Bought my first snake the other day...

Zelg · 10-07-13, 10:26 PM

...and I couldnt be happier! First off I just want to thank the various members on the forum about my introduction post I made a few months back when inquiring about keeping a vine snake as my first snake. It was one of those things that when I was warned against getting one I was disappointed but looking back on it now I'm so glad I was warned and am thoroughly happy with the snake I finally have.

My ball has been absolutely great and is very easy to handle and so far (knock on wood) has not shown any signs of wanting to strike me. Though today (first feeding) it looked a bit on the defensive (or maybe offensive) when I reached in to try to get it out, where as the previous couple of times it just laid there and let me pick it up without any sudden movements.

Oh, and its name is Goldy. I thought it'd be an awesome idea to let my 7 year old nephew, who I only see a couple times a year as my brothers family lives out of state, name it. Not a terrible name but its definitely a 7 year old name.

I have to admit it was a bit of a spontaneous buy. I went to petco to look at some training collars for my dog and unsurprisingly they didnt have what I was looking for so I decided to wander over to the reptiles section and saw a couple snakes they had there. Just looked and left. On my drive home it hit me that I still really wanted one (I've been saving for large TV, but that'll wait a bit now) so I got online and looked around for some local stores that might sell reptiles as I wanted to kind of avoid going to petco/petsmart and dealing with people who have never even held a snake before.

So I found a little place in town called "the pond place" and was surprised to see they carry a few reptiles. Went down there and the store clerk has an eye that is like a very light blueish white color. Very creepy looking so I somewhat stereotypically and irrationally assumed he must have gotten bit in the eye by some crazy deadly snake years ago. Have no idea, but whatever. It gave me a little comfort and he seemed pretty knowledgable when I talked to him. Later on I went and bought (a little regretably) a desert terrarium, set it up, got the snake and for 3 days struggled like hell with it not being hot enough and the temp being way too low. Of course I have one of those standard stick on temp/humidity gauges.

After struggling so much with the temp and humidity and reading so much about how lamps and those stick on gauges suck, I went and got a UTH and an "All Living Things" thermometer/hygrometer and also put eco earth in place of that dang carpet that comes with the kit.

My setup is still a work in progress and I wish it wasnt such an impulse buy but I'm happy to report that things are under control much better now. I still need another thermometer for the cool side and another hide.

So after all that rambling I guess I have a few questions and then I'll post a couple pics and a vid:

Like I mentioned, I'm using eco earth as a substrate. I noticed in the faq (i think I missed this suggestion on my first faq reading) that it was suggested to NOT use a soil. At this point I'm only using it to keep my humidity up (its at about 60% right now). Is ingesting soil mostly a concern just if you do the feeding inside the terrarium or is it still a concern no matter what?

For hides, I have one log hide right now. well...I guess I have a couple but its kind of a hollow log scupture thing but its probably better suited for climbing and stuff. Is it best to have two hides that are EXACTLY the same or could I do just fine getting another hide and have it be a hollow rock type hide?

As far as heating, I feel a little screwed right now. Currently my hot side is 90 so I feel ok at the moment but it was also like 95 degrees where I live yesterday and about 85 today. Today I got that heat pad and stuck that under the tank but I'm having to continue using a lamp with it and my concern is that I feel like theres a lack of control and ability to get it warmer when the weather starts to cool off. I'm also considering a move to a high desert area where it will be a bit snowy in the winter so I'm wondering if a larger heat pad will do the trick or maybe a ceramic heat emitter would be good? I dont know so I ask for some suggestions.

Lastly I guess would be humidity. I see varying comments regarding humidity ranging from people saying you dont need to worry about humidity (I assume these people live in a humid area) and I see other people that say 80% is ok. Mostly I see people suggesting between 50 and 65% so I thought I'd just ask and clear it up.

Anyways, thats all I've got right now. I'm sidetracked by a hockey game at the moment but I hope someone reads all of this and has a bit of input for me.

Pics 44 and 48 are how my setup looks at the moment. I'm going to try trimming down the leaves I have so I can put those in and get some more sturdy twistable vine stuff for him to climb on. Looks a bit barren right now but it seems happy.

Not sure what to do about posting videos so I'll just throw up a couple youtube links.

CAM00338 - YouTube (setup for this vid is a bit earlier and has been adjusted)

Goldy's First Meal @ Home - YouTube (the feeding! took me a bit to get the mouse out but once he was out it all went smoothly)

Which brings up one last question. When the snake gets large enough for rats, as I understand it the worry about the prey causing injuries increases quite a bit so I'm wondering if its alright to continue feeding mice instead of rats and just feed 2-3 or however many would be required to equal that of a rat or if its just better safe than sorry and to try getting them onto frozen/thawed rats?

