For hiding spots you could use the base of a terracotta flower pot with a hole in the side or you could use a small cardboard box. Basically what you want is a container big enough he can fit into and small enough where he will be touching the sides so he feels secure, kinda like you being tucked in really tight in bed.



I understand what you're saying about the UVB and yes, I do need it to be mentally healthy. A ball python does not need the UVB as it does get it's d3 in the liver of the rodents you feed it. Breeders with years and years or keeping ball pythons will tell you the same thing. They have no UVB producing items of any kind and have very healthy pythons, ones that live upwards of 35 years! You certainly can't argue with that logic !



It's good you are going to redo your bp's cage because you really do need to . Try to focus on floor space and not so much on height as ball pythons are ground dwellers and not arboreal like a green tree python who would apprecate the height.



Your thermal gradiant is okay except it won't be long before your snake wraps itself around that bulb and you will have a cooked snake on your hands. Seriously, you will have a burnt, sufferring snake that will need immediate medical attention. I don't think you want that. Even though you saw it does not have the ability to reach the bulb you will be surprised one day when he is either dead or in very bad shape. May even happen in the next days or so, too. BP's aren't like you and I where we know the heat is dangerous from a light bulb and we can even touch the bulb and immediately pull back. BP's will stay on the bulb due to the lack of nerves in their skin until it is too late. Also, you won't notice a burn right after it happens. The skin on a bp may not show injuries on the skin until a while after they happen.



I'd get that cage done as soon as you possible can. If you have an under tank heater and need a temporary place to put your baby you can use a rubbermaid container with the undertank heater. You just need to make sure you have either a thermostat or dimmer/rheostat on the pad to make sure it doesn't get too hot.



You are most likily right, your snake needs to be fed more. That's why you have that feeling.



Good luck and make sure you keep asking questions and get ideas because it's the best thing you can do! Email me privately if you need to. I'm sure there's a couple of others who would be willing to get your email as well.



Take care!
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Rob Talkington

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