A Hello and Q's about my Ball

[JeffJ]

The UTH is already on a Repti-Temp Rheostat and turned all the way down as far as possible

barrow some ones Thermal IR Temperature gun and take a 100% accurate surface temperature reading. also the heat lamp could account for that extra substrate temperature if the Heat pad is already on the lowest rheostat setting. i dont even deal with probes i take my UTH temp with the IR Thermal gun, i just move the substrate take the temp and done. the temperature of the heat pad directly (news paper is over the glass) will be what the substrate temperature is unless u have a few inches in there. mine is only an inch thick.

[Enser54]

i take a margarine dish and put it upside down over top of my food item on the screen lid of my tank. the sent seeps in and after about an hour the snake will leave his hide and start searching for the source when my lil guy does that i remove the food item and give it to him and he takes it every time.

I left a mouse wrapped in a paper towel on top of my BPs cage one, and he came out directly under it and stood up like he was a cobra! My boa does the same thing every time the cat gets on top of his.

I'm no expert, but just an idea... those dimensions are of a 55gallon aren't they? From what I have read on these forums, the bigger it is, the more it could stress out your BP, especially a little guy.

[JeffJ]

I left a mouse wrapped in a paper towel on top of my BPs cage one, and he came out directly under it and stood up like he was a cobra! My boa does the same thing every time the cat gets on top of his.

I'm no expert, but just an idea... those dimensions are of a 55gallon aren't they? From what I have read on these forums, the bigger it is, the more it could stress out your BP, especially a little guy.

my BP gets on his stick and gets right up to under the dish with the food in it. thats how i know he is ready to go.

yes it is a large tank thats why we suggested filling it with obstacles and hides for the snake to feel safe as i dont think replacing it was in his list of options. the more crowded it is the safer the BP will feel.

[Wrongside]

Update:

Temps are all perfect, and my ball finally took a hopper mouse last nite.

It was odd cause I presented a F/T mouse and he came out of his hide looking for it but would not take it from the thongs or when put down. Completely ignored it but was definately searching for food. I put the hopper in and boom, gone in minutes.


I'll give him until next weekend and try feeding a rat since he is rather large for a hopper.

Thanks for the help!

[zombie&lemons]

i use half logs but i burry them in to the substract so it looks like a natural cave and i take them and cut 45deg. angles on the back to put in a corner. so its all dark in side there

[blackcrystal22]

my BP gets on his stick and gets right up to under the dish with the food in it. thats how i know he is ready to go.

yes it is a large tank thats why we suggested filling it with obstacles and hides for the snake to feel safe as i dont think replacing it was in his list of options. the more crowded it is the safer the BP will feel.

Sometimes crowding it and filling it up isn't enough.
If the animal still does not eat and is not comfortable, lower the cage size to a 10 or 15 gallon. 20 gallons are often used for adults, and anything much bigger than that can be stressful in itself.

If it is a 55 gallon cage, that is definitely much too large and will cost more to regulate heat and humidity than it's worth. Cleaning it will also be a trip and substrate use will be out the window.