a soon to be new addition

[ilovemypets1988]

hi again all, long time no speak.

so i have found someone whos selling an 18month old royal python for £50, which i will be bringing home soon, you all know what snakes i currently have but just incase, heres an update:

a male boa constrictor
a male western hognose
a male corn

the python is a female and what i really need to know is how the pythons needs compares to my other snakes and also what size viv do i need for her, she will be in a RUB for a small while as i have 1 spare but will be getting her a proper viv in the end.

[sassy_snake_lady]

What happened to your other corn?

The amel hatchling?

[ilovemypets1988]

she passed away for some reason, had an autopsy done and they couldnt find anything plus all of the temps and everything was fine so dont have a clue what happened

[sassy_snake_lady]

Oh dear. You had a PM done, I'm surprised, that can't have been cheap! and for it not to shw anything you must have been gutted.

Well I would research alot before bringing home a royal/ball python.

I didn't enjoy owning one, but that's just me. I never got to see her as she was a fussy feeder which meant no handling. She didn't eat for the 2 months I had her and in the end I traded her to a breeder friend of mine!

Don't get it just because it seems cheap, although mine only cost me £40.

How is your male corn doing, he had issues too? Don't forget your Boa will need a big viv later too.

Both will be on rats too which are more expensive than mice.

There is a lot to consider. Make sure you do what's best for the snakes you already own.

[stephanbakir]

Keep in mind that allot of breeders give their normal ball pythons away for FREE or as a bonus for buying one of their other snakes, or they just cull them.

I'm 90% sure that you can get a better deal elsewhere so don't rush into it just because of the price.

Ball pythons make great "pets" though, easy to feed and they aren't generally biters.

[ilovemypets1988]

Oh dear.

Well I would research alot before bringing home a royal/ball python.

I didn't enjoy owning one, but that's just me. I never got to see her as she was a fussy feeder which meant no handling. She didn't eat for the 2 months I had her and in the end I traded her to a breeder friend of mine!

Don't get it just because it seems cheap, although mine only cost me £40.

How is your male corn doing, he had issues too? Don't forget your Boa will need a big viv later too.

Both will be on rats too which are more expensive than mice.

There is a lot to consider. Make sure you do what's best for the snakes you already own.

yh im in the process of looking at 6ft x 2ft vivs for the boa so no panic there (of course with a bulb heater) and the corn is doing so much better although im still only feeding him once every 3 weeks which he seems to be fine with.

[stephanbakir]

yh im in the process of looking at 6ft x 2ft vivs for the boa so no panic there (of course with a bulb heater) and the corn is doing so much better although im still only feeding him once every 3 weeks which he seems to be fine with.

Using a bulb as a heater is like asking for humidity problems, go with uth/flexwat

[ilovemypets1988]

Using a bulb as a heater is like asking for humidity problems, go with uth/flexwat

what for a boa? its either bulb or ahs due to thermal blocking

[stephanbakir]

AHS? bulbs destroy humidity.

[ilovemypets1988]

ahs is an advanced heating system, there apparently great, especailly as they have there own built in thermostat

[stephanbakir]

I cant tell you if they are good or not, just hearing about them now. Ill look into them tonight.

[Lankyrob]

Bulbs only destroyhumidity in screen tops, in a wooden viv they cause no issues in my humble opinion.

For a bp you are looking at a four foot viv, ours are two and ahalf foot high but bps dont climb so there is a lot of "wasted" space.

Humidity needs to be 55-65% and up to 75% when in shed.

I love my bp even tho he is pretty much the most inactive snake ever, he was active when he was younger but now he is pretty much a hidey snake. He eats pretty consistently tho had a twelve week breeak from eating over the winter period.

Any questions just ask!! :)

[sassy_snake_lady]

Bloody expensive though for a 6ft viv! (AHS I mean)

[ilovemypets1988]

Bloody expensive though for a 6ft viv! (AHS I mean)

£150 last time i checked but i would pay any amount these days to make sure my snakes are comfortable, now that i have a job that is

[ilovemypets1988]

Bulbs only destroyhumidity in screen tops, in a wooden viv they cause no issues in my humble opinion.

For a bp you are looking at a four foot viv, ours are two and ahalf foot high but bps dont climb so there is a lot of "wasted" space.

Humidity needs to be 55-65% and up to 75% when in shed.

I love my bp even tho he is pretty much the most inactive snake ever, he was active when he was younger but now he is pretty much a hidey snake. He eats pretty consistently tho had a twelve week breeak from eating over the winter period.

Any questions just ask!! :)

thanx rob, that does help an awful lot as im only just started to do the research for a bp as i wasnt really considering getting 1 but ended up deciding to do so lol

[ilovemypets1988]

its official, im picking up a ball python hatchling on saturday and got the guy down to £35.
i really cant wait and am really looking forward to it.

[stephanbakir]

Grats, they are awesome snakes.

[ilovemypets1988]

yh i really cant wait, all my current snakes are male and im buying a female so its gunna be really interesting, plus i know that if i have any problems, i can always come on here and get the advice that i require :)

[stephanbakir]

Female snakes are like males, if you don't want them in breeding mode, don't seasonally change their temperatures.

