Newb Here

[1FlyCelica]

Hey Guys! I just recently purchased my first snake ~ A spotted python and I love it! I named it Rocky. It seems healthy, very active, and no problems with meals. But I do have some questions to ask b/c I don't think that where I bought it from answered all of mine or properly.

Anyways...I was told that my snake was about 6 months old. So size-wise, how big should it be? It is about a little bigger than a foot now. How big is it going to get? I read roughly 3 feet in length before I purchased it...is that right? Also, I have a 30 gallon terrarium for it...is that going to be big enough when it is full grown? The pet store said it would be sufficient enough. :confused: I don't want sufficient though...I want my SP to be happy. Anyways...Any help what so ever is greatly appreciated! :)

[Artemis]

Welcome!

What you read is accurate, A spotted python will range 3-4 feet or so. Also, if your snake is in a 30 gallon tank, it will need to have lots of hides at that size, nice small ones it can barely squeeze into. Snakes dont like lots of space, and I think a 30g tank should be fine for it once it reaches its adult size, but im sure the other people with more experience than I will answer that for sure.

What are your temperatures on the warm and cool side of your enclosure? Do you have a humidity gauge to measure your humidity?

Congrats on your new snake.

Artemis

[1FlyCelica]

Thanks for the info! On the cool side it is at 71 and on the warm side, it is at 92. I don't have a humidity gauge, but the guy at the pet store said that it is not that important...is he up his ***? He said to make sure there is lots of water though, incase the snake needs to go for a dip when shedding. I do mist the enclosure twice a day, once in the morning, and once at night. And I always make sure the snake has fresh water.

[672]

You should maybe raise the cool side temps a little bit...

[1FlyCelica]

Sorry for my ignorance...but how do I go about doing that? Thanks!

[Gary O]

Originally posted by 1FlyCelica
Sorry for my ignorance...but how do I go about doing that? Thanks!

What are you using for heating now?

I like to use heat panals

[672]

You could put a low wattage heat lamp on the cool side, a low temp heat mat, raise the temperature in the room he resides in etc etc.

[1FlyCelica]

Hmm...well I moved the heat lamp a little more towards the center on the enclosure so that the warm side is 91 and the cool side is now at 73...still too cool you think or is it ok? Thanks for the help BTW =)

[Diamondpython]

my spotted pythons cool side is room temperture

[Lasher]

I would say still a little cool, but she will probably do just fine. When given a choice, the SPs will move about and thermoregulate. Mine is about 4' and is fully grown.

[1FlyCelica]

Still too cool?? What should it be at? It seems to like its environment very much so...and it's never in it's hide box...always out in the open on the climbing tree which is great!! It only goes in it's hide box after it eats for about 24 hours and then it comes back out again. Anyways...I just bought a new tank...so it's going from a 30g tank to a tank that is 3' L x 2' H x 1 1/2' W...so it won't know what to do with all that room!! It will be a while before I get everything perfect though...I want it to be a really immaculate show tank.

[1FlyCelica]

Oh...and I picked up the tank for ONLY $30 off ebay!! No shipping either b/c I just picked it up...they guy lived 5 minutes from me!! How sweet eh? It came with a screen lid to go over top and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it either.

[Artemis]

Dont let me burst your bubble, and its awesome you are so excited about your snake, but he may be climbing and exploring in an effort to escape, particularly if his husbandry requirements arent met, it also could be he is still learning his way around in the enclosure. Snakes dont express emotion like people, and so its hard to gauge the reasoning behing there behavior sometimes. Thats why its so important to make sure all your snakes needs are met, all the time, unlike a cat or dog, if you forget to tend to it, its not in your face reminding you :)

Anyways, a 30 gallon tank will be fine for your snake at its adult size, and it will need a lot of hides in a tank that size, particularly when it isnt full grown. Buy a piece of glass or plexiglass to put over most of the top of the screen, that will help hold heat and humidity in, and you can still use a heat lamp over it. You may consider switching to a UTH, but as long as your temperatures are correct (use a digital thermom to measure them, not the stick-on-the-side aquarium thermometers) then radiant heat from the lamp is ok, too. A stick on the side gauge for humidity is fine, and if it seems low (no lower than 50 or higher than 80 ever) then a mist or two a couple times a day with a plant sprayer of water will raise the humidity. I mist my balls enclosure lightly, as I use mostly-covered screen top, and humidity stays about 65 on the hot side and 70 on the cool side.

Let him settle in nicely once you have everything perfect. Leave him alone for a few days and then offer some food.

=)

Art

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

You can leave those temps where they are, just put several(4 plus) hides from the cool to warm end of the enclosure. That will give the snake many options for thermoregulation. Good luck!

C.