/r/ballpython

Photograph via snooOG

Python Regius. Royal Python. Ball Python. We love them by any name!

Welcome to r/ballpython, a community for ball python enthusiasts of all experience levels, from the prospective first-time owner to the veteran keeper. This is a predominantly discussion-based subreddit with a focus on raising husbandry standards. Photos and videos are also encouraged, so show off your ball pythons!


Be sure to read our welcome post for our rules and information resources!


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/r/ballpython

115,319 Subscribers

2

Lamp holders?

Are there any good alternatives to the arcadia ones? Everywhere I look seem to be out of stock or costs as much as the holder to ship, or am u better off just waiting?

1 Comment
2024/02/27
10:53 UTC

9

Hellu 👋

2 Comments
2024/02/27
07:41 UTC

2

New CHE Issue

Disclaimer: I do not have a snake at all yet nor any other living being at the moment relying on this tub. I am just running to get parameters right before getting a snake. I absolutely know this would cause severe burns which is why I’m asking how to fix it, but there is no snake in the tub to get burned. I wanted to say that at the beginning bc we are snake lovers here and I didn’t wanna worry anyone.

I got a 150W CHE (I’m using a tub temporarily for quarantine and however long after that it takes my PVC 4x2x2 enclosure to come in, so I was told that was the only way to raise ambient temps) and have it installed on my herpstat, but I’m still having issues. It’s installed in an 8.5” Flukers dome that says it is safe for CHEs. Ambient temps say 85 on the warm side and 73 on the cool side, but surface temps below the CHE (with it off so it doesn’t reflect heat coming from the CHE rather than the actual surface temps) are WAY too hot. The hide below it is 108 in some spots and the floor below reads as over 140 degrees (both with my infrared). I’m confused as to how it’s possible for it to make the floor so hot without raising ambients enough. The heat mat I was originally using is not plugged in, so it’s not from that, but there is aluminum HVAC tape on the floor there holding the UTH on. Is that why the surface temperatures are too high?

I just replaced the heat mat couple hours ago, maybe 3? Does it take longer to get ambients up? I obviously need to turn the CHE down by a lot (it’s at 89, probe is about 2.5” directly below the dome), but that would make the ambient temperatures even lower. My house is kept at 68-70* because I have a medical condition that causes fainting and brain function issues above that for too long. Still, I thought 150W would be enough to fix that. It isn’t even running at full power.

Am I doing something wrong? I’m so lost at this point as to how to get temperatures right at all. I’m using Acurite thermometers so I would assume they are accurate since so many people recommend them here, so I don’t think that’s my problem.

On top of all of that, my humidity on the cool side appears to be stuck at 31%. Higher than before the CHE but not even close to enough.

Edit to fix spelling mistake.

2 Comments
2024/02/27
06:52 UTC

6

how can i hold my bp more if she never comes out of her hides?

i want to hold my bp more bc ofc she’s my pet and i love her but also so she’s used to me and won’t be fearful towards me, but it’s super hard because she’s always in her hides. i know she goes out of them and climbs all around the cage at night, but if i try to stay up so i can get her while she’s out of the hide, it’s like she can sense me being awake and just won’t come out. i’ve tried so many things but unfortunately nothings working :( what should i do? would it be alright if i lifted up her hide and just lifted her out of there, or would that be too stressful for her?

5 Comments
2024/02/27
03:52 UTC

12

Not sure how she feels about serperior…

0 Comments
2024/02/27
03:38 UTC

2

DAYtime Temps For BALL python

So I made a post of my nighttime temps before, and after some of the tips from there, I have redone some things in my enclosure and I'm wanting some tips on your setup! And any tips on what i should do to improve mine. FYI: I'm going to get a halogen flood lamp tomorrow.

Warm Side ground ambient air temp

Setup - 150w intense basking spot bulb on left dome(soon to be Halogen bulb)- 80w Arcadia DHP on right dome- 60w CHE on left side of tank

Warm Side surface temp

Warm Side ambient air temp

Cold side ambient air temp

Cool Side ground ambient air temp

Basking spot surface temp

Warm hide temp

cool side surface temp

cool side hide temp

0 Comments
2024/02/27
03:10 UTC

5

Snake gets scale rot easily

I have a snake that gets scale rot easily I don’t know how he keeps getting it but what can be done? His humidity is around 70% and he has a humid hide my other ball python never gets scale rot and is more tolerant to humidity.

