well...my baby ball died tonight..question....

[nita]

95 is for the basking spot with a cool side of 80.

[smeagel]

the most i would recomend is 94 to 95 on the hot side. I am sorry for your loss, but I do agree that you absolutly should have a thermostate, and a digital thermometer or a temp gun. Research more as recomended by others and then think about another purchase. Good luck.

[monty bl python]

I suggest that you use outdoor carpeting for the bottom of the tank. a snake is not to good at judging how hot it is getting so it will lay under the shavings on the glass and burn its self (my uncle has had this happen before) the outdoor carpet will not let him get so close to the heater. A larger tank wouldn’t hurt either. also avoid putting a hide spot directly above a heating pad because if you snake is shy it will stay in there. it you cant afford a thermostat at least get a thermometer ( you can get cheap one for five dollars)
if your snake gets burned again the vet told my uncle to turn of the heating pad and use a needleles syringe to give your snake Gatorade (to keep it hydrated).

Good luck on your next snake and may your last rest in peace

[varanus69]

sorry to hear about your ball.. I can almost gaurentee you it was an import ball, as i bought 10 females from someone here and all have died,only 1 ever ate on its own ( and then promptly died that night), and all of them did that death flail so it is not exclusive to yours. I watched helplessly as a few of them died and like you said flipped around in the air, and felt hard.all of mine came in with mites and were treated for mites, unfortunetly my panacur never got here untill the day the last one died. So don't feel bad you just got a wc ball and only 1 out of 1000 ( just a guess ) ever make it, but deffinetly get a temp gun or thermometer next time.

[monty bl python]

tip) you should look for things like mites and other illness like mouth rot at the pet store before you buy your snakes also i have heard that Captive Bred are more healthy

[JereBP]

It's sad to hear.So sorry that it happened.