Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

I just purchased my first little ball python from the local petsmart (i know i know, captivity is better and from somewhere that *isnt* a big store but I have little choice as i'm a poor college kid). Anyway, I'm very excited to have him (named him Frank, and I say *him* not knowing the gender anyway) and of course after having done much research before buying him perahps have done too much and am paranoid. I have a basic 20 gallon tall tank w/ a waterdish, log to climb on, and half-tree-wood-thing for him to hide in. The floor is lined w/ paper towels right now (astroturf later i suppose) and I have a single undertank heater supplying heat. This is his first day here in his new surroundings (he's little, only maybe 15 inches long) and he's asleep now in the corner of the tank, not on top of the heat pad but next to the glass near the heat pad. Again, w/ the paranoia, should i be concerned that the pad is too hot? And perhaps why is he not using his hidebox-half-log-thing? I'm gonna leave him alone for the next few days so he can get used to his surroundings but just wanted to say hello to everyone reading this forum as I will be back w/ questions no doubt. I know the ball python lives for a long time and want to take the best care of him possible so I can have him as a companion for a long while and want to make sure I'm taking good care of him. Feel free to ask me any questions about my setup or Frank himself.

Thanks,
-Eli

Well, first, Congratulations and Welcome to the Ball Python world!

As for Frank, just let him be for a while and see what he does. Heat pads are there so that snakes can thermoregulate. So, if he's cold, he can go on the pad. If not, he will stay off. Don't worry, he will take care of himself.

Have fun with him!

Half log hides aren't much of a hide, they are open on two sides and are usually much taller than the snake, taking away from the snakes sense of security. I wouldn't worry about him not using it though, I had a ball python for 11 years that never once used a hide. A 20gallon long would have been a more suitable tank for a BP, they are terestrial so the more floor space the better. Either way, he is little so that is nothing you have to worry about immediately.

Cole Maas

Hey again,
Thanks for the quick responses! Yet another question: Like i said i'm a college student doing far too much work and I know of course he's nocturnal but i tend to stay up until 3AM or so working and am wondering if that / me alway going in and out of my dorm room w/ the light switch is going to mess with his internal clock? I'm fearful to put any kind of heatlamp / lamp on his cage as I don't want to burn my dorm down. Do you guys think my wee-hours of the morning habits and/or flipping of the light on and off when in or not in the room are something to worry about?

Thanks again much!
-Eli

walking in front of the cage constantly may be a little stressful on the snake since it is just becoming acclimated to it's new environment. It really depends on the snake. I wouldn't worry about it too much. As far as the lighting goes, unless you intend on breeding(and maybe not even then), light cycles shouldn't really affect your snake negatively. Others may tell you different but that is my opinion.

Cole Maas

how are you checking his temps???

do you have any type of thermometer??

if not I would recommend a digital dual themometer so you can check both hot and cold sides.

The pad could be too hot for him to lay on.
Heat pads can run hot(and usually do), thus may require a rheostat or thermostat for your snakes safety.

welcome to the forum, and to being a snake owner.

One word of warning, they're very addicting, it's hard to stop at just one. LOL

TomChambers

Hi,
Thanks again for all the help guys, and yeah I did hear they are addicting. I'm monitoring the temp w/ two thermomoters the aquarium type that you stick to the side, one is on the back inside of the aquarium near the top for a general temp, the other on the outside bottom left near the heatpad (though I know it's not really giving the actual heatpad temp) any idea about how to get that / a better way to read the temps so he's more comfortable?

Thanks again,
-Eli

well, I have little faith in those fish type thermometers.

They may give you an approximate air temp, but what you really want to know is what is the temp on the bottom of the tank where he is laying.

you can use a thermometer with a probe, and put the probe above the heat pad(inside the tank).

I still use these for a second check in a few tanks.

or as mentioned above(I think the wrong thread-gentlemantw0)you can use a temp gun.

I use thermostats, and check they are accurate with my raytek temp gun, and in a few tanks use digital probed thermometers for a second check.

Overkill??

maybe, but I'm an anal-retentive type so what can ya do.

go with a probed thermometer, or a temp gun of your choice and you will be fine.

But you still may need to regulate the heat pad; find your accurate temps then go from there.

hope that helps

TomChambers

np

n/p

TomChambers

Those stick on thermometers can be very inaccurate. I would go to Walmart or the hardware store and get an indoor/outdoor thermometer with a hygrometer. They run less than $15. That way you can get readings on the cool and warm side of your tank as well as your humidity. I would also recommend putting another hide on the warm side of the tank. They way if he wants to conceal himself he can without having to sacrifice the heat.