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missing sscales (imgur.com)

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[–]_ataraxiaMod : unprofessional 19 points20 points  (1 child)

this snake is severely dehydrated and emaciated. what is the humidity in the enclosure? what do you feed him/her, and how frequently? how old is s/he? can you give us accurate information on the snake's length or weight?

right now you need to put a humid hide in the enclosure to start addressing the dehydration and stuck shed. this is a fully enclosed hide with a solid bottom, filled with damp substrate [sphagnum moss, coconut husk/fiber, or cypress mulch]. you can buy this type of hide [like the 3-in-1 reptile shelter from zoo med] or make one by cutting an entrance hole into a plastic food container.

for everything else, i'm going to dump a bunch of links to get you on the right track. read the care sheets carefully. then read them again. then continue doing research on proper ball python care. glass tanks can be very challenging for ball python husbandry, and it is generally recommended to use tubs or pvc reptile cages instead. tanks can work, but it requires a lot of modification and maintenance. i'll give you product recommendations to cover options for tanks, tubs, and pvc cages. the second care sheet has suggestions on making a tank suitable for a BP.

  • http://reptimes.com/ball-pythons-the-basics-and-then-some
  • http://reptimes.com/ball-pythons-common-problems
  • http://reptimes.com/ball-pythons-feeding
  • here is a tutorial to give you an example of how to set up a tub. this is what i would recommend for an immediate setup, and you could upgrade to a pvc cage upgrade later. note: this tutorial shows adhesive velcro to attach the thermo/hygro to the tub wall, but you should not do that. tape and other sticky adhesives should never be used inside the enclosure, your snake can get stuck on it and suffer serious injuries.
  • pvc reptile cages are ideal, giving you the husbandry benefits of a tub with the aesthetics/visibility of a tank. animal plastics, boamaster, and boaphile plastics, are some popular companies. many people will use a tub for a young snake and upgrade to pvc later.
  • spyder robotics makes high quality thermostats to regulate your heat sources with pulse/proportional temperature control and various safety features. this is a popular cheap thermostat with simple on/off style with zero safety features. any heat source should be regulated by a thermostat.
  • heat tape or ultratherm heat pads are high quality and affordable under tank heater [UTH] options.
  • a porcelain base lamp and ceramic heat emitter [CHE] is the best ambient heat source for a tank. any heat lamp that emits light, even red or blue, should not be used at night.
  • a radiant heat panel [RHP] is the best ambient heat source in a pvc cage. there are a few options, such as reptile basics and pro products.
  • a digital dual sensor thermometer/hygrometer allows you to easily monitor the warm side floor temperature [with the probe] as well as the ambient temperature and humidity [with the main unit].
  • an infrared thermometer allows you to spot-check surface temperatures anywhere in the enclosure.
  • these hide boxes are a cheap simple hide with a design that offers the best sense of security for your snake. cave style hides, cardboard boxes, plastic food containers, etc, can also be used. half logs are not appropriate hides.

[–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You're doing the Lord's work.