My new python [Archive] - sSNAKESs : Reptile Forum

Cookiethepython

07-27-12, 10:07 PM

Hi I hope this site helps cause yaho sucks..& ppl who have been having snakes for years are mean..
Well I just got my ball python 3 days ago. She is small so for now I have her in a ten gallon tank with screen top. I can not afford another tank until about September. She has 2 hide box, and a water bowl that I made. She has a UTH & a red bulb light. She has 2 thermometers. One for.the hot side and one for the cool side. & aspen wood chips for.the bottom. The first night she only had the heat mat and no thermometers and she was fine. The second day she didnt come out of her hide box. So I bought a 60W bulb and thermometers. Later I realized the hot thermometer read 100 degrees. So I unplugged the mat and left the light. Well the temp dropped down but she still didnt come out. So I went & got a red bulb. I did not plug the heat mat back up. I keep reading on ball pythons but im still confused on some things. I dont understand the humidity part. That's why I put the towel on half of her top. She is only coming out of her hide box half way on the cool side idk what to do and I sure as hell dont want her.to die. PLEASE HELP

alessia55

07-27-12, 10:09 PM

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alessia55

07-27-12, 10:19 PM

Congrats on your new snake! :)

Ball pythons are secretive creatures- it's OK if you don't see her come out of her hide. Remember that she needs to adjust and get used to her new environment with new sights and scents. Let her be alone to acclimate. In the meantime, don't handle her.

Humidity is very important for a ball python's health. For example, humidity will help your snake shed in one piece. The humidity in the enclosure should never drop below 50%. 90% when your snake is getting ready to shed. You should have a digital hygrometer to read the humidity levels in your enclosure. An analog hygrometer will often be inaccurate and won't give you an exact reading.

Your heat source (like the heat mat) must be connected to a thermostat. Without a thermostat to regulate heat, you can accidentally cook your snake. A thermostat will help you adjust the temperatures to exactly where they should be.

If your enclosure has a screen top or too many ventilation holes, you will struggle with keeping your humidity levels stable. You'll want to get a solid top or cover the top as much as possible. Saran wrap or moist towels might also help raise humidity.

Feel free to read through my website in my signature. It has a detailed "Setting Up" page.

Leave her alone for about 7-10 days before you attempt feeding her. Only bother her to improve her enclosure.

millertime89

07-27-12, 10:29 PM

Check out the hygrofarm thermostats for seedling heat mats, designed for plants but I use them with my herps and they work great, hard to beat for under 30 bucks shipped. Ditch the heat lamp for a same wattage ceramic heat emitter too IMO.

Cookiethepython

07-27-12, 10:32 PM

Hi I just got a ball python named cookie..I have searched high & low on how to take care of her..nothing seems to help & ppl who have had.snakes for years are just.mean.
3 days ago I bought my first.snake. I already had a 10 gallon fish tank. So for the time being that is what she is in. I bought aspen wood chips, a UTH, a daytime bulb, 2 thermometers and a red bulb.she has 2 hide boxes that I made and I big bowl full of water with a few blue marbles at the bottom. The first night she moved around with no problem. The next morning she crawled in her hide box on the cool side and.would not come out. So I went a bought the first light which looked purple but when u cut it on it looked like a regular light. It was a 60W. Thats what Petsmart.told me to get. Well I got it and she still did not come out. So finally I went and bought thermometers. Well after a while the hot side read 100° & the cool side read 60°. So I figured that was too hot & unplugged the heat pad. Then she still didnt come out. So I got tired of reading and called somebody. She told me to.go and buy a red bulb and that should be enough heat. Well cookie is only coming out half way of her hide box on the cool side. She has her head on the rock. I dont understand the humidity part. I read to put a towel half way over her top so I did. But am I supposed to wet the towel or inside the tank. Her thermometer reads about 90° on the hot side & 40° on the cool side..PLEASE HELP SO I DONT KILL HER..& NO IM NOT PUTTING HER IN A TACKY PLASYIC TUB..

Cookiethepython

07-27-12, 10:51 PM

So I need to wet the towel?? How hot should the tank be and should I use both UTH and red bulb or one or the other??

limey

07-27-12, 11:22 PM

Most of the information you'll need will be on Alessia's site.

But me personally (even though I literally just started keeping snakes) use an UTH as my main heat source aswell as a low wattage red bulb to provide overall ambient heat... so I use both. But this is because I live in a cold part of the world. If I didn't use the red bulb, the ambient temp throughout the tub would be 60 degrees which is far too low.

What is the natural temp where you live? You can make the decision based on that.

Ideally, you want an ambient temp throughout the tank to be about 75 degrees (even on cool side) and the area around the UTH to be about 85.