1 Comment
2024/02/27
03:03 UTC

1

Handling advice

I've had my BP for just over a month now, I want to start handling him after his 3rd feeding. I'm just not sure where or how to start, since the last snake I held was 5-6 years ago, and well socialized. I was told when I got him that he was moody. The day I got him he climbed up my arm, but I haven't interacted with him since besides once when I had to move him out of the tank to fix something with the tank that I realized would be a problem. Any advice would be appreciated.

0 Comments
2024/02/27
02:49 UTC

2

Im scared my snake might have scale rot

I had noticed this brown spot on my snake today and im scared it might be scale rot. My substrate isnt too humid its as it should be. My snake had slept in his hide with feces in the corner (i cleaned it as soon ad i saw it, it is my fault. I will be checking more often after feeding) so im not sure if that can be the cause if the discoloration. The substrate could be the culprit aswell but im not sure. Could it be part of the regular skin pattern and im just freaking out? Not sure, but it could simply be bad husbandry. If it is that, please tell me what to do, what i should purchase, and whatnot. I need to keep my snake in good condition. I love him so much. Hes around 11 months old, so hes still young. I try keeping the humidity around 70% - 80%, it will occasionally drop to around 50% - 60% at times but ill quickly bring it back up. He lives in a 40 gal tank with two hides, a heating lamp and two water bowls, one being bigger. Im sorry if this paragraph is all over the place i suck at paragraphs

2 Comments
2024/02/27
02:37 UTC

1

Is this a correct heating arrangement for day heating?

2 Comments
2024/02/27
02:27 UTC

2

Scale rot and bioactive

I noticed these knotch marks that based on other posts ive seen look indicative of the start of scale rot. Started treating yeterday with betadine baths and triple antibiotic. My issue im having is that my encolosure is bioactive with isopods and springtails, which means im less keen to throw out all of the substrate without concrete info. Im creating a quarantine enclosure so that i can put her on paper towels in there, and im willing to deep clean the enclosure itself. My question is what should i do with the substrate, throw it out?

Also any ideas to help mitigate in the future? Her humidity stays at 60-80 depending on the lights and what side of the enclosure. I pour water in the corners besides where her hides are, misting only plants and not the enclosure itself. There is a plant nearby her cool hide (favorite) that could be the cause but plainly im out of ideas at the moment.

2 Comments
2024/02/27
01:26 UTC

2

Ball python ate piece of bark

My ball python has just finished her rat and I noticed when she opened her mouth to realign her jaw she had a piece of thinner bark in the roof of her mouth. I don’t really want to mess with her to get her mouth open since she just finished eating. Will it be okay? I use biodude substrate terra firma and it has thinner longer pieces of bark in it. She’s about 900 grams at least at this point maybe even 1000 for reference of size. Husbandry is good with hot side about 90 and a temp gradient to about 78-80 on the cooler side. I mist enclosure 2-3 times a day depending on time of year and dryness in my area. Does have Arcadia uvb as well

0 Comments
2024/02/27
00:40 UTC

11

She just wants to say hi 🥺

1 Comment
2024/02/26
23:45 UTC

2

can someone PLEASE tell me what this is?

i’m taking her to get checked regardless but this is giving me anxiety 😭 i’ve only noticed it today while feeding her and she had mild scale rot months ago that we took care of but is this the same thing???

2 Comments
2024/02/26
23:01 UTC

2

Is my snake still hungry?

I literally fed her a week ago, and then a new rat today that is the right size for her body but she’s sitting in striking position after she finished eating 20 minutes ago and hasn’t retreated to her favorite hide where she usually goes right after eating.

She’s tracking my movements when I walk past her tank and has struck the glass toward my hands.

She’s never done this before and I’m concerned maybe she needs a larger sized rat. Or more frequent feeding.

4 Comments
2024/02/26
22:41 UTC

9

orbs cosplaying as a tree python

0 Comments
2024/02/26
23:15 UTC

9

dubia tanks..

just got my first tank from dubia.com and.. i think i’m gonna continue to get my Apex tanks😭 this is honestly the worst time i’ve ever had with assembly.. do they not think of people who live in apartments 🥲 anyways just here to say that yes they might be the cheapest but so far i’m underwhelmed.

7 Comments
2024/02/26
23:02 UTC

4

BP refuses to eat

So my BP hasn't eaten since January 2nd, any tips or suggestions to get him to eat? Wasted 2 rats already. Only feed frozen as no live available near me. Not sure what else to do.

3 Comments
2024/02/26
22:58 UTC

22

tofu fettuccini says hi! <3

1 Comment
2024/02/26
22:48 UTC

2

New set up

What yall think ?

0 Comments
2024/02/26
22:25 UTC

3

Lucy enjoys the warm weather

0 Comments
2024/02/26
21:53 UTC

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