Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a ball python yesterday from petco...

its about 15" long i'd guess.. i haven't held him yet.

I had some questions. When I purchased him he looked like he's in the stage of shedding... his eyes were a little foggy, but they have seemed to clear. I'm not sure if its because the humidity dipped down or if its the natural shedding that happens which i've read about their eyes clearing first. I've had him for a day and he won't leave his hiding spot which is on the cooler side of his aquarium (20L). I have two different types of bulbs i've been trying out. a 100w day glow and a 75w basking lamp. between those i can get the hot side between 90-94 but the cooler side seems to stay around 88. I'm not getting the heat gradient i need. on hot days in my apartment ambient air tends to be around 82-84. When I left for work today i left the incadescant bulb on becuase it wasn't very warm, however it was a scorcher by the time i got back. 94 in the basking, and 88 in the cooler side, when i lifted up his hiding spot he was panting a little bit (mouth closed) is this normal? also should i try to feed him yet? Any suggestions on getting a better heat gradient. I have a heat pad on the cooler side that i turn on at night as an only heat source. the coolest i can get the cool side is about 82-84... im open for all suggestions.. I'm also trying to figure out its age. Whats the age for the first shed?

Any responses in email form would be welcome to,
Thanks,
Nick
Iwish7284@aol.com

First of all, congrats on the snake!

>>I had some questions. When I purchased him he looked like he's in the stage of shedding... his eyes were a little foggy, but

That may be the case. Provide plenty of water and humidity. You may want to mist his enclosure daily. Since you are using an aquarium, you may want to cover part (most) of the top so that the moisture does not escape. You can also provide a humidity box with some moist sphaghnum moss.

>cooler side seems to stay around 88.

This is too hot on the cool side. Part of your problem is probably due to the tank losing heat at the top. Try covering up most of the top with something like plexiglass.

>hiding spot he was panting a little bit (mouth closed) is this normal? also should i try to feed him yet? Any suggestions on

I don't know about panting, but if he looked like he was breathing heavy, it could have been because he was startled.

I would wait until after the shed before trying to feed. I would also wait until you get his environment stable.

Good luck!
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Thanks

>cooler side seems to stay around 88.

>>>This is too hot on the cool side. Part of your problem is probably due to the tank losing heat at the top. Try covering up most of the top with something like plexiglass.

if the cooler side is too hot, wouldn't covering it make it more hot?

Also, I'm having trouble believing these temps and humidity is accurate. I think the tank i have him in might be a thick plastic (plexi-glass type) could this affect the read outs on my stuff? He hasn't touched the water bowl, i figured this is odd since he's shedding.. when you say mist the cage daily is it make everything damn or a couple sprays? i just want to clarify so i don't get my snake sick, thanks
Nick

>> if the cooler side is too hot, wouldn't covering it make it more hot?

Yes except you need to lower the power on the bulb to compensate. You might go with a 40 watt at first.

>>
>> Also, I'm having trouble believing these temps and humidity is accurate. I think the tank i have him in might be a thick plastic (plexi-glass type) could this affect the read outs on my stuff? He hasn't touched the water bowl, i figured this is odd since he's shedding.. when you say mist the cage daily is it make everything damn or a couple sprays? i just want to clarify so i don't get my snake sick, thanks

If you are using one of those tape/strip thermometers, get rid of it. They are hardly reliable. Get a real thermostat so you can determine the correct temps. Spray to get damp but not wet.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Youll be fine if you follow the tips that others are shareing.

I wanted to add that I think you should lay off the 75watt bulb for now. Summer is here and chances are his cool end is just fine. It kindof depends on whether you have the AC going at your place or not. If the AC is on and its like 75 degrees or lower in your house then you have a reason to try to provide some warmth in the cool end.(although it would be ideal to have his cool end at least 80 degrees) But if your just leaving the windows open in the house and its circulating air then you may be fine as long as its not blazing outside.*****NOTE***If its hot as hell outside then you dont necessarily want to leave the windows open and youre better off with the AC on. That way if the snake is too cool on one end he can still retreat to his hot spot. Personaly if I was going the aquarium route then Id put a regular heat pad under one end of the tank for hot spot and set it on low to begin. Then Id put like a 40watt bulb on top of the screen somewhere in the center. That way it provides light (more for cosmetic purposes since you use an aquarium) and also a nice gradient.
Good luck

Brendan
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Without INTEGRITY and HONESTY what else have you!
Brendan Saffron