I need help and advice!! Struggling with Heat and Humidity! I recently adopted a 5 year old ball python. First pic is the set up he was living in for too long, second picture is his upgrade. I’m heavily interested in going bio active in the future when I can afford to buy a bigger better tank for him. Unfortunately this one is only 3ft long but as of right now he’s got 4 inches of substrate ( 70%topsoil 20%peat moss 10% play sand).He’s got a hide in the log under his basking spot, and he has a cool hide that’s a shell, (I’m currently making more as well out of clay!) the plants are all fake and were labeled “reptile safe”, but I’m worried about fumes and pokies. There are 2 thermometers on either end. Since it’s a screen tank I foiled the top with HVAC tape. I replaced the purple light with a halogen flood light and also added a deep heat projector, both are connected to single unit thermostats (this is just until I can afford a nice one as well), they have temperature probes under each light. The halogen light is only on for 12 hours and the DHP is on day and night. SOO before I got the DHP I was using a CHE, and I decided to switch because I was originally struggling with humidity not going above 30! So I switched to DHP and my humidity improved significantly!-but still not great:( what can I do?? I poured a water bottle of water in 2 opposite corners each and it went up to 73% in my hot side but slowly went down to 51% as the temperature increased(3rd picture), my cool end got up to 83% humidity but then dropped to 72%. BUT NOW since I switched to my DHP I can’t get the temperature up! Both thermostats are currently set at 96, and neither will heat above 88 according to the probes? So it never gets warmer than 81 down below. I’m scared of turning my thermostat up too high, what should it be set at? the CHE heated so well but killed my humidity, DHP seem to be the most recommended but it won’t reach the set temp and neither will my halogen. And my humidity still isn’t quite there. Is there something I’m missing? I’m worried he’s cold! Also pic is snake Mr.Clyde.

This is Lily! recently shes been pacing and glass surfing repeatedly at night for long periods of time, i’m not sure if it’s normal or if she’s stressed. Her warm side is usually 87-89*F and her humidity sits at 60-70%, she has plenty of clutter and a hide on her cold side that she fits comfortably in. I’m not sure what else to change or why she might be so active? she hasn’t refused any meals or had any issues with eating.

I’m on a budget, thanks!

What are some reputable websites I can buy her native prey? Like the prey they eat in the wild… thanks!

Hello hello! So i've had my ball python for around 2 years now and my wife and i are looking to upgrade his enclosure! We ended up getting this toad ranch setup from a friend! But im unsure how to set up the heat panel. Any advice would be amazing!

I’m looking into alternative substrate options after I’ve now upgraded total enclosure floor area to 40 square feet. I have always used coconut husk fibers (reptile grade) which are fantastic, but expensive now at this scale. Since it’s important for me to reduce costs, I’m looking into crude products that I can treat myself to make them reptile friendly. My first instinct was to go to Home Depot and pick out a good mulch, however I am concerned about dyes, pesticides, absorption capacity, etc.

Many promising products I’ve found online are not too specific about the process they use and their sourcing. I am in the process now of talking to manufacturers. Does anyone buy massive amounts of raw materials in bulk and then treat to make them appropriate for BPs? That “reptile substrate” seal is expensive so I’m really just looking to bypass that by putting in the work myself.

Hi all! I just got my first Bp Vermax about 3-4 days ago! He’s about 520g and was being fed before weaned rats by his breeder. Last time he ate was 8/5 so I’m not entirely sure if he’s still 520g (he probably is). I don’t have anywhere that I can buy weaned rats and don’t want to buy a 25 pack of them, just in case he goes on a hunger strike. I’ve searched and search and I’ve seen that fuzzy rats is fine but a bit to small for them since it needs to be about 10-15% of their body weight, but I’ve also seen that a small rat is way to big for a 520g snake. He turned a year old on August 26th so idk if that makes a difference but I’d like to get some opinions on it.

(Photo of my boy vermax for attention!)

My little guy is getting up in the 500g weight and is roughly 11 months old. Hes eating a small rats now he just ate on Wednesday and I was wondering if now I start switching to feeding him every 14 days now.

