Reptile & Amphibian Forums

While I was drooling over pics at RDR website I noticed the wet paper towels that the snakes are on. Is that a common practice? It looks very wet to me. I'm sure he knows what he's doing, I just never saw that before.

If the picture you were looking at was of hatchlings, then wet paper towels is the proper substrate, at least that is what I use, and I know several others who use it. The babies have to be kept really moist/in high humidity, especially prior to their first shed.

Yes they were. Thanks for the answer. How old should they be when you put them on dry bedding? (newspaper or aspen)

I keep mine hatchlings on pretty wet paper towels, and at a bit higher temps than my older Balls, for at least a few days after their first sheds. I still use paper towels, sprayed off daily, but not the REALLY wet substrate that I keep them on until their first shed.

Prior to first shed- wet paper towels and about 88-90 degrees.

After first shed-moist paper towels, and slowly drop the temps to what I keep them at in the winter, about 86-87 with hot spots.

I just hit a fresh paper towel with a few sprays from my water bottle about once a day. I would advise against "wet", and shoot more for damp. I've hatched hundreds of babies with no problem. I also keep my babies slightly cooler than adults. I've found they seem to prefer temps in the 84-85 degree range.

The only time when you'd really want the paper WET would be if you have a baby with some of the umbilicus attached and exposed. This would prevent the umbilicus snagging on some dry paper and injuring the snake...

Got to agree JP. Wet can lead to skin problems. Damp only until they have had their first shed.

After taking the hatchlings out of the incubator, which was about 100% humidity, and 89 degrees, I try to keep them at the same temp for at least a week or so, and slowly drop the temps to my usual temps of about 85-87 or so, with a hot spot. I use wet papertowels, but they do not stay sopping wet all day. What I ususally do is this: I clean the tub out, and give them clean water. I put a papertowel in, and run warm water in the tub from the sink for a second or so. This wets the end where the heat will be, and leaves a dry or slightly damp area in the front of the tub. Sometimes the water dish sloshes and moistens the front of the tub, but that ususally does not stay wet for long. I try to mimick the incubation area for the days prior to them making their first shed, after that, I use moist towels only, not as wet. All my babies have perfect sheds, and after the first shed, the tub is not as damp.

Dave

Because like some threads before this there are differing opinions, I thought I would throw my $.02 in on this one. RDR and Emberball obviously know what they are doing with great success, but after leaving hatchlings in the incubator for 2-3 days after they have left the egg (I'm a non-cutter), I have put them immediately on a dry bedding at the same temperatures as the adults. I haven't had any problems with sheds first or otherwise. Also their feeding responses are great and I have yet to lose any to any complications of any kind. This is another of those husbandry things that you have to weigh all of the information and make a decision for yourself and adjust it in the future if things don't go right for you. Everybody's situation is different and unfortunately the animals haven't yet learned how to read all of the books that are out there on the subject. Good luck to you with any future breeding efforts, ball python or otherwise.