Heating pad?

[Leda]

Today I purchased a ball python. (The pet shop had been holding her for me, for a week). I went and picked her up today, and came to realize that they did not sell any of those under the tank heating pads.

Only heat rocks, and I'm aware that ball pythons are easily burned, and do tend to get burned from heat rocks. Tomorrow I'll be able to go to Petsmart and get her a proper heating pad.

But I was wondering if she'd be alright for a night without one.

I read up on bedding, and such. Right now she's in her temporary tank. My friend was supposed to drop mine off here today, but didn't. So right now she's in a smaller tank, with shredded news paper + water dish + her mouse. Tomorrows I'll get her reptibark, her new tank, and a heating device.

Tomorrow, all of the proper things shall be here. Will she be okay for a night without a heating pad? (it's never blazing freezing in here).

[rabernet]

Do you have a human heat pad with no auto off feature that you can use tonight? I'd rather use one of those temporarily than none at all. Or put a space heater in front of its enclosure.

[Leda]

Yeah. I put a normal space heater right by her on low, to be sure it doesn't burn her. But it's 1,500W and it really wears on my electric bill. Right now I have her in the warmest part of my bedroom (on my desk by my computer).

That mouse is really bothering me. It keeps going in the dish, then crawling around on her, and soaking the paper towels with water. But tomorrow I get new everything for her. So I'm just figuring out what to do for her tonight.

I was thinking of putting the heat on, and setting her ontop of the radiator. (they don't get blazing hot or anything, just warm enough to keep her warm). But then I thought that moving her closer to the my window would be bad, seeing as I live in Pennsylvania, and it's December. So I don't know.

And I don't have a heating pad (the kind for humans, OR animals) here.

[dr del]

Hi,

I would also take the mouse out.

**edit**

Definately remove the mouse and put it in a seperate container with food and water - left alone with a snake who isn't intrested there is a high risk of your snake getting bitten.

**end edit**


dr del

[Leda]

...The lady at the pet store gave it to me. What the crap would I do with it?

[dr del]

Hi,

Well you could keep it till next week once everything is all dialed in and your snake has settled in and looking for food.

It's a good idea to keep a small setup for rodents as occasionally you are going to have a rodent the snake doesn't want right now. It does also mean you can make sure the mouse has a good diet which makes it better food for your snake.


dr del

[rabernet]

Definitely don't leave a mouse in with it. Especially overnight. I wouldn't even attempt to feed your snake until it's had its first week without any handling to settle in.

And no - don't put it on the radiator either.

Ideally, you'd have wanted to have had your set up running for 48 hours to stabilize your temps before acquiring your bp.

[Leda]

AHHH!!!

Things just keep getting worse! Haha. I'm actually laughing at this one.

SO OKAY. The SPACE HEATER melted the side of the damn thing a little bit, so it dips at the top (like an iced tea pitcher or something).

AH!! Looks like I need to melt it shut or something. I know pythons are escape artists.

Gah. I haven't anything to put the freakin' mouse in.

Grrrrr.

[dr del]

Hi,

I'd phone your friend and find out if they can't drop off your tank once you explain why it's becoming more urgent.


dr del

[Leda]

Yeah I just talked to him, he's not at home. He's far off in the land of where ever doing what ever. I fixed the melted area though. I'm sure it'll hold for tonight. I put her half log right infront of that space so she won't be too tempted to poke around that back-area. and just to be on the safe side, I taped a piece of paper over the fixed melted spot.

Gosh I can't wait til tomorrow. I'm getting up early just so I can get all of this junk taken care of.