finally, some pictures.

[Tinks]

ok guys, my last ball python had some wierd skin disorder or sumthing so i brought him back and go a new one. heres some pictures of her. sorry some are blury, she wouldnt hold still lol
http://img351.imageshack.us/img351/3903/mysnake0058x68pm.jpg
http://img351.imageshack.us/img351/551/mysnake0158x69pc.jpg
http://img351.imageshack.us/img351/1800/mysnake0178x62ef.jpg
http://img351.imageshack.us/img351/1795/mysnake0188x64gy.jpg

ive got quite a few more, pm or sumthin if you wanna se them.

[Tinks]

from what i can tell shes a she right?

[Artemis]

From what I can tell, you should do a little more research about ball pythons if you think you can determine the gender of a neonate just by looking at it.

Typically, its better to do this BEFORE you bring the snake home, but since its too late for that, check out the care sheet at the top of the forum, and do tell us about your new pet's enclosure. Make sure to get up to speed on everything.

A "weird skin disorder" sounds like it might have been something as simple as a stuck on shed. How long did you have the other one?

Nice looking snake, get up to snuff on his care requirements ASAP!

[Tinks]

ive done my research and i know how to take care of my snake... and just to letcha know the other one hadnt eaten for 3 weeks, it wouldnt do anything and it would never sence the air or anything. i brought it back and it died the next day... as for the gender, im asuming because she has a shorter tail than the other hatchlings. i havnt had the chance to get her probed so all i can do is asume.

the enclosure has a hide on bothsides of the tank, warm and cold, the warm temp is 80-83 during the day, cold is 78-80, and i have a water bowl thats big enough for her to soak in. i have a large plant that also provides a hide ajasent from the warm hide.

[NocturnalBC]

the enclosure has a hide on bothsides of the tank, warm and cold, the warm temp is 80-83 during the day, cold is 78-80, and i have a water bowl thats big enough for her to soak in. i have a large plant that also provides a hide ajasent from the warm hide.

Well for the most part it sounds ok, but I would bump the heated side up to 90F-95F. BP need a temp of around 90F to properly digest their feed and your current temps are way too low!. If you had done your homework then you'd know this..lol. I make sure mine sits around 94F and let it drop to about 90F at night. Your cool side is ok but remember that anything under 75F can be unhealthy.

What are you using to heat it anyway?

[Tinks]

ok well i double checked yesterday (i checked about 4 hours after turning light on) and its just under 90, ive got a paper towl over the pad b.c i was told it was too hot, ill see what i can do to get the heat at 92 or so.

i also bought a 7 or so gallon plastic tank to feed her in today.

[peterm15]

...bothsides of the tank...

as in fish tank??? if so cover some of the top... and get a digi humidity gauge, just to be sure its ok in that way... a rubbermaid or custom would be a better choice but you can experiment if you like

as for heating pad.. you do have that on the outside of the tank right, hooked up to a dimmer, if not do so.. just use a lamp dimmer from wal mart.. you plug the pad into the dimmer and the dimmer into the wall, that way you dont have to wire anything up..

your orginal temps were right on the button for ambiant temp.. maybe thats where you got confused..

as for sexing by the tail, i doubt it at this age.. if your not planin on breeding whats the difference.. lol.. j/k.. youd have to get her probed

good luck with her/him, hope it turnes out ok..

[Artemis]

ive done my research and i know how to take care of my snake... and just to letcha know the other one hadnt eaten for 3 weeks, it wouldnt do anything and it would never sence the air or anything. i brought it back and it died the next day... as for the gender, im asuming because she has a shorter tail than the other hatchlings. i havnt had the chance to get her probed so all i can do is asume.

the enclosure has a hide on bothsides of the tank, warm and cold, the warm temp is 80-83 during the day, cold is 78-80, and i have a water bowl thats big enough for her to soak in. i have a large plant that also provides a hide ajasent from the warm hide.

Wow, ok where to start. Ok first of 3 weeks of not eating for a snake that is still being acclimated is not long at all. Were you handling it during that time? It is a shame it died.

As you say you have done your research, then I will say whatever you have researched has been incorrect, as your temps are too cool, which has already been addressed. Since that was clearly inaccurate, you might want to double check the rest of your research to make sure there arent other discrepencies.

Shorter tail, if you mean the prehensile tail, I have never heard of as a way to judge BP gender. Head size is another common "old wives" way to tell, but probing is the only way to know for sure.

[Tinks]

as in fish tank???

nope, ive got one of those terragen tanks, the reptile ones that open up front