Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, I just bought a Ball Python, and it is my first time owning a reptile. I feel that I have everything for him, but I just want to make sure i know how long to keep the heat lamp on and what time of the day to keep it on. He is also shedding, and i want to make sure that he sheds properly. Plus any other tips would be great! Thank you

Ditch the light and get a heating pad. Ball pythons are mainly nocturnal and don't really "bask" to get their heat. (Unless you have a ceramic heat bulb and not a light...then it's ok)

Give him a bowl of water large enough to soak in, or...if you want, give him a luke-warm bath for a few minutes. Remember...warm to you may be hot to him, so be careful with temp.

Tips: Don't freak out if he chooses not to eat. He'll do that from time to time. If you keep him on wood chips, make sure to use ONLY aspen...and um...otherwise, enjoy.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

I have a ceramic heat bulb, and he seems to be shedding well. i am also keeping the humidity up, because i read that it helps with the shedding. but other than that thank you for all the help. I truly appreciate it.

Hey, I just bought a Ball Python, and it is my first time owning a reptile. I feel that I have everything for him, but I just want to make sure i know how long to keep the heat lamp on and what time of the day to keep it on.
************yes, get rid of the heat lamp. royals don't need heat lamps. get yourself a heat mat or some flexwatt prewired a thermostat and adjust on the temps from there. it would be a plus to have a infared thermometer....you can pick those up from anywhere, robyn at Pro-Exotics, harbourfreight.com, mcmaster.com....etc. Just becuase you set the thermostat at 90degrees doesn't mean the snake will be feeling 90degrees.....to many varibles that's why you have to play with the temps on the fly. It also helps to have the cage up and running a week or two before getting any reptile

He is also shedding, and i want to make sure that he sheds properly.
************* the key to good sheds is high humidity. apsen is terrible for keeping humidity, because the moment it gets wet it will mold in a couple of days. Moss is ok, you can even use a folded up damp towel in the corner. i use coconut coir.....it holds humidity superbly (maybe even to much) but is messy. and you have to know how to wet the brick properly to loosen it if not you'll end up with coconut bark soup and it will take forever to dry in that state. or spraying helps, but needs to be done repeatedly.

Plus any other tips would be great!
************** if you ask i'm sure someone here will answer........but tips in general is to broad of a request.

Pitoon

i will deffinately look ito getting a heat mat, and the adjustable thermometer. i am using aspen right now, which may be a problem for the humidity as you said, but he seems to be great with the shedding. it is coming off in full pieces. but thank you again for your help. i really appreciate it.

jon

The best advice anyone here can give you is to go out yesterday and buy a book on the captive husbandry of ball pythons and read it, read it again, adn then a third time.
Cart before the horse people frustrate me..
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www.strictlyballs.ca

i am sorry for the frustration, but i am reading a book on ball pythons, and i will definately keep reading more. thanks for the advice.

jon