New ball python tips and help

[ericschuh00]

I have a 36x18 cage with a 16" ball python that i just purchased a few days ago. It is my first snake so i want to make sure that everything is good:)

-On one end i have a 75 watt basking light on the other a 75 watt red light.
-I have a big rock cave a big water dish and a log.

When the snake was put into the cage it crawled around for awhile but now for the past 3 days it has been only sitting in the cave. Even at night when the basking light is off and only the red light is on. The humidity is about 58 percent and the heat in the whole tank is about 87 during the day (under the basking light its hotter) and 78 during the night.

The snake hasnt eaten in about a week and half now because the pet store that it was purchased from fed weekly and i bought it the day before feeding.

Questions*
-His eye looks a little pale...does that mean hes about to shed?
-His hiding all the time good?
-When should i try feeding him?

Thanks and any other info would be great!

[Lankyrob]

There should be a distinct heat gradient, hot end 90f cold end 75f, you need hides at BOTH ends of the tank and humidity needs to be 65% at all times unless he is about to shed and then it needs to be more like 75%.

Royals are often referred to as "pet rocks" as they are rarely if ever seen moving around.

Try feeding now and then every 7-14days - if it doesnt take the prey dont repeat for at least a week.