Few Newb Questions

[Montee]

I've got 2 thermo-hygrometers on each end of the tank mounted on the back glass just above the substrate.

one on hot side gives me 89*-90* @ 45% cold one is at 80*-82* % 60%

UTH @ 93*-95* on the inside of the glass, just below the substrate.

and a 150W black bulb overhead, screen is not covered or anything, free flowing.

is this ideal?

also how long before he wanders into his hides on either side? I've been kind of in his cage alot to help get the ideal conditions for him, Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

Thanks.

[hardball]

Well first how long have you had the BP? If its been a couple days and he seems to prefer to curl up along a side or corner of your tank id say he probably doesnt like his hides and chances are he wont use them or feel secure in them. What kind of hides are you using?

Your temperatures appear ideal, but the humidity on the warm side should be a little higher should stay between 50-60%. Other than that everything sounds fine. Long term though you may need to tape down some tinfoil on the roof of the tank to trap the humidity and heat to keep it consistent. Atleast in my house if I dont have it covered it fluctuates and drops pretty fast otherwise.

[Montee]

Well first how long have you had the BP? If its been a couple days and he seems to prefer to curl up along a side or corner of your tank id say he probably doesnt like his hides and chances are he wont use them or feel secure in them. What kind of hides are you using?

Your temperatures appear ideal, but the humidity on the warm side should be a little higher should stay between 50-60%. Other than that everything sounds fine. Long term though you may need to tape down some tinfoil on the roof of the tank to trap the humidity and heat to keep it consistent. Atleast in my house if I dont have it covered it fluctuates and drops pretty fast otherwise.

I picked these up at a local place

http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...N=2030049&Ne=2

the ones in there are 6"x3" i also have the next size up which are 8"x5"

Snake is about 20" (rough estimate with the tape against the tank)

[JLC]

Hi Montee....welcome to BP.net!

I've got 2 thermo-hygrometers on each end of the tank mounted on the back glass just above the substrate.

Are they digital or those little stick-on dials? Digital is by far the more accurate way to go...and ideally, you want at least one to have a probe at the end of a cord so you can get an accurate reading of what's going on inside the hide over the heat mat.

one on hot side gives me 89*-90* @ 45% cold one is at 80*-82* % 60%

These readings are fine, if they are accurate.

UTH @ 93*-95* on the inside of the glass, just below the substrate.

This makes it sound like your UTH is mounted inside the tank? If so, it needs to be moved and attached to the bottom of the tank from the outside. And how are you controlling the temps that it reaches? Do you have a reliable thermostat attached to it?

and a 150W black bulb overhead, screen is not covered or anything, free flowing.

150w bulb working with a UTH sounds like overkill and makes me wonder if your temps are accurate. Unless you're talking about a really big tank or if its in a really cool room.

However, if you're confident that your measurements are right, and your humidity stays generally within the range you have it noted, then it's fine the way it is.

is this ideal?

Anything that provides a clean, safe, secure environment with the proper temps and humidity is ideal. Knowing that's what you have for your snake can be tricky...but I'm confident you'll figure it out.

also how long before he wanders into his hides on either side? I've been kind of in his cage alot to help get the ideal conditions for him, Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

It can sometimes take several days before a ball python decides those cozy little caves are really safe and no other critters are going to try and claim them. What you need to concentrate on is getting the environment dialed in as quickly and as best you can...then just leave him alone for at least a week, preferably until he's readily eaten a couple of meals.

I know it's not easy to leave them alone when they're new....believe me, I know! LOL But he'll be around for a LONG time and so a few weeks of letting him be so that he learns he is living in a completely safe place is well worth the effort.

[Montee]

I've got digital meters for the measurements. And it is both a large tank and it is in a cool room (75*)

The UTH is mounted on the outside, and I have a reliable t-stat to control just the UTH, the lamp is on constantly.

As far as the hides should i keep those small ones in there with those measurements, I know they like "tight" spaces but I don't know whats considered tight to a baby snake.

[JLC]

Here's a little "story" that illustrates just how tight they like their hides...

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=35212

You just about can't get "too small"....even to the point where they are wearing a plastic dish like a hat is sometimes preferred over a roomier hide. If they can feel their bodies touched on all sides, including from above, they are usually pretty content.

[Montee]

hmm, guess i'll keep the 6x3's in there then. I'll worry about it in a couple of days. and just keep an eye.

[JLC]

hmm, guess i'll keep the 6x3's in there then. I'll worry about it in a couple of days. and just keep an eye.

Yeah....err on the side of small when it comes to hides and enclosures for BP's. And remember...they live life VERY slowly...not like us humans. It could take several days of being left completely alone before you start seeing "normal" bp behavior...which is usually sleeping all day inside one of those hides....maybe a little evening cruise for a bit...then some nighttime napping before another long day of sleeping.

[Montee]

Yeah....err on the side of small when it comes to hides and enclosures for BP's. And remember...they live life VERY slowly...not like us humans. It could take several days of being left completely alone before you start seeing "normal" bp behavior...which is usually sleeping all day inside one of those hides....maybe a little evening cruise for a bit...then some nighttime napping before another long day of sleeping.

Sounds like my kind of pet!

[Montee]

Well I woke up this morning to find him in his cold side hide. The only thing i worry about now is the humidity on the hot side. It's still only at 40% or so. I went ahead and filled the water bowl to about 2/3 it's a fairly large bowl so I only had it about 1/3 full. I also moved it under the lamp. We'll see how that goes.

I'm thinking I might put the lamp on the same t-stat the UTH is on, and aluminum foil the screeen top. Maybe that'll get humidity up and it wont get too hot in there.