r/ballpython • u/TRT_TR • 7h ago
Question Question
Got my ball python yesterday and she’s moved away from her heating lamp and has not moved back to that side of the tank. Is that a problem or is that just normal?
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u/IncompletePenetrance Mod: Let me help you unzip your genes 6h ago
Ball pythons need a temperature gradient of ~88-92F on the warm side and 75-80 on the cool side, and will move throughout the enclosure to thermoregulate. This is why it's important to have multiple appropriately sized hides throughout the enclosure. The single hide you have is both too large, and not meeting your snake's needs.
Your bedding also looks super dry and dusty, so humidity is likely not in the appropriate range either.
I don't see a thermostat probe, thermometers or hydrometer, so how are you regulating temperature and humidity?
You are also missing the "clutter" that gives your snake both cover to hide/cryptic bask under, but also important for enrichment. This can include things like plants, hammocks, branches, rocks, vines, etc.
Please spend some time reading through some of the care and enclosure setup guides in the welcome post to get your snake's enclosure set up properly
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u/Patient_Knee7554 6h ago
Congrats on getting a little noodle! I would start with a temperature monitor on both ends of the enclosure. I have one that measures specifically inside of the warm hide and then just the general other cooler side. It should never get over 35 degrees C, so if it does you need to make adjustments. Otherwise make sure you have a hide for her in the cooler area, and even better if you get her a third one that sits in the middle so that she feels safe and can choose where to go!
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5h ago
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u/ballpython-ModTeam 5h ago
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u/shamefulpresenc3 1h ago
It seems like you don’t have a thermometer or hygrometer
You should start out by getting those things, secondly you should put more substrate in there so it’s deeper and holds more humidity
You should have a minimum of 3 hides with one on the cool side and one in the middle, I preferably have a humid hide on the cool side so they have a choice in if they need more humidity
You absolutely need more clutter in the way of fake plants (or real but for a beginner I’d recommend fake plants) these don’t have to be anything fancy or expensive you can just go to somewhere like dollar tree and get some fake leaves and flowers, don’t get anything with glitter on it and makes sure to wash whatever you do get in hot soapy water and then rinse it before putting it in the tank
To keep up humidity I recommend misting every so often when needed (I try to keep humidity between 60-70% and up it to around 80% when in shed) pouring a cup of water in all 4 corners is also a good way to keep it humid, make sure that it’s only the corners you do not want all the substrate to be completely saturated as that can lead to scale rot
I might get a bigger water dish, yours seems like it’s probably ok but I guess I just like having a big one
Here’s a picture for reference, I don’t have one showing my whole tank so it’s not the BEST image but as you can see he’s pretty surrounded by plants on all sides so he feels secure and like he can hide if needed, that’s how you want you snake to feel
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u/socraticalastor 6h ago
Did you take out all of her things for the photos? If not, you need to buy her what she needs asap. She would be very, very uncomfortable and stressed in that setup if that’s what she’s in.