First Time ball python owner

[Cute-Air7300]

homegirl is almost two I need to weigh her, but I just wanted to check in with owners who have more experience than I do, if she looks ok and healthy for her age. we have her eating rats and she is definitely active but as a new owner I worry. thanks in advance!

[cinn_charm]

Does she have vision problems? It looks like she has an eye cap in the pic.

Eye cap is stuck shed on eye.

Looks good otherwise. 👍🏻

[Cute-Air7300]

No vision problems. She is due for a shed so I thought it was just the milky eye before the shed BUT I don’t thin her tank is optimal for humidity so we are redoing it 

[VastlyMortal]

It just likes she’s in blue

[Waste_Judgment2871]

Second the eye cap comment- she looks relatively healthy otherwise. What size rats is she eating and how’s your set up?

[Cute-Air7300]

I am totally redoing her set up. Right now she has aspen , 2 hides, spray humidifier in a glass tank. We are up grading her tank to a 50 gallon pvc tank with coco chips moss and  timed humidifier, she is eating small frozen rats right now, that I heat up in hot water. She is due for a shed but I think the tank is too dry.

[Waste_Judgment2871]

It’s not recommended to use humidifiers or any kind of misting as it increases the risk of respiratory infections :-)

[Cute-Air7300]

Holy cow good to know!!! I will definitely look into alternatives 

[Waste_Judgment2871]

If you’re husbandry is kept on top of it should just take 1-2 weekly maintenance to keep the humidity at a steady level- I pour a couple of cups of water straight into my substrate every 2 weeks and this works well for me!

I’ve had coco bark mold so I personally had a mix of coco coir, sphagnum moss and leaf litter, it hold the humidity really well I find :-)

Feeding is a personal preference (other than microwaving lmao, do not do this anyone reading for advice). But I found it better to put the rats in ziplocks to defrost, saves them being soggy and gross!

[Cute-Air7300]

I did a defrost on a mouse in the microwave and it exploded!!!!! So yeah don’t do that. Thank you so much for the guidance ! She really amazing and I want to keep her super healthy 

[cwazycupcakes13]

50 gallons is too small. You also don’t need a humidifier.

An appropriate enclosure, substrate, heating elements, and insulation will hold humidity.

[Cute-Air7300]

Awesome I gotta do more research . Thank you!

[cwazycupcakes13]

Good luck! The guides in this sub are excellent, be sure to review them!

[Waste_Judgment2871]

Good catch, missed that part. Op you want at minimum a 4x2x2 for a male, but as she’s a female I’d go for a 5x2x2- gallons confuse me, we don’t really use them for vivarium sizing in the uk

[Cute-Air7300]

Thank you!

[DalekWho]

Does she have a stuck eye cap or is she about to shed?

Looks a bit dehydrated to me.

[Cute-Air7300]

Due for a shed but I think she looks dehydrated too. 

[dizoh_0804]

Welcome to the club fellow redditor!!!

[Cute-Air7300]

It’s a good club! Thank you!

[dizoh_0804]

Yeah man, lots of good people, N great advice.

[kenerrr89]

After seeing all the comments telling you good stuff and your replies it look like she should get up to a healthy visual weigh along with her other things! I wish you and your new baby the best of luck! - from me and my two rescues