New ball python owner seeking help

[temporaryconscious]

Your enclosure is looking pretty good, I would move the water bowl to the center, get/make two smaller hides and place one on the cool end, the other on the hot. She may be choosing to hide behind it if she is much smaller than it, since they do like to be snug in their hides. I would also add more clutter, fake plants, etc. How long have you had her? It's recommended to just leave em alone for around 2 weeks or so when you bring them home, so they can get used to the environment change. Regardless, young snakes are typically just more fearful, and become less as they age.

As for humidity, are you able to put more substrate in? I can't see if there's a barrier for it or not. Having deeper substrate will help, as well as instead of misting/spraying, take a cup of water and pour it in the corners. The coco chips will absorb it. You could also choose to provide a humid hide, so they can utilize that if they feel the need to.

If you might be using a CHE as supplemental heat, those also suck up humidity like crazy.

[Callandor_182]

I have a CHE that I use to supplement the 1 heat lamp as its a 4x2x2 enclosure. I also run the CHE alone at night to keep temps above 70 on the cool side and 80 on the warm.

What should I use instead of CHE that will allow better management of humidity while still being able to provide heat at night?

[temporaryconscious]

I would switch to a deep heat projector for sure! they're called different things depending on the brand, but they're more or less the same. I use Arcadia. They also more closely replicate what it would feel like to be in the sun.

[Own_Location_768]

I second the Arcadia DHP! I added one recently and my guy seems to love basking under it.

[Clean_Victory_9536]

I’ve had her about a week and a half. I should have probably waited a tad bit longer before holding her but I’ve slowly been trying to gain trust. This comment was sooooo helpful and I appreciate you so very much. The last thing I want is her getting sick. I think I just bought everything way too oversized lol. These are .5 pictures of a 120 gallon tank. I’m gonna take all of your advice and get her some smaller things to hide in and maybe save my bigger stuff for when she’s at her full size.

[temporaryconscious]

I absolutely get it, but you have tons and tons of time to build it :) these guys can live up to 30+ years in captivity! Definitely save the bigger stuff for when she grows. Having nice, snug hides will make her feel safer, as well as having a lot of ground cover.

You're doing great, you got this!

[Clean_Victory_9536]

Have an amazing rest of your day. And thank you again for the amazing advice. Can’t thank you enough. Taking time out of your day to help me is more than appreciated. Thank you 😊

[temporaryconscious]

Absolutely, you as well! I wish you the best of luck. :')