Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been reading through the forum for about 2 months. Lot's of great tips and pictures. Just wanted to post a picture of "Jake". We've had him (or her?) about a month now. He eats about every 2-3 days and loves climbing. I don't have a scale here, but he appears to have almost doubled his weight since coming from the pet store. Pictured below swallowing a mouse.

just another pic

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Chad Bachman

thanks, I keep it at 85. in the picture, the snake had just been placed back in the cage after being out and then being fed (hence the lid was open for some time). once closed, the temp goes back up to where it should be.

actually i should say it stays about 80 (85 when the dish lamp is on)

Beautiful ball...glad he is eating for you.

Try to get some hide spots for it and why the flourscent light?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

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Chad Bachman

s
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

Look at the first pic.
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Chad Bachman

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Chad Bachman

From the picture i am looking at

I see a grey little sculpture thingy.
A little wooden "jungle gym"-all i can say is SWEET.
A water dish.
A potted plant.
A habba hut.
Some kind of red substrate.
A ball python.
A heat lamp.

No hides, are we looking at the same picture?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

didn't look close enough to remember more....

........

temps should be at least 82.........

anyways.............
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the whole statue is hollow, the snake goes in the base... usually to the sides, and sometimes even up into the larger head, i guess coiling around the sides to stay up there. It's quite dark in there, don't be fooled by the camera flash. I can't even see him in the shadows usually.

If i was hiding from a predator i would sure not wanna be in that thing.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

I would hope the snake does not have to hide from a predator in its cage....LOL.
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Chad Bachman

no, he's fine. I keep my mongoose in a separate enclosure.

The gray sculpture & the habihut are hides.
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Chad Bachman

the other people are telling you. Your snake is eating & apperently healthy. They are just nit-pickers that know little about what advise they are trying to give. If they can't tell that the thermometer is not directly under the light where the heat is, or that you snake has a hide by the picture you posted, than I feel sorry for them...LOL.
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Chad Bachman

Whoa Chad,its never a good idea to tell someone to ignore the advice from experianced keepers,yes the themometer isn't under the light but the cool end of the tank should be around 75* not 69*-70* and as far as the hide goes,isn't it widely excepted that a ball should have an ENCLOSED dark hide for security? Nit-Picking is what has improved snake husbandry over the years and raised the survival of baby balls,don't put somebody down for being extra careful.Oh,and njdevil,keep an eye on your heat light,as your baby gets bigger he could climb up next to it and get a thermal burn,its better to use a higher watt bulb and place the lamp on the outside of the cage.
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signature edited; oversized graphic [phw 11/26/04]

the lamp i kinda tested out for heat before putting it in there. it has a 30 watt flood (light forward spot light type bulb) the metal dish gets only warm to the touch, even after being on for extented times. the heat is mild and goes to the rear floor of the tank. its actually about 6" behind the wood, so to be under the lamp, he has to be on the floor. there is also a large heat pad on the bottom, just left of center, so the floor is also slightly warm to the touch on the left. it doesnt quite extend to where the statue is.

I appreciate any and all advice. So, lay it on me if you see room for improvement . I tried to set everything up by the book here.

The cage will be modified as the snake grows. I already know the lamp, even though I assure you all is not presently a burn hazard, will be moved on top. I only have the lamp on when im here anyway, not overnight or when i go out. the hanging plant will have to be removed when the snake gets too heavy...etc etc.

thanks!

Get a digital thermometer and stop feeling for temps.

Also with the lamp position on the same size as the heat pad so it has a temp gradient. And get a CHE or blue/red bulb so you dont need to turn it off at night.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)

Yeah, I wouldn't know a thing about keeping reptiles...LOL. His cage is fine.
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Chad Bachman

Only thing I would comment on, is the substrate. Is it sand? if so, it is not good because it can get caught in the heat pits on the snake's face.
Cute snake though.
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2.1 Ball pythons
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator
0.1 albino Cranwell's horned frog
1.0 bearded dragon
1.0 Tiger salamander
1.1 breeding Clawed frogs
1.0 black kittycat
3.1 Oscar cichlids
0.1 Paint horse mare

No, not sand. It's walnut shells, very soft and light. It's designed to look like sand i guess, but it claims to be for reptiles and harmless if they swallow some accidentally.

i see two hides
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1.0 White's Tree Frog - Tony Montana ( 2004)
1.1 Mali Uromastyx - Mali and Zoltan (2002)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko - Jeb (2001)
2.0.1 Crested Geckos - Layne and Jerry and Alice (2004
1.1 Pictus Geckos - John and Yoko (2004)
1.0 Velvet Gecko - Scott (2004)
1.0 Tarantula - Mickey (2002)
2.0 Bearded Dragons - Jude and Oswald(thought jude was a fem and name stuck) (2002)
0.0.1 Millipede - Demri ( 2000)
1.0 Mini Schnauzer - Cosmo (1998)
4 Striped Tail Scorpions (2004)
5 Desert Hairy Scorpions (2004)
Hissing and Lobster Roaches - Food

I see two hides... Now what I would call a hide and what an "expert" would call a hide would be two different things byt the half log is a dark and snug place so isnt that tech. a correct hide?
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1.0.1 Green Iguana Andy and Vernie
0.2.0 Cats April and Sugar
1.0.0 German Shepard Dog Router
0.0.50 Fish
And lots of rescues waiting to find homes...

a hide is somewhere that fools the animal into thinking it is hidden. whether it hides it or not.
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1.0 White's Tree Frog - Tony Montana ( 2004)
1.1 Mali Uromastyx - Mali and Zoltan (2002)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko - Jeb (2001)
2.0.1 Crested Geckos - Layne and Jerry and Alice (2004
1.1.1 Pictus Geckos - John and Yoko (more babies coming)(2004)
1.0 Velvet Gecko - Scott (2004)
1.0 Tarantula - Mickey (2002)
2.0 Bearded Dragons - Jude and Oswald(thought jude was a fem and name stuck) (2002)
0.0.1 Millipede - Demri ( 2000)
1.0 Mini Schnauzer - Cosmo (1998)
1 Striped Tail Scorpions (2004)
5 Desert Hairy Scorpions (2004)
Hissing and Lobster Roaches - Food
2 Albino Nelson's Milksnakes(hatchlings)
1 California Kingsnake(snow)(hatchling)
1 WC Salamander

First of all... nice looking snake! I really like the climby thing, is it just dowels? I think I'll make one for my little ones too, great idea! Second I think we need to step back and relax. Snakes have been walking this earth since the dawn of time and they are wild animals (still). They are highly resiliant creatures. Yes as keepers of these creatures it's our duties to provide a safe secure environment for them, but do we really have to go extreme with everything? Obviously a lot of thought went into this cage set up (by the way I'd rethink the light, that looks like an accident waiting to happen) and it looks like this snake is going to be well cared for. If the snake is happy enough in the habi hut then so be it, my old snake lived for 22 happy, healthy years with a habi hut for a hide. Congratulations on your snake enjoy and take good care of him!

Tosha
1.1.0 Balls

just oak dowels drilled and put together. i couldnt find a branch with enough spread and stability, so i fashioned my own, lol

s
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
2.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, Bear, and Tony)