[ilovemypets1988]

yh i dont intend to breed, well yet anyway lol, just curious but how big on average is a hatchie after 3 feeds

[stephanbakir]

fits coiled in your hand, easy.

[ilovemypets1988]

ok thanks, thas all i needed to know lol

[Lankyrob]

Mine is almost a year old - i do have big hands - and he can still coil in my hand.

[ilovemypets1988]

lol rob, its gunna be exciting for me as i love pythons and dont really have the option of owning my favourite python (the mighty burm), but a royal is a good compromise and a gd start for an introduction to pythons i believe

[ilovemypets1988]

ive come up with alittle dilemma, ive got pretty much everything i need apart from hides, what size hide do i need for a hatchie (exoterra cave hides i mean) and thats it tbh

[stephanbakir]

You generally have babies in tubs to easily hold the humidity up, fold some newspaper in there and they hide under it.

[ilovemypets1988]

ah ok thanks, she will be on paper substrate for 3 months anyway, i know thats only half the quaranteen period, but i believe that after the initial 3, then i can really start adding things to make it look better.

what about using shedded paper for hamsters for the substrate, would that be ok

[Lankyrob]

Our hatchie went straight into a 4foot viv - just make sure there are plenty (and i mean PLENTY) of hides.

[ilovemypets1988]

thas the idea of using the shedded paper as she will have layers of paper to hide in as i would literally put and inch of the stuff in there as being shedded paper, it wont effect the amount of heat coming through from the mat.

[stephanbakir]

Shredded paper can be a pain to clean, its much simpler to just fold a sheet in there and they hide in the folds.
Make sure to keep her humidity up for at least the first year.

[ilovemypets1988]

what should the humidity be for the first year, ive been told 70%, is this accurate or is it less than that, i believe that someone on here sed 50-60%

[Lankyrob]

We kept/keep ours at 55-60% and once we see signs of blue up it to 70% til the shed happens, never had any issues with him at all bar the not feeding over the winter period.

[NennaMeerkat]

How exactly do you "up humidity" or keep a high humid environment in the first place...and I mean with a screen top. High heat with water under the heat? I am curious since in a year or two I might be getting a ball python myself. Still learning about creating/maintaining humidity.

[stephanbakir]

Lose the screen top and move away from glass. Voila.

[NennaMeerkat]

Lose the screen top and move away from glass. Voila.

That is an impossibility for me so I need options for what I have which is a 40 gallon breeder tank with a screen top. And I know it is possible to keep balls in a "normal" tank without problem...just need to know how.

[stephanbakir]

Saran wrap the lid, cover as much of the top as possible, and insulate it a little better.
At least wrap the lid.

[Ch^4]

yh i dont intend to breed, well yet anyway lol, just curious but how big on average is a hatchie after 3 feeds

Highly variable...30-100g.

That is an impossibility for me so I need options for what I have which is a 40 gallon breeder tank with a screen top. And I know it is possible to keep balls in a "normal" tank without problem...just need to know how.

Why is it impossible (just curious)?

Simple solution = tub + flexwatt + thermostat. The t-stat and flexwatt (or UTH) are already part of the equation for the 40 gallon tank and the tub is under $20. Sell the tank on CL and have money left over! Just my 2/100 cents.

[NennaMeerkat]

Why is it impossible (just curious)?

Simple solution = tub + flexwatt + thermostat. The t-stat and flexwatt (or UTH) are already part of the equation for the 40 gallon tank and the tub is under $20. Sell the tank on CL and have money left over! Just my 2/100 cents.

Husband doesn't want to buy anymore tanks or anything. He also doesn't want to sell any of our tanks. He is more in the mind to "make do" with what we got. Our bearded dragon is in there now which is why it will be a couple of years before we are getting a ball. Basically husband wants to get a ball after KyJinn passes on. KyJinn was his choice to get so I figured when he passes on my husband can make the choice for what to get next...and that was ball python.

And I don't really like using plastic tubs for anything other than storage. It just isn't fun or attractive looking to keep animals in them when I am not breeding or anything like that.

But I appreciate the input all the same!

[stephanbakir]

At least saran wrap the top, it will help a TON

[NennaMeerkat]

At least saran wrap the top, it will help a TON

Now that I CAN do. I know that I would have to modify the screen top in some way. Was thinking of getting Plexi Glass or something or a large piece of wood.

Would putting something around the outside of the glass, at least around 3 sides, like those background things...would that help with humidity?

[stephanbakir]

background things would help a little but not really noticeably, plexi on top would though.

[NennaMeerkat]

background things would help a little but not really noticeably, plexi on top would though.

I will see if I can snag a sheet of plexi for the top...maybe I can rig up a true fitting of plexi for the top instead of the screen all together. My father in law is pretty durn handy when it comes to things so he might know of a way or can do it himself.

[Ch^4]

My previous post should have been 60-100g (the 3 is right below the 6 on the number pad...big fingers ;) ). But extremely variable nonetheless (IME).

