Hi! New here. Help me with my first ever ball python?

[lainyflower]

I'm so so so excited to get her. She's gorgeous and very unique. I've never taken care of a snake before and I'm so scared that I won't do something right. I'm wondering if any enthusiasts with a lot of experience wouldn't mind helping me? It would be greatly appreciated. I only want the best for her!

[reptiledude987]

Welcome to the forum. Happy to help you and your new friend.

What type of enclosure ae you using? Whats your heat source? Are you using a thermostat to regulate temps? What are your warm and cool side temps and whats your humidity level?

[sharthun]

Hey and welcome. You've come to right place! Tons of experience here.

[Albert Clark]

Hello lainyflower, glad you can join us! What type of bp are you the proud owner of?

[lainyflower]

Thanks for replying everyone.

So, the enclosure is a large Exoterra brand and it's fabulous! I'm able to open the doors from the front. I plan on using a heat lamp as well as a heating pad. (is this too much?)

About the thermostats.. what's the best quality brand that I can buy? I want to make sure the thermostat is as accurate as possible. What do y'all use? I'm not sure which brand of product to get to check for the humidity. Maybe send me some amazon links? haha.

I don't have her just yet, but picking her up on May 9th, so I don't have much ready yet but by the time I pick her up I will be good to go with her cage and all.

She is a 3foot leucistic ball python. Hope I spelled that right.

[lady_bug87]

Cool choice for a pet!

You may need to cover a portion of the screen top to ensure that the animal has enough humidity. You don't need a heat lamp. Just a regular bulb if you want some light. Make sure you have 2 snug fitting hides one at each end of the enclosure.

Any thermostat will do. Most of us use herpstats or hydrofarm thermostats.

You'll need a decent substrate. For display purposes i like jungle earth. Or reptibark.

[reptiledude987]

all my thermostats are hydrofarm brand available on amazon for around $40

[mistersprinkles]

An enclosure with a screen top is not ideal for these snakes. Most people keep their snakes in racks in plastic containers with a very narrow gap between the container and the shelf on top of it to prevent escapes and increase humidity (for the snakes that need it).

You can spend as much or as little as you want on your snake's habitat. It's best to go all out though.

[SoPhilly]

Blue-eyed or black-eyed leucistic? Congrats and welcome

To measure humidity, you use a hygrometer. You can get them from hydrofarm as well. To keep humidity up in an exoterra, you need to cover most of the top with plexiglass or something similar, nothing that could melt if you're using a light near it. You can bring the measurements to lowes/home depot or the like and they'll cut the size you need. A screen top will let all the humidity out and your poor girl will have trouble shedding.

Also, read as much as you can between now an then! This forum has tons of great members and you will find a lot of the info you need reading through threads in the ball python section.

[lainyflower]

Originally Posted by lady_bug87

Cool choice for a pet!

You may need to cover a portion of the screen top to ensure that the animal has enough humidity. You don't need a heat lamp. Just a regular bulb if you want some light. Make sure you have 2 snug fitting hides one at each end of the enclosure.

Any thermostat will do. Most of us use herpstats or hydrofarm thermostats.

You'll need a decent substrate. For display purposes i like jungle earth. Or reptibark.

Awesome! What should I cover it with? Why two hides?

Thank you again.

[lainyflower]

Originally Posted by SoPhilly

Blue-eyed or black-eyed leucistic? Congrats and welcome

To measure humidity, you use a hygrometer. You can get them from hydrofarm as well. To keep humidity up in an exoterra, you need to cover most of the top with plexiglass or something similar, nothing that could melt if you're using a light near it. You can bring the measurements to lowes/home depot or the like and they'll cut the size you need. A screen top will let all the humidity out and your poor girl will have trouble shedding.

Also, read as much as you can between now an then! This forum has tons of great members and you will find a lot of the info you need reading through threads in the ball python section.

Black eyes, the current breeder says her eyes turn blue when she's about to shed!


How will plexi-glass work if I'm using a heat lamp with a heat emitter bulb (it won't be touching because I bought a stand for it)? I am so afraid I am going to start a fire hazard.

Thanks again

[lady_bug87]

Originally Posted by lainyflower

Awesome! What should I cover it with? Why two hides?

Thank you again.

You're very welcome

So that the snake can hide at a temperature that best suits it's needs.