New to BP's and to this site....

[LightWorker]

Hello everyone, I'm Jeff and I've been doing some research for a few months on BP's. I had really wanted a morph, but seeing as it is my first snake, although they are beautiful , I couldn't picture myself spending all that money, and to be honest I think the normals are just as pretty. I set my tank up which is a 75gal up a week ago, I have an undertank heater and basking light which makes one side 93 and the other side 79....at night the temps drop exactly 10 degree's on each side. I've got a large hide and the water bowl and today I went out and bought a baby BP. I'd say he is a little over a foot.....and has spent much of his time explorering his new home and now is curled up in the corner taking in the warm air...he seems really happy so far. From what little I know, I won't be touching him much this week and I'll let him be....I think I'm going to feed him next weekend. I'll be sure to take a picture of him later for you guys/girls to see. Let me know if everything sounds okay so far or any questions you have I will try to answer as best I can.

[LightWorker]

This should have really went into the Ball Python section....I messed up...sorry

[Kagez28]

75 gal is way to big for a baby ball python... a 10 gal or a 15 qt tub would probably be better. here is a caresheet to help get you started : http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=59

and your cool side is pretty low, you want 82-84 on your cool side.

also i large hide will not really help a baby they want a very tight space to hide in. here is a nice thread to show you how small they like their hides.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=hide+size

also you mentioned a night drop in temps. really that is not necessary unless you are breeding ball pythons.

also i would recommend getting a thermostat for your under tank heater(UTH). this will control the temp of the UTH because they can spike to very unhealthy temps. a cheaper but less reliable alternative is a rheostat, or a lamp dimmer which can be bought at home depot. the thermostat can be bought online. try reptilebasics.com, Rich is a great guy and will set you up.

i hope some if this helps you out. if you need anything else please don't hesitate to ask.

[LightWorker]

Here are two pictures I took today...I've also named him Mystic.

[LightWorker]

Based on those pictures my main question is what to feed him next week...pinkies?

[kavmon]

most baby balls can eat hopper mice or rat pinks for their first meals. it is really hard to tell the size in that pic.



vaughn

[bearhart]

He may still be figuring out where everything is but what's in that picture isn't really what you want to see from a BP. If he's coiled up against the glass like that I can see three possibilities:
1) He got too hot and is cooling off.
2) he doesn't like his hide.
3) He doesn't know where his hide is or is too scared to explore.

If its #3 time will sort things out. #1 and #2 mean you have some adjusting to do.

Good luck!

[LightWorker]

He may still be figuring out where everything is but what's in that picture isn't really what you want to see from a BP. If he's coiled up against the glass like that I can see three possibilities:
1) He got too hot and is cooling off.
2) he doesn't like his hide.
3) He doesn't know where his hide is or is too scared to explore.

If its #3 time will sort things out. #1 and #2 mean you have some adjusting to do.

Good luck!

I was also wondering why he choose to be on the outside of the hide rather than inside. Today, rather at this time now its yesterday was his first full day in the tank also. So I'm going to take it as he is scared and needs time to adjust...I'm guessing if a few days go by and he keeps going back into that spot I will have to make some adjustments. Right now the lights are out and he is slowly exploring his new home.
Thanks for the advice

[jeffjr464]

if i were you id go out and buy 2 matching small hides and put them on each end of the tank, one on the hot side one on the cool, fill that huge tank up with fake plants and such, the more the better, bp's like to feel secure and hidden, exoterra has nice cement hides for about 5 bucks a piece, they are great

[juddb]

Kagez28 hit it on the button. You need to reevaluate your husbandry and enclosure. The tank is way to big for him. If you insist on keeping him in there and constantly keeping up with temps/humidity(75 gallon being a nightmare for temps/humidity) then i would put all kinds of different hides everywhere, with crumpled up newspaper and what not so he doesnt feel so out in the open and vulnerable. Im pretty sure he is super stressed out so he might continue to act weird until your husbandry is up to par.