Newbie.... feedback on my Habitat please

[bigballs]

if you stick on the heat pad and use a razor to remove the stuck heat pad it ruins the pad and it cant be used anymore. your better of taping the heat pad to the tank with duct tape or aluminum tape so that you can remove the heat pad and re-use it if need be.

heat pads should always have some sort of control device attached to them. they create a surface area hot spot that can get dangerously hot if it is not regulated.

[ThuSandman]

This is GREAT~! I'll get some small bowls and cut a hole in 'em for him to use. I also already have a small water dish that my wife got when she picked him up. I read somewhere about a larger one for soaking but guess that was for another type snake? Will get a better temp/hygro meter for ambient and put it down low, where the snake is.

Also... does it piss 'em off when you get them out during the day? I want him to be use to me and others.... socialized I guess you could say. How often do ya'll get yours out to say 'hi' to? He seems to enjoy moving around a lot and is curious about me when I get him out. Or is this a no no with young ones and I should not get him out much??? Just want him to be people-friendly and I'm being selfish cause I LIKE getting him out.

I work out of the house and call them my 'snake breaks' now. ha

Thanks to you all!! Keep the suggestions rollin'!

[starmom]

Leave him alone for a week or two so he can establish security in his new home. Feed him every week and change water and substrate though. After that, they seem to not get overly stressed if taken out a few times a week, or more, or less, depending on the individual snake

[ThuSandman]

How the heck do I tell if a snake is 'stressed'????

[xdeus]

How the heck do I tell if a snake is 'stressed'????

He'll let you know. A BP will show stress in different ways such as aggressive behavior, active during the day (they're nocturnal), or lack of appetite. A mellow, hungry Ball Python is a happy Ball Python.

[atp151415]

DUDE, you need a thermostat

http://www.beanfarm.com/store/agora....ture%20Control

the Alife one works pretty good

[starmom]

Better thermostats: Helix or Herpstat

[ThuSandman]

Have I got a slow snake?
He seems to prefer the cool side during the day.... it's only 75 in there where he is now. The other hide is a nice toasty 85! Humidity is 60..... Why would he not be over there? Isn't 75 a bit cold for him? Do i need to buy him a sweater?

How BIG of a heat pad are ya'll using? This Zoo Med is rather small for a 20 tank.... but it said it was for 10-20.

[vredsbyrd]

I have my BP in a 30 gal tank. Then again my BP is a year old. Get a thermostat. You can get them at www.bigappleherp.com for around $39.99 and they ship in two days. Very reliable and will save you on the electric bill too as it regulates the UTH. The one I have is adjustable up to 98F degrees I also recommend you get a digital thermometer with a probe that you can stick right on the glass where the UTH is so you always have a constant reading. Very helpful because it takes over 6 hours for most UTH to heat up to their regular temp.

Your UTH should be 1/3rd the tank size

[starmom]

He's probably on the cool side because the hide is smaller and so he feels more secure.
You need 2 small hides and you need to get your temps up to 82 cool side and 92 warm side with ambients of about 80; failure to do this could result in your snake becoming ill.
Like everyone keeps saying, you need a UTH connected to a thermostat.