New baby BP mommy

[Lira]

A friend of mine had just gotten a baby BP and then found out she had to move and couldn't take him with her. She told me she was just going to let him go in the back yard (!!!) which was a total ploy to play on my heart stings and get me to take him... which worked. (sigh) So, I now have a 20+ year commitment because I'm a sucker. I love him already.

Unfortunatly I was also completely unprepared. So, I got him last night, had to work all day and all the pet stores were closed. I need to go shopping tomorrow. I've been doing a TON of reading (don't know a lot yet, there's lots of conflicting info, but I'm trying to learn quick for his sake). Anyway, I have him in a 18qt sterlite box with holes drilled in the top right now (it was the only thing I had) and she gave me a heating rock (which I already know is bad, but again, it's all I have until tomorrow). I wrapped the rock in a towel so he couldn't lay directly on it and will be getting a UTH tomorrow cuz that seems the best and most economical rout.

My question is, should I buy one of those repti theromosat things or will a dimmer switch actaully work? What do you have to do to set it up? I'm thinking you just set it, take it's temp with some kind of digital thermometer and make adjustment til its right... right?

Thanks,
Lira

[Lira]

I forgot to add, I will be buying a larger plastic sterlite tomorrow, something more or less equal to a 20 gallon tank or so. Until he gets bigger.

[lars5277]

Try to get a decent UTH. I am not sure about the 18qt Sterelite, you might want to go a bit bigger. Drill a few holes in the side to allow air to pass through. About how long is the BP? That will help determine tub size. After tomorrow dump the heat rock no matter what. If you can't find a decent UTH then go with a lamp til you can get some flexwatt from someone. Matt (justcage) in our forums can help you out with that. You might look for a heating lamp and put it over the cage. Do not put the lamp on the plastic, I will post a cage building link for you in a second. UTHs work better for the humidity though. I got my lamp clipped to a book shelf so I can raise and lower it as needed. I will try to make you a list of things to get tomorrow to help you raise this BP better. I am sure others will chime in.

Go to Walmart ot something and get the following.
1 Soldering gun
3 small tupperware containers if they look too small they are prob the right size 2 for hides 1 for water
1 clean water battle for spritzing
1 locking sterelite tub
1 newspaper
You're at under $20 there.

If you can't find a decent UTH (under the tank heater) then get a heat lamp from the pet store with about 25 or 50 watt red/blue lights.
Go to your local hardware store and grab some mesh wire, digital indoor/outdoor thermometer/humidity guage ($10-$20) and zip ties.

All together this should cost you $60 or less until you can get a good UTH and thermostat.

[lars5277]

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=40

This link will help you build the tub with or with out the overhead light. Keep in mind I said red/blue lights because BPs are nocturnal. They will really like the colored light at night, and they will feel more free to explore. UTHs are way better than lights. Lights work in a pinch and on a budget, but shouldn't be a permanent solution.

[Lira]

ugh. I'm not all that handy Thanks for the info. I'm going to get the uth tomorrow first thing, petsmarts right around the corner and I know they have em. They're not that much, but the thermostate thingy is like 40 bucks, thats why I was asking about the dimmer switch and how it works.


He's only about erm... maybe 12 or 14 inches long. His thickest part is about the size of my circled thumb and index finger if I put my finger in the crook of my thumb. She 'thinks' he about a month old.

I put a upside tea box in there for him to hide under for now. He checked it out but seems to want to hang out on top of the towel I have covering the heat rock.

I've never had a snake and wasn't really looking for one but he's just about the cutest little guy I've ever seen. I'm trying to leave him be as much as possible though.

[lars5277]

If you decide to go with the light, then put the water bowl under the light, this will help your humidity. If you use the light you will need to spritz his cage at least three times a day. Try to buy at least one gallon of purified water for these purposes. Also change or refill it's water daily, and wash the water dish every gew days. Use the newspaper as liner. Experiment (I hate to use that word) with the bulbs and placement to get the right temps. Keep a very close eye on the temps while doing this. Matt can get you the flexwatt assembled and shiiped for about $25 or so. That will help out a lot with humidity issues.

[Shelby]

Since it's only a baby, go with a tub the size of a 10 gallon tank, rather than a 20 because small snakes stress out in big enclosures. It helps to put crumpled balls of newspaper in the tub to help them feel more secure.

Thermostats are the best route.. an UTH without something to regulate it will burn your snake. Rheostats are ok for awhile if you're tight on budget.

[frankykeno]

Well it's pretty rotten you got a little baby ball dumped on you like that Lira but thank gawd you took him as his fate might have been horrible otherwise.

You can get almost everything you need from WalMart if you have one handy (don't have a clue where you live or in what country really). It doesn't have to cost much and isn't hard at all to set up. If you run into trouble there's almost always someone online soon enough to reply.

Here's a picture of something called an Acu-Rite. You can get it at WalMart or something similar at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. - retails for around $12.00 and can read two temps and humidity digitally...invaluable as those stupid stick on things the pet store pushes truly suck. It needs a AAA battery btw. It defaults to time, temp, humidty but push a few buttons and bingo...two temps, humidity.



You pop the actual unit in on one side and then feed the probe cord out and back in (it's very long and thin) and tuck the probe in the other side. I have my units on the cool side and the probe tucked just inside and under the warm side hide. These units do come with a pop out stand but not a great idea with a nosey little snake so just velcro it in or prop it up (no sticky tape tho please!)

Don't worry about substrate (bedding) for now...put the baby on plain old white paper towel layers. He'll like it and you can watch for any sign of mites as well as get a good clean look at what he passes as far as pee and poop.

Two hides are a must. They should be low and a tight fit for the snake curled up. They like that! Also a water dish he can drink from but not drown in (he really doesn't need to swim or soak in it).

Make sure the tub has a super tight fitting lock clips or put something heavy on it, bungie cord it, binder clip it...just so they can't get out...sneaky things!

I assume you've read the caresheet here but basically 82-84% cool side, 92-94 degrees warm side...humidity 50-60% except during shed when it should be around 70% from the moment their belly goes pink till they shed out completely (can take a week or so for the whole process).

Best advice we all get here....do NOT panic LOL...with help and your own good sense it can be managed and they are actually easy, lovely snakes once you "work the plan" as they say. Just don't waste a lot of cash at the pet store when you can get so much of the stuff at Wally World or your local dollar store.

Keep the questions coming and let us know how this all works out okay.

~~Joanna~~

[Lira]

hmm, well I was hoping to pinch some penny's but I'd rather do it right the risk him. I'll get the uth, thermostat thingy, and just a slightly larger tub then.


Do I even need a light if I have the uth?
I put some paper towel in the bottom of his cage, I was worried the newspaper ink would bother him. (ok, so when I take responsibilty for a life I go a little over board).

Also, I read somewhere or another that you should pump up the mice-y your going to feed on catfood or liquid vitimins before offering it. True or crazy?

An, I gotta figure out the best way to kill the dang thing... got a few days before that I guess.

[lars5277]

Do I even need a light if I have the uth?
I put some paper towel in the bottom of his cage, I was worried the newspaper ink would bother him. (ok, so when I take responsibilty for a life I go a little over board).

Paper towels or news paper is fine. It looks like paper towls is better so you can see what he is passing.

Also, I read somewhere or another that you should pump up the mice-y your going to feed on catfood or liquid vitimins before offering it. True or crazy?

An, I gotta figure out the best way to kill the dang thing... got a few days before that I guess.

Try to but frozen mice, then thaw it out in a hot bowl or sink or water while its in a plastic zip loc bag. then make it dance by the tail on a set of tongs. Forget pumping him full of stuff, you do not need to.