Ball Python Questions

Kastrophee · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 48 Location: CA, USA

I have a ball python she is 7-10 years old and maybe 3-4 feet or so long.

Recently I changed her bedding to plain newspaper as the vet said I should and her underside started to look bad, I made the layers much thicker above her heating pad incase it where burns and it is too soon to tell if that did the trick. She also hasn't been eating lately, but she tends to do that every winter. I give her a bath very least every 3 days, I should do it more though. Any advice?

Edit: And I feed her adult mice, I dangle them by the tail in front of her and that usually gets her interested.
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**Justin** · Site Admin Joined: 13 Dec 2007 Posts: 96 Location: PA

I have heard stories about newspaper affecting snakes underbellies, but normally it only affects to cloaca area. Instead of newspaper you can try papertowles, easy to clean just like newspaper, and is very sterile. Did the vet tell you to use newspaper because of her belly or is her belly looking like that after the new change? Pictures could help. Pretty much the only other option, if the problem is the UTH, is to use a heat lamp instead.

Please keep us posted,
Justin
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1.1 ribbon snakes
1.1 albino checkered garter snakes
1.1 white sided rat snakes
0.1 ball python
0.1 blood python
0.0.1 savannah monitor

Kastrophee · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 48 Location: CA, USA

The belly problem appeared after the change, but I checked the heat pad and it was pretty hot so burns may be the answer, if it heals then I fixed it.
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aztec4mia · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 1

lets hope it turns out OK. why did the vet recommend the bedding change?, what did you have him on before, have you had him for the 7-10 years or did you just acquire him recently?, i used to use newspaper on my larger snakes but when they would go in and out of the water bowl the ink would stick to their bellies, so i am using graph paper now. though i still use aspen bedding for my BP's. and like it was mentioned earlier it would be great if you posted some pics for a visual.

Kastrophee · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 48 Location: CA, USA

My vet reccomended the bedding change and I had her on carefresh before (If this the right name).

And the only pics I have on the comp, but this is from before the problem:

(And I used ceder when these pics where taken, but that was only for a week or so till I found out it was bad)

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Andrew · Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Outer Banks of NC

it may just be the news print coming off the paper causing discoloration. a picture would give me a better indication of your problem. when you use a heat pad or heat tape you must regulate it w/ a thermostat or rheostat otherwise you run the risk of burning your animal. with a glass cage and screen top set up like you have it is difficult to properly regulate heat and humidity. if i was running a setup like yours i would use heat tape controled w/ a rheostat. You may find that shredded aspen is a great substrate that is very asthetic as well. also a piece of plexiglass covering 4/5 of the top of your cage will keep higher humidity. hope this helped!

Kastrophee · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 48 Location: CA, USA

Thanks, there was a small amount of blood and some nasty skin being shedded off. I want to fix the whole setup as I get money, so what type bedding do you suggest, something more natural looking will be my bet and as plexi glass for 4/5 of the top is good? Should the heat lamp be on the plexiglass or on the screen? Any tips about the set-up and using idiot proof explanations will be nice.

I am mostly a mammel person and probably should of not relied on petco care sheets when I got my reptiles, but I was a kid....
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Andrew · Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Outer Banks of NC

don't put a heat lamp on the plexiglass. heat lamps are very inefficient. use a heat pad or heat tape. and like i said use shredded aspen for the bedding.

Kastrophee · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 48 Location: CA, USA

I use both heat lamp and heat pad, heat lamp is only on for daylight hours. Thanks...
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**Justin** · Site Admin Joined: 13 Dec 2007 Posts: 96 Location: PA

leave the heat lamp on the screen. Paper towels is a good sterile bedding, very easy to clean and very inexpensive. As well as andrew had said, aspen shavings is a good substrate. You could do plexi glass on the top or you can use a dampened towel, or aluminum foil.

Justin
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1.1 ribbon snakes
1.1 albino checkered garter snakes
1.1 white sided rat snakes
0.1 ball python
0.1 blood python
0.0.1 savannah monitor

Kastrophee · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 48 Location: CA, USA

I think I will go with aspen shavings and plexi-glass as that is more cat proof then a towel or aluminum foil.
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Kastrophee · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 48 Location: CA, USA

Any temp recomendation for the heat pad? This is the first time I had a chance to ask reptile enthusiasts these questions...
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Andrew · Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Outer Banks of NC

hot spot can be in the high 90's... ambient temp should be about 85. you can use a simple rheostat, like you use as a light dimmer switch, wired to the heat source to control the temps. once you have it where you like it, mark it w/ a little fingernail polish... and that is where you maintain your temp. you need to invest in a good thermometer... or thermostat. w/ a thermostat you dont need the thermometer or rheostat. just set it and let it work.

yellowfang · Joined: 14 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

Something that works really well is a human heat pad set on low. I use it for almost all twelve of my snakes for a couple years. (four of which or ball pythons)

If you have a thick layer of aspen bedding then set it more for medium. Heat lamps also take out a lot of humidity though...which is something ball pythons like.

Why did the vet say to use newspaper? (I'm not a fan of carefresh for snakes, personally, but I do use a lot of aspen)

Yellowfang