And yes... dampen the paper towel.

infernalis

07-28-12, 02:38 AM

****************************************

Have a look at this site....

Ball Python Care, Information, About ball pythons (http://www.pythonregiuscare.com/)

MrBD1980

07-28-12, 03:37 AM

Hmmmm.....a 10 gallon tank with a fifty degree gradient......

snake man12

07-28-12, 05:21 AM

Hmmmm.....a 10 gallon tank with a fifty degree gradient......

LOL, Derp...

Get a thermostat so you can control the temps properly and it may be worth it to buy a cheap sterilite tub until you have your ten gal set up properly. Also Why would anyone have any snake at 60 degrees:angry:

Cookiethepython

07-28-12, 08:58 AM

Well I live in Houston, TX & it is extremely hot this summer. So I keep my house at about 75, 77°. Last night I had the red bulb going all night. Well she was.out for a while then she went in her cool hide and she is still there till this morning..her temp on the hot side reads 80° & 55° on the cool side. So this morning I cut the light off and cut the heat pad on..

snake man12

07-28-12, 09:07 AM

If you keep that snake at 55 degrees it will surely get an RI or respiratory infection.

mykee

07-28-12, 09:38 AM

80 and 55 will KILL your snake.
Aim for a hot spot of 90-95 and a cool side of 80-82. You're fighting an uphill battle behind the eight ball working with a fish cage.
Best of luck.

maximus30576

07-28-12, 12:17 PM

There is no possible way it can be 55 on the cool side if it is 76 in the house , i think your thermometer is wrong . Get you a t stat and hook to your uth and get your humidity right and you will have a happy snake ..

limey

07-28-12, 07:47 PM

Hi I just got a ball python named cookie..I have searched high & low on how to take care of her..nothing seems to help & ppl who have had.snakes for years are just.mean. So I got tired of reading and called somebody. She told me to.go and buy a red bulb and that should be enough heat. PLEASE HELP SO I DONT KILL HER..& NO IM NOT PUTTING HER IN A TACKY PLASYIC TUB..

Don't mean to be funny but you should probably have done all your research before acquiring your snake. Now you don't seem to know what to do and it sounds like your snake is having a really bad time.

I know that doesn't help the situation you're in now, so I'll leave it at that. But in future always remember to do your reading and research first if you don't want your animals to die.

Having said that... you stated that you don't want your animals in a "tacky plastic tub". Mate... I'll be honest with you, are we talking about your animals welfare or your own ego here? You might not have a choice at this point if, like you said, you aren't understanding the whole humidity thing and you want to keep humidity levels up. Bite the bullet and get yourself a tacky plastic tub... I have mine in a plastic tub and she's healthy and happy.

Secondly, did you visit Alessia's site as some of us advised? I think you'll find it helpful.

Lastly, but not least --- please let us know how you're doing and what progress has been made. We don't like seeing reptile keepers struggle and are here to help. But most of all, we don't want to see pets die needlessly because of misinformation or improper conditions.

Best of luck.

Cookiethepython

07-28-12, 11:51 PM

Omg here is an update everybody I talk to keeps telling me her tank should read different things..her tank was reading 60 on the cool side..now that its night time its reading 40..I was told to put a towel over her cage for humidity then I was told not to..the red bulb is on and her heat.side is reading 85..I also sprayed the tank and the humidity stays.the same..I cant afford those expensive *** thermometers..I have 2 kids to take care of..Petsmart said these was fine now you animal lovers are saying its not..so if anybody has thermometers they dont need let me know so u can mail them to me..other wise these will have to do..I will upload pics so u can see what it reads..I was also told not to use a UTH because it gets too hot..I need to use a bulb..then told not to use a bulb use a UTH..I have been reseatching on this snake for Weeks not just one day..on how to take care of her and.everybody is saying different things..yes I spoke with the alessia person and she just directef me to a website..I have also called different pet stores..so dont make it seem like I dont know.what im doing..im cleatly going on EVERYBODYS DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS..

Cookiethepython

07-29-12, 12:25 AM

Ok looks like what I typed got erased..
Here is an update..
yes this is my first snake..no I did not go and buy a snake without doing my research first..all the research I read seem easier.than it really is once u get the snake..so now im going by what pll tell me and EVERYBODY is telling me different temperature to have in her tank..first I was told to ise an UTH then I was told NO use a red bulb..then I was told use both..then I was told to put a damp towel over her screen top then I was told not too.Petsmart.said her thermometers were fine now you guys said what I purchase is not good enough..im a single mom..so no I can mot go out and spend all my money trying to accommodate a snake..if a.ybody..has.thermometers they are.not using then gladly mail them to me..other wise these will have to do..I was also told to use the UTH during the day and red bulb at night..then told to use it the other way around..then I was told to use them at the same time..omg my head..I was told to keep the cool side at 60° & the hot side no lower than 72° no higher than 85°..im at the point where I want to take my boys snake and give it away cause this is more stress than our dog..I just wanted to give them something not girly and its becoming a headache..& I just got the damn thing..now I put a damp towel half way over her top and cut the UTH on..the humidity is between 60° & 70° & the hot side is on 800 I hope this works cause if it doesnt oh well..I tried..