Ok, all done. Again, sorry for the wordy post. Got hyped up after my first ever feeding

drumcrush · 10-08-13, 04:35 AM

Very nice! Ball pythons are always sweet and nice in my book

**Aaron_S** · 10-08-13, 07:01 AM

1. Your enclosure sucks
2. To keep heat and humidity in do something about the top. Cover it with wrap or custom make one so there's not so much ventilation. Or like me, use a rubbermaid.
3. Eco-earth is fine if you choose. Coco-husk and aspen "beta" chip are my second choices if I wasn't using newspaper.
4. Your hides are very large. Snakes like tight fitting places. Yes you need two. Use cardboard boxes for the time being if need be. Easily thrown out when soiled and replaced.
5. Do not feed in another enclosure. Better chance you'll get bit that way and the snake will be fine if it ingests anything if your husbandry is correct.
6. Raise your temps. I keep my hot spot at 96 for my ball pythons. You can stand to raise yours a couple degrees.
7. It can eat rats now. I feed f/t and so should you. Rat pups or whatever they are called there would be fine. Yes, you can decide to feed it mice but you'll be feeding it roughly 10 - 15 per feeding at one point. Pretty pricey.

Mikoh4792 · 10-08-13, 07:09 AM

I don't understand why screen tops and heat lamps are still being recommended to new ball python owners(Or most snakes for that matter).

Zelg · 10-08-13, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

1. Your enclosure sucks
2. To keep heat and humidity in do something about the top. Cover it with wrap or custom make one so there's not so much ventilation. Or like me, use a rubbermaid.
3. Eco-earth is fine if you choose. Coco-husk and aspen "beta" chip are my second choices if I wasn't using newspaper.
4. Your hides are very large. Snakes like tight fitting places. Yes you need two. Use cardboard boxes for the time being if need be. Easily thrown out when soiled and replaced.
5. Do not feed in another enclosure. Better chance you'll get bit that way and the snake will be fine if it ingests anything if your husbandry is correct.
6. Raise your temps. I keep my hot spot at 96 for my ball pythons. You can stand to raise yours a couple degrees.
7. It can eat rats now. I feed f/t and so should you. Rat pups or whatever they are called there would be fine. Yes, you can decide to feed it mice but you'll be feeding it roughly 10 - 15 per feeding at one point. Pretty pricey.

Thanks for the reply. I'll definitely look into all this and the rat pups. Its obviously a work in progress but I greatly appreciate the tips. I'll be sure to get all of this taken care of.

Hurrok · 10-08-13, 06:54 PM

Aaron made some good points, but don't worry it was an experience for all of us at one point. But otherwise that is one cute bp!

I like the markings on the upper lip!

pinsonoso · 10-13-13, 04:03 AM

Pretty snake! !

alessia55 · 10-13-13, 09:03 PM

Aaron already pointed out the major problems with your enclosure. Besides that, I notice you have a temperature/humidity gauge in the back... take it out. Those things can come undone if your snake crawls on it and it comes off. It can be difficult to remove it afterwards.

Zelg · 10-13-13, 09:30 PM

Jeez. Is that gauge stuck on via the sticker pads? I took mine off a few days ago as I got a thermometer/hygrometer but it was stuck on with the suction cups. I also have added a hide and worked to get the temps/humidity a bit better. I replaced my substrate (was eco earth) with cypress mulch. I've had to let the mulch dry about a bit as the humidity was way too high at first but it has since come down and its sitting at 65% so it looks like it'll be much easier to control.

I'll be getting a thermostat soon and also another thermometer/hygrometer.

I've also added another hide which he seems to enjoy more than the half-log so I may get another to totally replace the log. I've covered the two sides and the back with paper towels and since I've done that he has seemed more comfortable. I read somewhere that its better to have a dark background like black construction paper. Is that correct or does it not make a difference so long as they cant see through it?

Skumbo · 10-19-13, 01:29 PM

If youre worried about heat pads not getting the ambient temp up enough in the winter - try placing one on the bottom, and one of the side, it'll create a nice warm side

Zelg · 10-19-13, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skumbo

If youre worried about heat pads not getting the ambient temp up enough in the winter - try placing one on the bottom, and one of the side, it'll create a nice warm side

Thanks for the tip. I think I may end up doing that. I imagine I'll have to get a separate thermostat for the side one. Correct me if I'm wrong but my ball likes to climb the sides a lot and having the pad on the side set to the same temp as the one on the bottom could run the risk of burning the snake as he climes the side of the glass, right?

Corey209 · 10-21-13, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelg

Thanks for the tip. I think I may end up doing that. I imagine I'll have to get a separate thermostat for the side one. Correct me if I'm wrong but my ball likes to climb the sides a lot and having the pad on the side set to the same temp as the one on the bottom could run the risk of burning the snake as he climes the side of the glass, right?

The small heat pads don't get that hot and will not burn a snake.
(This may not go for all of them but all the ones I have, get an infrared thermometer incase)

bluerain · 10-21-13, 10:56 PM

Very pretty wee ball..good luck with it ;-)

Skumbo · 10-22-13, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelg

Thanks for the tip. I think I may end up doing that. I imagine I'll have to get a separate thermostat for the side one. Correct me if I'm wrong but my ball likes to climb the sides a lot and having the pad on the side set to the same temp as the one on the bottom could run the risk of burning the snake as he climes the side of the glass, right?

I use the same thermostat for both, and ive checked it many times with a heat gun and it works perfect!