Husband doesn't want to buy anymore tanks or anything. He also doesn't want to sell any of our tanks. He is more in the mind to "make do" with what we got. Our bearded dragon is in there now which is why it will be a couple of years before we are getting a ball. Basically husband wants to get a ball after KyJinn passes on. KyJinn was his choice to get so I figured when he passes on my husband can make the choice for what to get next...and that was ball python.

And I don't really like using plastic tubs for anything other than storage. It just isn't fun or attractive looking to keep animals in them when I am not breeding or anything like that.

But I appreciate the input all the same!

Understood!

Now that I CAN do. I know that I would have to modify the screen top in some way. Was thinking of getting Plexi Glass or something or a large piece of wood.

Would putting something around the outside of the glass, at least around 3 sides, like those background things...would that help with humidity?

Those will NOT help with humidity; glass is excellent at holding moisture. They could help with heat retention; glass is a terrible insulator (where do you think you lose/gain the most heat in your house...if you don't have drafty windows/doors that is).

background things would help a little but not really noticeably, plexi on top would though.

Background things CANNOT help with humidity. Maybe you were thinking heat. Plexi on top CAN help with humidity.

[ilovemypets1988]

nenna, just out of curiosity but why dont you look for a ball python that comes with a full setup, that would stop all of the hassle. i know that it would be another tank, but you could use the old excuse of, your husband can get the ball python sooner and having the tank with the snake would be better for you as it would already have saved you on costs and more than likely already have solved the humidity problems.

[Lankyrob]

The worst threat to humidity is air flow - but you need air flow for a heat gradient and a healthy animal - it will always be a battle no matter what you keep the snake in but starting with a glass screentopped tank is starting that battle with a handicap. Not saying its impossible but it is more difficult.

[ilovemypets1988]

The worst threat to humidity is air flow - but you need air flow for a heat gradient and a healthy animal - it will always be a battle no matter what you keep the snake in but starting with a glass screentopped tank is starting that battle with a handicap. Not saying its impossible but it is more difficult.

thats why i like to use proper fish tanks, if you can secure the lids properly, the problem is pretty much solved, just have 1/3 of the water bowl over the uth and over night, you get 60-70% humidity and as long as you have ways of securing the cable access holes in the lid (just use some mesh to cover them), then theres enough airflow for the heat gradient but not enough to stop the humidity

[Lankyrob]

Quite easy to get that level of humikdity in the UK - think they have bigger issues in the US. Gotta think that our general level is 50% so getting a couple more % is pretty simple. Imagine if ambient was 10% and trying to raise it up :(

[ilovemypets1988]

Quite easy to get that level of humikdity in the UK - think they have bigger issues in the US. Gotta think that our general level is 50% so getting a couple more % is pretty simple. Imagine if ambient was 10% and trying to raise it up :(

yh true, i didnt think of that tbh, thas my bad. in that case, i suppose a proper wooden viv would be best.

[ilovemypets1988]

come to think of it, if you get a rainforest misting/spraying system, set it for 3 5 second bursts between every 16-17 hours, that should do the job i should think, although i dont know if that would be adequate due to the snake getting alittle wet and if thats the case, just set the nozzles to spray the ceiling of the viv.

[ilovemypets1988]

here we are guys, this is my new addition, my new girl bp:
http://thumbp2-ukl.thumb.mail.yahoo.com/tn?sid=75435293761355211&mid=AFxu%2BFcAADviTfKMswjUOhozub8&midoffset=1_8815&partid=2&f=282&fid=Inbox

[stephanbakir]

Don't see it?

[ilovemypets1988]

http://thumbp2-ukl.thumb.mail.yahoo.com/tn?sid=75435293761355211&mid=AFxu%2BFcAADviTfKMswjUOhozub8&midoffset=1_8815&partid=2&f=282&fid=Inbox

[ilovemypets1988]

can u see it now guys

[stephanbakir]

i cant, might my my computer.

[ilovemypets1988]

ok, try this
http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k514/Daniel_Barton/IMG00565-20110610-1928.jpg

[stephanbakir]

Worked woot!

[ilovemypets1988]

Worked woot!

lol, that was my bad, i kept using the wrong link and completely done it the wrong way, so ended up using photobucket lol

[Lankyrob]

Nice - are the markings that yellow or is it the picture?

[ilovemypets1988]

Nice - are the markings that yellow or is it the picture?

yh the markings are a honey yellow colour

[Lankyrob]

Sweeet!! :)

[ilovemypets1988]

yh not bad for £35 is she

[ilovemypets1988]

btw £35 = $56.7905
for our american friends

[stephanbakir]

What about us canadians... :P

[ilovemypets1988]

What about us canadians... :P

£35 = $55.6234 canadian dollars that is lol

[ilovemypets1988]

also forgot to add that even though i got her today, she ate her first rat pinkie/fuzzy tonight aswell, so shes eaten as soon as her first night here and from my reconning from what other people has been saying, having a bp eat on there first night in new surroundings is a massive achievement especailly when you also consider the fact that shes only been fed on mice previously and tonight's meal was her first ever rat, please correct if im wrong about that being a massive achievement.