New tank and ball python owner

[Longhorn1890]

Thanks for the response and tips.

"1. Her behavior is pretty normal. When you put a ball python in a tank for the first time, it will check out its surroundings and then settle down in a hid spot. Ball pythons are nocturnal creatures and are more active at night, when they will occasionally come out and explore. However, the general rule is that a "happy ball python is a hiding ball python.""

-well, i sure am happy to hear this, i kinda guessed that she just needed a little time to adjust.

"2. The humidity should be at least 50 at all times and raised to around 70 during the shed cycle. The reptibark that you're using is good for holding humidity. Other than using a spray bottle, things you can try are; moving the water bowl closer to a heat source, and covering most of the screen of the tank, while leaving some for ventilation when the heat lamp is."

-I put the basking lamp on top of the water bowl, that seems to help keep it at 40%. i scrapped the tin foil idea, and im trying just putting a damp bath towel on top of screen for about 3/4ths of it. i had really good humidity levels when i put about 3 layers of damp paper towels, so im gonna try this, if it doesnt work, ill go back to the paper towels and make sure to keep them damp, and change them daily, i know it sounds like alot of work, but i really dont mind.

"3. Your temperatures sound about right. You mentioned something that monitors your heat sources, which is good. Keep in mind, un-monitored UTC can reach high temperatures that will harm your snake. If you are using a lamp dimmer, that is okay, but the best is using a thermostat. Also, make sure your snake does not come into direct contact with the heat bulbs."

I have 2 temature gauges in the care, unfortunalty they are the cheap dial ones everyone seems to hate, they seem to work alright, but i do plan on in a month or so, going out and getting some nice digital ones. im trying not to mess with the inside of the tank while shes still new to it. the infared light and the basking lamp provide the hot end at a nice 88 to 91 degrees, as well as keeping the cool side around 79 to 81. they pretty much stay at these temps during the day, it depends on if a nice cool breeze is coming through the window or not, but i always keep a close eye on the temps, and adjust my surroundings if needed. the bulbs rest about an inch off the top of the screen inside their fixtures, do you think thats far enough to make sure she wont get burned, she really cant get up too high in the cage yet.

"4. Your lighting is also pretty good. A basking light on a schedule while switching to an infrared one at night is good. But just make sure, the temperature does not change while you do this. Also, you can leave the room light or tv light on, its okay. IF the snake has hood hides, it wont be affected by the light anyways."

-the temps seem to stay pretty consistent through out the day and night,
daytime, 88 to 91 on the hot end, with 79-81 on the cold. night time is more like 85 on the hotend, and still around 79-81 on the cold. ambient temp is always above 80

a few points of concerns:

"1. You mentioned you handled your snake. I know you are super excited because you just got her and everything, but you should not handle your snake within the first week that you got her. Let her settle down a bit. If you are worried about her, just check her up while she is in the tank and exploring at night."

-yea, i totally agree it was a bad idea to go in there and pick her up, and i havent done so since, i had a couple friends who wanted to see her, and i kinda gave into the peer presure, dont worry, will not happen again. ill prob wait till sometime next week b4 i start holding her, and i was planning on doing it around dusk at first, and just holding her for a little bit to get her used to me, does that sound like a good plan?

"2. Hides. You mentioned you have six. Generally, ball pythons need identical hides: one on the hot side, and one on the cool. This is so they don't choose security over temperature, or vice versa. It is very good you have a clustered tank, this way the snake will feel secured when moving from one hide to another. However, half logs are not the best for ball pythons. They prefer a hide that hugs them from all sides. The flower pots you are using are much better"

-yea i kinds bought that hide log based of some advice i have gotten, but i have also heard a few people tell me the same thing you did about it. i have it back in the cool side of the tank in a corner, do you think i should take it out, she seems to like it and spends alot of time in it. also, should i take out the other hides, or just leave them in there and she can use them if she wants to. i dont mind the extra work of cleaning out the tank and moving things around. also, i put a paper towel tube in there as well, should i take that out? of the all the hides i have in there, the 1 hide log, 2 flower pots, a clear small ziplock container that has a snap on lid which i cut a pretty decent size hole in the top and put damp paper towels in, and a medium size coconut shell in the corner that i put some moss in the top to stop light from coming in, which ones do you recommend i take out?

"3. Heat/Temperature. Although the temperatures you have are good right now. You must make sure they do not fluctuate. It is very important to use temperature monitoring devices such as dimmer or thermostats. Also, you did not mention how you are reading the temperatures. The best way is using two thermometers with probes, one on the cool side and one on the hot."

-like i said eariler i have them little dial ones that people seem to hate. i want to defintley get some nice digital gauges and a digital humidity gauge, and ill prob do that within the next month or so. the temps do not really move that much, during the day within 1 to 3 degrees, and at night, it drops down to hot side being around 85 and cool being 80


i really appreciate your help and input. i read quite a bit up on these little guys, but im a believer in expirence as well. let me know what you think about some of the things i said.

thanks again, and thanks for being patient with me, im a pretty big noob when it comes to these little fellers.