TinkerbellsMom

07-29-12, 12:48 AM

Ok look you need a thermostat connected to a UNDER THE TANK HEATER, snakes get their heat through their bellies. Connect the UTH to the thermostat and put it at about 92 degrees. In a 10 gallon tank with a screen top the UTH will not keep the tank hot enough so yes you will need to use a lamp (more preferebly a heat emitter) that is also connected to the thermostat. A thermostat is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you need right now. & also, it is not unlikely that you will not see your snake moving around a lot. This is not a dog, snakes like to hide and be left alone. I didn't want to use a tub either but it is the best for the snake. It holds humidity great, its easier to clean and it holds heat better also. Snakes cost a lot of money and do take up time. Idk why you would get a snake if you had higher priorities and couldn't provide well for the snake and idk why you haven't done the proper research. Everyone makes mistakes but you really need to read more just so you can understand the snake. Also, im not understanding how your tank is 30 degrees lower in temperature than your ambient air temp in your house..? The ambient air temp needs to be around 80 and the cool side 77-82. Take the marbles out of the water dish, they arent necessary. The red bulb is for at night so you can "see" your snake and to leave a little extra heat if it gets to cold. Honestly..you should give the snake to someone who wants to handle the snake. It's expensive, time consuming, and you have a lot to learn. Also, this is not a pet that your sons can just take and play with whenever they want. They cant be picked up 2-3 days after a feeding..they cant be picked up when in shed which can last 5-7 days, they cant be picked up during the day because basically that would be like u being pulled out of bed at night to be played with. While, yes, you can do this..you would not like it. I actually live in houston so if you do want to give the snake away we can arrange something. I wish you lucky really...but I would think about another pet to give your boys. A dog isn't really as hard as a snake lol.

limey

07-29-12, 01:53 AM

Yeah, that's true... it can be a bit overwhelming the amount of information floating around.

And really, to be honest, there are a lot of people that don't know what they're talking about. Sometimes, in my opinion, even many pet store employees will try to tell you what's the best thing to do, when in reality many of them might have never even kept a snake in their life.

Truth is, keeping a snake is not easy work. Because it's a small animal when you get it from the pet store, it gives people the impression that it's easy to care for. This is not true. It's 3 times harder than, say, a pet mouse. There is a lot of stuff that you have to get right, otherwise they might not survive.

Ball pythons come from Central West Africa where it is pretty hot and quite humid (meaning lots of water vapor in the air). The air is not dry in that part of the world, it is moist. This means when we bring a ball python into our home, we need to simulate these same West african conditions for the snake to be able to survive.

Therefore, some people might say 85 degrees at the warm end, some might say 90 degrees... it doesn't mean they are telling you different things, they are just giving you their personal choice and opinion. But what most people can agree on however is that there needs to be plenty of warmth on one side of the tank and a good humidity level throughout the whole tank. The cold side should never drop below about 70 degrees. How you make this happen is up to you.

In choosing a snake for your boys, I think that through no fault of your own, you may have chosen an animal that is perhaps too high maintenance for your lifestyle. I might be wrong, and you can correct me if I am wrong. But with all the gadgets you might need, and being able to monitor the temperatures on a regular basis and make adjustments when needed, you may not have chosen an "easy" pet, per say.

Of course, you can continue to try and take care of it, and there are plenty of people on here (not in the pet store) that will be able to give you the best possible advice to help you out. I learned most of what I needed to know just from people on this site.

Or the other option is, if you are fed up, you could maybe find somebody that would look after it for you and take it off your hands if you decide you'd rather not have it any more. It's up to you.

Cookiethepython

07-29-12, 07:48 AM

Well I put a damp towel over her cage & it brought the humidity up..her hide box on the hot side was too big so I made it smaller..hope fully she moves around more..I put a tree like thing in her tank for her to climb but she is scared of it..no im not going to just give her away...I will figure it out with the info im getting..if I put her in a plastic tub what am I suppused to use for the top to close it so she dont get out??& if some of you ppl are going to be rude then dont comment..everybody needs to learn and experience something at least one.time in their life..if she die I will just get another one later down the line and keep trying..

limey

07-29-12, 08:03 AM

In the housewares departments of most supermarkets you'll be able to find loads of different kinds of see-through plastic tubs. Get one that's not too small and has a securely fitting lid. If your python is still a baby, it won't be able to push open the lid and escape.

