Just got my BP!

[davwtram]

Hey, i first want to say hi to you all. Well, i got my ball python about a month ago and i have a few questions about him/her (kind of sucks that i don't know the gender). My python for some reason havnt pooped yet. When do they usually poop? It doesnt like being in my warm side of the tank (in the hide). For some reason it likes to be in the cold side (in the hide) where it can get down to 65-70 degrees at night. I first thought it was the hides, so i swaped the hides around and it still likes to be in the cool side.

-David

[Liquid Snake 06]

first off, congrats on your new bp. they dont "poop" that often. and if he likes staying on the cool side more than leave him be. what are the temps on the warm side? whats the humidity?

[Freakie_frog]

Welcome and how are you

Glad to have you. Congrats on the new snake. they are loads of fun.

[Shaun J]

Hey, i first want to say hi to you all. Well, i got my ball python about a month ago and i have a few questions about him/her (kind of sucks that i don't know the gender). My python for some reason havnt pooped yet. When do they usually poop? It doesnt like being in my warm side of the tank (in the hide). For some reason it likes to be in the cold side (in the hide) where it can get down to 65-70 degrees at night. I first thought it was the hides, so i swaped the hides around and it still likes to be in the cool side.

-David

Keep the warm side on 92-94 abnd the cool side on 82-84, anything lower could result in problems for your snake.

They usually poo around 2-3 times a month

[bjthomps]

Also, are you measuring the temperature of the ground, or with a thermometer that hangs on the side (which would be measuring air temp). Big mistake I made early on was getting the tank-side thermometer on the warm side to read 92....until I got myself a laser thermometer and took the temperature of the ground and realized that when the air was 92 on the warm side...the ground was well over 100! Was no mystery why my boy was staying on the cool side!!

Now that I know better and am measuring my ground temperatures.....they seem to go back and forth regularly. Just a thought.

-BT

[davwtram]

Also, are you measuring the temperature of the ground, or with a thermometer that hangs on the side (which would be measuring air temp). Big mistake I made early on was getting the tank-side thermometer on the warm side to read 92....until I got myself a laser thermometer and took the temperature of the ground and realized that when the air was 92 on the warm side...the ground was well over 100! Was no mystery why my boy was staying on the cool side!!

Now that I know better and am measuring my ground temperatures.....they seem to go back and forth regularly. Just a thought.

-BT

Hmm, now to think about it, i dont know what the temperature of the ground is. I have a heat pad under the warm side hide.

To answer Liquid snake's question, I try to keep my hudmidity over 60% and under 75%. I live in southern california, i dont have a heat lamp yet, so the temperatures get up to 85 degrees and down to 75 degrees at night.

[bjthomps]

Hmm, now to think about it, i dont know what the temperature of the ground is. I have a heat pad under the warm side hide.

To answer Liquid snake's question, I try to keep my hudmidity over 60% and under 75%. I live in southern california, i dont have a heat lamp yet, so the temperatures get up to 85 degrees and down to 75 degrees at night.

Where is your thermometer / thermometer probe located? Also, are you using a thermostat or a high/med/low control on your heating pad, or do you just have it plugged straight into the outlet, and therefore constantly on "high".

With room temperatures that high, if the heat pad is plugged in and on full heat constantly, and you are reading 92 degree air temps....your ground temp could very well be up over 100. Take a look.

-BT

[davwtram]

Where is your thermometer / thermometer probe located? Also, are you using a thermostat or a high/med/low control on your heating pad, or do you just have it plugged straight into the outlet, and therefore constantly on "high".

With room temperatures that high, if the heat pad is plugged in and on full heat constantly, and you are reading 92 degree air temps....your ground temp could very well be up over 100. Take a look.

-BT

I have a thermometer. I dont have a probe and i have one of those zoo-med heat pads....i dont think they have high low or med options...its just plug in and it has constant heat.

[Shaun J]

You need

A thermometer that is good. Accurite from WalMart is only 12 bucks and more accurate than those crappy stick ons

A thermostat! The MOST important thing to buy when using a heat pad or heat tape. Be prepared to pay 50+ bucks for a good one. Without it, your heat pad will probably get too hot.

[bjthomps]

If you have a thermometer with no probe, then I would assume that it is "stuck" to the inside of your habitat, either using "glue" or velcro. That means you are measuring the air temp....

If you can, pick up a good thermostat and get the probe down on the ground and regulate that ground temperature. If that is not an option on your budget right now, I would at least get an inexpensive infrared thermometer that you can point at the ground and get ground temps (I have found them for as little as around $40) and some way to modify the power of that heat pad. Some pet stores will carry such a device, that allows you to turn it up and down but is not actually a thermostat.

Optimal would be a thermostat...but there are a lot of options for every budget that could make things more comfortable on your snake instead of a heat pad on full blast with no ground temp reading

-BT