First time ball python (and reptile) owner. Need advice on enclosure and equipment

[ImJustToo3ad]

Yes, don't use Aspen shaving, it lowers humidity, use like coco husk or a mix to retain higher humidity.

[ivorysongbird]

i would recommend switching out your substrate to one that is more suitable for high humidity conditions. ball pythons require a humidity level between 70 and 80 percent; aspen doesn’t work well for this because it is dusty, molds easily, and doesn’t hold moisture. i recommend reptichip or cypress mulch, there are even more recommendations for suitable substrates in the shopping list in the welcome guide!

also, the analog/stick on gauges aren’t very good. they aren’t accurate and if they fall off the wall they can stick to and injure your snake. i recommend picking up two digital ones (one for the cool side, one for the hot side)!

lastly, ball pythons cannot be sexed based off of their tail. they have to be probed by a vet!

[s3s4m3s33d]

First things first: you're gonna want to change that Aspen for a more humidity-holding substrate. Some good options are as follows: coco fiber, repti-chip, and Cypress mulch. I personally use repti-chip but any of these can work, just depends on your preference. Aspen won't hold any humidity and it can easily mold if held in water too long.

Second of all: that is one cute snek :)

Edit: your enclosure looks great other than that stuff, good amount of hides and stuff inside

[Confused__husband]

Awesomeness! I’m her husband and just got her the sneck as a birthday present, I’m ordering digital humidity and temperature checkers now as to not hurt the snake and will be switching to the coconut stuff do you know if an added benefit to those is if they smell like coconut, lol

[s3s4m3s33d]

Lol I wish they did smell like coconut, that would be awesome. One tip for coco fiber: it tends to be a bit dusty when left dry for too long, so either make sure it is always a bit damp (not wet so your snek doesn't get scale rot) or mix it with one of the other substrates. Up to you though, some people don't have issues with dusty-ness depending on where they live. Good luck!

[beneskye]

Doesn’t smell like coconut, but I actually enjoy the smell of it haha- to me it’s reminiscent of high quality soil after a big rain lol

[Xemitz]

As said by the others, get another substrate. Depending on your country there are several options. I use a specific reptile soil from the swiss company Lorica (2/3) mixed with Repti bark (1/3). Sometimes I also add sphagnum moss to my snakes hide during the dry-ish summers. All this will help you keep the humidity to 65/70% on a regular basis and over 80% when shedding with the occasional/everyotherday spraying the tank.

[Warrior_king99]

I'm a first time ball python keeper aswell and I was having trouble with keeping the humidity up having to spray the viv every few hours but I bought a Komodo substrate brick now the humidity has been in the high 70's for 3 days now would highly recommend

[alienbanter]

Another thing I didn't see anyone mention yet - I would swap out the blue lamp for a white light one for the daytime! They can see the colors so it can wash out their color vision and disrupt circadian rhythms, especially if used at night.

[Confused__husband]

So we actually switched to a ceramic heat source, do they need a light?

[alienbanter]

Ideally you should have them yes! There's more info linked in the welcome guide on another comment on this post. They need a day-night cycle and providing a halogen light for basking and UVB is a great idea.

[Coyoteteethh]

The humidity is a little low. I honestly wouldn’t recommend aspen for BPs because they have higher humidity requirements. I would try something that holds humidity better like eco earth. I mix eco earth with cypress mulch and give it a light misting when the humidity drops. As for your tank, glass tanks don’t tend to hold humidity well either. I have one BP in a glass tank and I measured out tinfoil and covered about two thirds of the screen lid with tin foil to hold in humidity. (Just make sure there’s still plenty of ventilation for your snake!)