You'll also want to punch a few small holes in the side for air flow. Make the holes small like a pencil hole, so the snake can't escape.

Lankyrob

07-29-12, 08:13 AM

My 0.02cents, if you cannot provide correct husbandry then take the snake back to the pet shop. It will get ill and it could die in the long run - surely this would be worse for your kids to see than the upset of returning it?

Cookiethepython

07-29-12, 08:19 AM

Well thank you everybody for your help, opinions, concerns, & comments..good day or night to all..im leaving the site..im going to call an expert & go from there..

Lankyrob

07-29-12, 08:21 AM

Well thank you everybody for your help, opinions, concerns, & comments..good day or night to all..im leaving the site..im going to call an expert & go from there..

Great attitude!! <round of applause> :no: :no:

alessia55

07-29-12, 09:46 AM

It's OK to be overwhelmed by all the information out there about how to properly set up a ball python's enclosure. Unfortunately, it's not cheap. The tub, bedding, and hides might be relatively cheap, but the heat source (heat mat or ceramic heat emitter), the digital thermometer/hygrometers, and the thermostat can all be pretty pricey. On my website (in my signature), on the Setting Up page, there are photos of what the enclosure should look like to give you a better visual. It also goes through, step by step, how to set up heat, humidity, etc. :)

If you get a tub, get one with a lid that locks in place. Drill a few small holes for air flow. A tub will help you tremendously with keeping humidity up. On my site there's a photo of a tub setup for you to look at.

No one here is trying to be offensive. We want you to be able to do what's best for the snake's health and well-being. Sometimes that means giving the snake to someone who is more financially able to take care of him. We're not telling you your'e an awful snake-keeper, we just want to make sure that the snake is taken care of, that you're able to provide for its needs, and that you and your kids can enjoy him for years to come (remember, they can live up to 20 years in good care!). Stick around, we want to help :)

mykee

07-29-12, 09:51 AM

"Don't mean to be funny but you should probably have done all your research before acquiring your snake"
That's gotta be the dumbest thing I've read all week. Who does that?!

To the OP; if I don't catch your thread in a little while about your ball python dying, I'm giving you my condolences now; sorry for your loss.
Please don't buy another ball python until you can afford to take care of it properly.

Aaron_S

07-29-12, 10:54 AM

That's gotta be the dumbest thing I've read all week. Who does that?!

To the OP; if I don't catch your thread in a little while about your ball python dying, I'm giving you my condolences now; sorry for your loss.
Please don't buy another ball python until you can afford to take care of it properly.

Epic.

Go call your "expert". I hope it's not another pet store!

TinkerbellsMom

07-29-12, 01:42 PM

It makes me sad for the snake honestly.. I don't think they realize this "easy pet" is going to live like 20-30 yrs... :( poor snake.. but for real lady if you feel you want to get rid of it please don't just "let it go into the wild". Good luck....

TinkerbellsMom

07-29-12, 01:44 PM

& once again. This is a BALL PYTHON they don't move around a lot. They stay hidden like 90% of the time. This is not a dog or a cat it won't come out to play.

lady_bug87

07-29-12, 01:56 PM

That's gotta be the dumbest thing I've read all week. Who does that?!

To the OP; if I don't catch your thread in a little while about your ball python dying, I'm giving you my condolences now; sorry for your loss.
Please don't buy another ball python until you can afford to take care of it properly.

Don't worry if you miss the thread on her BP dying you may catch the thread on her 'new addition' because if at first you kill your snake get another one and try again. It's not like its a living thing or anything serious

Lankyrob

07-29-12, 03:53 PM

limey

07-29-12, 06:16 PM

That's gotta be the dumbest thing I've read all week. Who does that?!

Was that sarcasm lol, or did you mean who buys their snake without doing any research on snakes first? :)

To me, if you are thinking of getting an animal, you need to be damn well sure you know what it requires to take care of that animal and have the capability (mentally, time-wise and financially) to look after it properly without it dying.

To buy a pet python and then start asking all kinds of questions afterwards is just backwards thinking to me.

I had my tub, UTH, substrates, thermometers/hygro, water dish, 3 hides, sticks, red bulb, thermostat and even prey all set and ready to go before the snake even arrived! I'd read 1 book on BP's and 1 on general snake husbrandy (and biology) as well as 25+ hours on this site before even committing to a purchase. Hell, I even left my UTH/thermostat on and running correctly for 2 days beforehand just to make sure all the temps were right in the setup.

Now I'm wondering if this person was even legit, or was just BSing us???