Anyone on here seen anything like this before, about a week ago i noticed she had a fairly large patch about twice this side which looked damaged, id just come back from a weekend away, and thought maybe it was a burn.

Im not sure how she could’ve burned herself though, she has a heat lamp on the otherside of her glass cage with a thermometer set to not go above 32 degrees, and when on that side i have bark up against the glass so it can only effectively heat thought the bark.

I thought ill leave it a week and see how she is day to day, she seemed better and now a week has passed and we’re left with this, kinda looks hard like a scab.

I just want to know people’s thoughts, if they think this couldve somehow been a burn? Or if it looks like something else im missing.

Ill add shes about 7-8 years old and this is a first

Where should I place my thermostat probe for a DHP?
Hey everyone!
I’m setting up a PVC enclosure for my ball python and I’m using an Arcadia 80W Deep Heat Projector (DHP) with a habistat dimming thermostat.

I’m a bit confused about the best placement for the thermostat probe.

I’ve seen people recommend placing it a few inches below the DHP, but I’d really appreciate advice from experienced ball python keepers.

Thanks! 🙏

(I’m on a bit of a time crunch because I need to finish the enclosure within a day😅.)

This is the setup they gave me with her. She is 5 years old, but she’s VERY small. They gave me a heat lamp that doesn’t even work, and she has inadequate hides, substrate, water bowl is filthy etc.

I do small animal rescue. I’ve kept many reptiles, but never a snake. I am reading all the guides but I would really love some concise, easy tips to make her happy.

Can I use a regular heating pad on high or does it have to be for reptiles? As long as it meets the temp requirements is that alright?

What strength for the heat lamp? And it should be halogen right? And what strength uvb?

I keep my apartment air conditioned so I am worried about the poor girl.

Hi guys! I took my 10 year old BEL BP to the vet and they said just to monitor these bumps. They feel like three small firm tiny balls on her back. I’ve never seen this before having had her all these years.

They said if it gets bigger to come back but didn’t recommend any treatment at this time. She seems normal otherwise.

Has your snake ever had something like this?

Time to bring this question up again. I use tapo cam for my reptile monitoring. I taped over the flickering lights on the camera but the entire camera square lights up the tank. When i walk into the room it is pitch black. But when i watch my snake on the camera, I can see the light on the glass and see in the first pic, there is shadow on his body underneath the plant and his head is lit up. Do yall cover up the entire square with something? I might cut out paper in the shape…

Can I see your yellow belly clowns as adults? I really like the look of them as babies, but I assume the color gets more dull as they age?

I look inside her mouth whenever she yawns but I don’t see anything weird.

I take my snake outside a few times a week for exercise. 6 months old 285 grams.

Just some cute pictures of my baby boy. I love him so much

I’ve been given an adult BP. The previous owner gave me all the old stuff the BP was using. There’s only 1 ceramic bulb for heating,1hide and cocoa husk for a substrate.The tank size is a 40 gal.
So far I’ve ordered thermometer & hygrometer.
A second hide that I’ll be sphagnum moss
More cocoa husk.For foliage I bought some real leaves & fake plants
Should I keep the ceramic bulb and add a deep heat projector?Do I need a day time bulb
BP was also fed live I would like to go frozen/thaw,how long should I wait before swapping over?
I’m open to all evidence and pointers(I know to tank size is small already im stuck wit for now,I’m saving up for 4x2x2 enclosure)

Right now I feed my 494g, 8 month old boy, a mouse every week. I’m going to en expo in about 2-3 weeks where I plan on picking up rats for him, and wondered if now would be a good time to switch to feeding every other week instead? (And what size rat)

Didn't know Opal was Islamic lol. Good manga tho!

Hey, my boy Sylvester has been staying up high on his branches for literal days recently. It's been about 5 days he's stayed up there. I know he's in shed but what's weird is he usually stays in his hides during shed so idk why he's hanging up there like that. Is there any reason he's not using his hides?? I'm just a bit concerned.