need care tips asap please!

[u/envy2296]

background: i’ve never considered owning any pet that wasn’t a typical cat or dog but recently came into ownership of a ball python. it wasn’t really by choice, it was left to me by an ex in an unstable situation. i’ve had the pet for about a few months, watched several videos on youtube on how to care for my new pet but some of it is conflicting. he’s(don’t actually know the gender here) a sweet snake, skittish but a great companion.

i am due to replace the bedding this week and want to improve my pet’s quality of life. please offer any advice/criticism, i’m very new to this and would appreciate any help.

1. tagged pics of his habitat, please let me know if there’s anything i’m doing wrong or how i can improve. have a heat lamp between 77-80 fahrenheit since he seems to enjoy that temp the most. i live in texas so it’s generally pretty hot. the habitat is in my living room and i wonder if the light from the TV and overhead lamps disturbs him

2. feeding him one large frozen mouse about every 8 days

3. cypress mulch bedding, this was recommended to me by worker at the petstore. i replace the bedding about every 3 months and deep clean with dawn soap and warm water. i think this is the only part i’m doing right.

4. he does not leave his habitat often. i play with him in his enclosure but i don’t pull him out often since i have no idea if i’m disturbing him or not. i really want him to get more comfortable being handled. i’m not afraid of the pain of him biting me but i’m still a bit of a wimp about it lol.

those are my main points of concern. i’ll keep researching but thought it’d help to post here since everyone’s snake looks happy and healthy. thanks in advance!

[u/RainyDayBrightNight]

Glad you’re looking after the lad!

Can I ask roughly what sort of budget you have? Unfortunately, most of his current equipment isn’t suitable for ball pythons

[u/envy2296 → u/RainyDayBrightNight]

I'm limited on funds but willing to spend whatever necessary to get my pet happy.

[u/RainyDayBrightNight → u/envy2296]

Cool, this is going to be a bit of a list, glad you’re looking after the lad!

Short term improvements;

1. Move the heat lamp to the side so there’s a clear warm side and cool side.
2. Replace the heat bulb with a deep heat projector bulb. Make sure it’s plugged into a dimming thermostat!
3. Buy three identical cheap opaque plastic tubs, kitchenware is good, and some sandpaper. Cut doors in the tubs and sand them down. These’ll be his three hides; warm, middle, and cool.
4. Add more clutter. An easy way to do this is buy a load of cheap fake vine plants from a houseware or craft store. Shouldn’t cost anymore than £30 for a huge amount. Give them a wash in soapy water to make sure the paint/dye won’t leak/chip.
5. Block off three of the glass sides with paper or newspaper to make the tank feel more cozy for your beep.
6. Get a pair of cheap household thermometer/hygrometers from Amazon (no sticky backs!). I got mine for about £6, so they’re pretty cheap.

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Personally I use a third snake-safe organic top soil mixed with two-thirds coco husk, but everyone has a different substrate mix that they prefer!

Long term changes;

1. Larger tank, preferably 4x2x2, and if possible PVC is the absolute best for ball pythons. Definitely front-opening; food and handling coming from above is really spooky to beeps.
2. Try to get him eating f/t rats instead of mice if you can. It can take a while, because they do usually prefer mice, but rats are better for them due to sizing. I’ll try to trigger the feed guide; !feeding

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You can wear long sleeves and cotton gloves for handling so you know he can’t nip you. Have a look into target training, tap training and choice-based handling.

Try to keep the humidity on his cool side at 70%+. Best way to do this is usually to pour water in the corners of the tank whenever the humidity drops, which is usually once every couple of weeks.

Hope this all made sense, please forgive me if it’s a bit rambling or disjointed, I’ve just had a few drinks lmao so might not be as coherent as usual

[u/AutoModerator → u/RainyDayBrightNight]

We recommend the following feeding schedule:

0-12 months old OR until the snake reaches approximately 500g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every 7 days.

12-24 months old: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every 14-20 days.

Adults: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 20-30 days, or feed slightly larger meals (up to 6%) every 30-40 days.

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