New Ball

[bigrich0086]

woud it be better to move the climbing log onto the warm side and put the hide rock there and keep the log on the warm side.

[SatanicIntention]

I REALLY would recommend going to WalMart or a dollar store and getting a 6qt shoebox plastic tub, a small hide(one) and a small water bowl, and use newspaper for his bedding. Get some black binder clips to secure the lid too. Put the heat pad on the thermostat and set it for 92-94 and the cool side should regulate itself to around 82-84. Leave the snake alone for a week, no handling, just water changes and change the bedding if he urinates.

That tank is much too big and open for that tiny baby and I doubt he will ever feel secure enough to eat on a consistent basis. That size tank(or a similar sized plastic enclosure) is perfect for when he is an adult(3-4 years old). Getting him comfortable, feeling secure, eating consistently and getting those temperatures up to the proper levels is what is going to help your little guy thrive.

[bigrich0086]

when i got the the lil guy he was housed ina a 35 gallon tank and ate fine in there. i dont see a 55 gallon messing wit that. hes been moving around ever since night hit. the warm side is at 89 dagrees right now. and hes under the half log on the warm side. im also ordering a big cave hide for the cool side to take up sapce and add more vides to make it look smaller for him. he was very active when i held him at the store

[Jmiller250]

When he is very active like that during the day, that means he is stressed out. He should only be active at night and not during the day unless he is moving from on hide to another to thermo regulate.

[catalystsupreme]

For a snake that size a 10 gallon is almost to big. I think that 55 gallon is going to just cause alot of stress

[rabernet]

That tank is entirely too large for that wee little baby. I'm just curious, you won't use a heat lamp because it will cost you $20 more a month in electricity? Is that what I read above? Did you think through this before you got him?

[rabernet]

when i got the the lil guy he was housed ina a 35 gallon tank and ate fine in there. i dont see a 55 gallon messing wit that. hes been moving around ever since night hit. the warm side is at 89 dagrees right now. and hes under the half log on the warm side. im also ordering a big cave hide for the cool side to take up sapce and add more vides to make it look smaller for him. he was very active when i held him at the store

He doesn't want BIG, he wants small, snug and tight. Like this, it's a small plastic flower pot saucer, less that 4" around:



See, here's a happy baby:

[frankykeno]

Ball pythons are quite shy, nocturnal snakes that often don't do well in big open exposed glass tanks, especially as small hatchlings. That exposure equates to their instincts of feeling unprotected and open to being preyed upon. Stressed snakes, babies or adults, tend to not do well. They can refuse to eat and become stressed enough that it begins to compromise their immune systems. As well, large glass tanks with mesh lids tend to be very difficult to maintain stable temperature gradients and humidity in. Hides for any ball python need to be size appropriate. The hides should be dark, easy to clean for the keeper and should touch the snake on all sides when it's in a coiled posture.

Here's a typical baby hide we use....


For monitoring temps and humidity, an Acu-Rite from Walmart for around $10 plus 1 AAA battery is a handy thing to have in the tank at all times....

[bigrich0086]

his warm side is 93 dagrees and cool side is now 80 dagrees.when i put him in the tank he was only moving aroun for a bit then coiled up in the cirner. didnt move till night time and moved to the warm side and has been there all night. hes acting fine. dont seem stressed out at all . but like i said im adding more vines and stuff to make it look smaller to him and make him feel secure

[darkangel]

his warm side is 93 dagrees and cool side is now 80 dagrees.when i put him in the tank he was only moving aroun for a bit then coiled up in the cirner. didnt move till night time and moved to the warm side and has been there all night. hes acting fine. dont seem stressed out at all . but like i said im adding more vines and stuff to make it look smaller to him and make him feel secure

But isn't this your first snake? How do you know he's not stressed out? You'd do well to take the advice on this forum -- there's a lot of experienced people that can give you advice you can rely on.