Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is a 10 gallon tank good enough for a hatchling BP? I have bigger tanks but heard they like smaller areas when young. What is the best way to heat them right now (summer) It's usually between 75 and 80 in my house right now. Would a low wattage light be ok on one side of the tank? If I can get the temp on one side of the tank to about 88-90, can the cool side be in the low 80's? First time with a ball so I don't want to mess it up.

Also, how often do I feed the snake? I usually feed my hognose's weekly, but I notice that people here tend to feed their BP's bi-weekly. Whats good? Thanks.
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1.0.0 Common Snapping Turtle (Aggro)
1.1.0 Bearded Dragons
1.1.0 Western Hognose(hets for albino)

Lights are the worst way to heat their enclosure IMO. Buy an under tank heater with a thermostat and you will be set. You could even use 1 foot of heat tape if you want to get it done cheap. The heat tape with a decent thermostat should cost you less than $50.00. Big apple herps sells both and are very easy to deal with.
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John Vandegrift

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1.0.0 Common Snapping Turtle (Aggro)
1.1.0 Bearded Dragons
1.1.0 Western Hognose(hets for albino)

no they don't need a basking light, but they do need a basking area. Lights tend to suck humidity out of the air and if you are using a screen lid there won't much there anyway. Under tank heaters are best for retaining humidity.

Now for feeding. I feed all my babies every 5-7 days depending on the condition of the snake in question. some longer faster and require more feedings to keep up the proper proportion of length and girth while others get fed less as they put most of their weight in girth not length. Non-breeding adults get fed bi-weekly only, breeding adults get fed as often as they will eat as they will be off-feed for a good portion of the year usually, although I do have a few females that will eat up to the day before ovulation and some males that will eat sporatically through breeding season. The easiest method is to judge feedings by the animal in question. If the snake is getting fat, cut back on feeding. If the snake is getting thin, feed more often.

Hope this helps.
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Josh Hutto
J&K Reptiles

2.3 het pied (RDR, alan bosch x 2, BHB x 2)
1.0 Spider Ball python (Ballroom pythons south)
1.0 Vanilla Ball Python (Gulf Coast)
0.1 High Contrast Albino (Gulf Coast)
1.1 het albino (ben siegel, Gulf Coast)
1.2 het citrus ghost(Gulf Coast line)
1.0 citrus ghost (Gulf Coast line)
1.1 graz pastel female
Alot of normal BP females (some not so normal)
2 various corns
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa (alan bosch)
1.0 american pit bull terrier
1.1 taco dogs (ankle biters)
1.0 grey cat
0.1 columbian red-tail boa

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!