Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted a question about my ball not eating about a week ago, got some good solutions, even though he hasn't eaten yet. I have a new question,in my "solutions" I was told that I had too much heat in his tank. I don't understand how that is possible if the temp. only gets to 80. I have been keeping his tank damp, so I'm sure the humidity has gone up. Someone please enlighten me on what is the ideal temp/humidity, and what types of lights to use.
My first post was titled Ball not eating..... Help!
Thanks for all the help!!

Warm side: 90-95
Cool side: 80-85
Night time drop not required, but if it does don't go below 72-75 on the cool side and maintain a 10 degree difference between the two sides.

Lights not needed - provide belly heat with a UTH or human heating pad. Use lights as supplemental heat - not the only heat. UVB not needed, but I like to have light for daytime viewing myself.

Humidity: 50-60% when not in shed; up to 70% during shed is great

Where are you measuring temps? What are you using to measure? Where does your BP spend it's time (cool side, warm side, etc)?
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I have a 24x24x12 tank. In one corner,I have his UTH with his hide over it.Over the other corner is a light, night time a 75w nightglo moonlight lamp, and daytime a 50w basking spot lamp. The thermometer I have sticks on the side of the tank it's on one of the cool sides. His water bowl is in another corner.
He spends most of his time in his hide. As I wrote in my first posting, he hasn't eaten since we got him (3 months ago). I was told to get a gerbil, instead of the mice I've been trying. I do not have a humidity gauge, was told one wasn't needed when I bought the tank set-up stuff. Do you also have any suggestions on how to get a patch off his eye that didn't come off after his last shed? Thank you for all your help, I want to do everything right for him.

In all reality you really don't know what the temps are anywere in that enclosure. Those types of thermometers can be 10-15 degrees off. Buy a digital thermometer with a probe so you can measure temps on the warm and cool side at all times. I'd say that is the first thing you need to do before anything else. Once you get to the point that you know what the temps actually are you can work on making them correct. Then you can work on that eye issue. First get the temps straightened out, though.
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Rob Talkington

Ditch those thermometers - the stick ons are junk. Get a good digital w/ probes so you can measure right on top of the substrate (if using newspaper, paper towels, etc) or under the substrate if you are using a loose substrate. You also need to have at least one hide on both sides of the tank so your snake can chooose a secure place to thermoregulate. Right know he only has one hide to choose from if he wants to feel secure, but no choice in temps.

You do need to measure humidity - that's very important for Ball Pythons. Maybe not so much for colubrids, etc. But you must have the right humidity level for proper sheds.

To remove the old skin you can get him to soak and see if it comes off. Get your humidity up and he may get it off himself. Or make a 'modified humid hide': tupperware bowl with airholes in the side instead of an access hole in the lid, fill with damp sphagum moss or damp paper towels, put your BP in, close the lid and sit it on the warm side (when it's dark so he's not blinded by any room/tank light). Leave him for about an hour or so and let him out. That should loosen it up and you may be able to gently rub (not pull) it off - or let him do it as long as he has something rough in the tank to rub on (branch,e tc).

You need to know what your humidity and temps really are so you know whether or not you need to fix them.

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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"