam_Wysocki]

Ball pythons need to be able to choose between two distinct ranges of temperatures. 82-84 on one side of the cage, 92-94 on the other.

If your snake doesn't have a choice, you're doing it wrong.

-adam

[anthony marshall]

i guess i need two of those digital termometers/hygrometers one on each end

[daniel1983]

i guess i need two of those digital termometers/hygrometers one on each end

Usually, digital thermometer/hygrometers (indoor/outdoor thermometers) read temps from two places...so you only really need one

[anthony marshall]

who makes a good dual zone one i saw a few wireless ones from radio shack but i dont know where to get a good digital one from i need to get one today so i can make a good environment for my snake. i was thinking about getting the radio shack wireless one and keeping it on my desk where i can monitor it real close like

[kavmon]

walmart/lowes have the wireless ones too! the reg. one will do temp and humidity and they normally have a probe so you can read 2 temps (in&out) i like the wireless one from radio shack , you can use 4 remote sensors with it.


vaughn