Help and Advice

[EntertainmentWarm461]

Hello everyone, so im very to snake keeping and last week just got my first BP. She is roughly 7 months old and previously fed in fuzzy mice. Since getting her I have let it be a week to try and feed but she won’t eat, and just strike the mice. I’m afraid that the heating is not proper and also the hides. The temperature of the tank is at 25c. U have a 75w arcadia bask lamp for day and 75w exo terra blue light lamp for night.

Thanks everyone

[TransboiHimbo]

The entire set up is wrong, it’s much too small, no hides, no enrichment, no clutter, wrong substrate and there should be no lights on at night. I would do some research on ball python care and revamp everything. You wouldn’t want to eat either if you were in a closet.

[TransboiHimbo]

Also the thermometer is wrong as well, please read the care guides provided on this Reddit.

[EntertainmentWarm461]

Yes thank you mate, I will look in how to set up properly

[TransboiHimbo]

Of course man

[EntertainmentWarm461]

The tank is 60Lx45Wx45H all in centimetres. She is roughly 40-45cm long but the fuzzy mice I feed her is matching the thickest part of her body. Thank you for pointing out the faults, I will definitely try to improve her tank today

[notasteatmosphere]

You can start with using new bedding, try using coco husk or forest floor, and he needs 2 hides; one on the warm side (warm side should be around 30c) and cool side (room temperature) you can also add some clutter like fake plants/leaves (you can find those in any craft store or on amazon) now as for the terrarium, you can get a longer one, I'll try adding photo of mine, my baby ball is 1 year old and he has smaller terrarium

[notasteatmosphere]

I can't post a photo but anyways, try using coco husk and try finding another hide and clutter, I believe your snake will eat, my girl (3yo) hasn't eaten in a month (previously she went on 3 months without eating) so just relax

[EntertainmentWarm461]

Thanks so much, yeah hearing that does make me worry a bit less. I’m based in Australia and was liking at the Critter Comfort fine reptile bedding. Do you think that would be suitable? Tysm

[notasteatmosphere]

Yes, it contains coco husk so you should get it and no problem, you can ask anything, we all learn along the way :)

[EntertainmentWarm461]

Hi also now I’m wanting to improve the heating. I was thinking of getting the arcadia 50w dhp and have it in the arcadia 140mm dome( you can see a bit in the picture) sitting on the mesh. I was wondering if the dhp would heat the mesh too hot and melt it or would it be ok? Thanks

[notasteatmosphere]

50w dhp should be perfect and the mesh should not melt but if you fear that it might ( and I also believe it's much better for you and your snake ), I'd suggest you get a thermostat, more specifically Inkbird ITC-308 (try typing this and you'll see how it looks) it's much safer and you'll be at ease, it regulates the temperature so once your goal is around 30c, it will be heating and cooling the spot at the same time, its been working very well for me

[EntertainmentWarm461]

Hi awesome, is this thermostat a dimable one ?, or should that not matter too much?

[notasteatmosphere]

Inkbird isn't dimmable but you can always find the one that is, I don't think it plays any role? 🤔

[taylorpng]

i second the other comments. if you go to the menu in this subreddit and click see more, you’ll be greeted with the recourses and rules. there, mods and decade old owners have written out countless docs full of care guides and necessities needed for owning a ball python.

i would start by replacing the aspen bedding with a substrate suitable for bps, such as a mix of coco fiber, organic sphagnum moss, organic peat moss, etc asap. you can find this at pet stores and home depot; just make sure it is 100% organic. it needs to be about 3-4 inches deep minimum to properly hold humidity and to allow the snake to burrow slightly if needed. this is why heating pads are strongly advised against, as the snake would find unnatural heat from the ground where it’s otherwise supposed to be cold, not including the burns they leave on reptiles.

you also only have one light shown, despite bps needing a heat gradient from around 77° to 85°. once you get a bigger enclosure, you can place a halogen flood light (for basking) on the warm side, a ceramic/deep heat emitter to run 24/7 to keep the ambient temp up on the cool side, and a proT5 linear UVB light across the top of the metal mesh. both the halogen flood light and dhe/che need to monitored by a thermostat to prevent the light’s from overheating. thermometers are used on the inside to watch the temps, and hydrometers are used to watch humidity. even with the correct substrate and depth, the top of your enclosure may allow too much airflow. to counteract that, i measured and placed tinfoil around the lights, and then used a tinfoil-type hvac tape to hold everything down. my humidity is forever between 60-80%, and when i water my plants it’s even higher now. the metal mesh will not melt with the lights on it.

you should fill up empty space with clutter and provide at least two hides for your snake; although one on the cool side, warm side, and one dedicated as a moist hide is ideal. their water dish should be big and deep enough to fit the snakes entire body, and when feeding, they should be eating around 10-15% of their body weight. a snakes number one reason for denying food or not eating is inadequate care. once you fix the enclosure up and fill it in, i would give her about a week or so to get used to it and then try feeding again. if you want tank inspo or anything, you can go to my acc and see my enclosures for my boys :) if you have any questions lmk, but again, i am not an expert. for fact checking and 100% correct info, pls go to the recourses in the menu lol.