Ok, before anyone throws a rock, I have to explain that I have had totally crappy advice on care of ball pythons. I've been told they need light, then they don't...do/don't need certain humidity, and one idiot told me they don't need heating pads. I should say I've been lucky that my bp has been doing this well since I've bought him home.

As far as the internet goes, there is plenty of conflicting advice and some books I've viewed even contradict each other! So, my big question here is: Can anyone recommend basic information/husbandry on ball pythons, or create a "care sheet?" Am I totally missing this on this forum? I really hope I'm not the most clueless person to post here. At least I don't have a picture of myself, so I can hide...

My cage is 30 x 12 x12 glass (Zilla line from P*tco), substrate (if you call it that) is newspaper changed twice a week, a bowl of water, heating element under tank, screen lid, and cardboard hide box. Bp eats two live mice in his cage every 7-10 days. Healthy shedder, never retained eye caps. I have no clue what the sex is.

Ugh. Now that's off my chest. Any advice is welcome, but please don't chew me out...

Here is a basic care sheet you can print out that i send with all snakes i ship out.
http://www.richsballpythons.com/care-richs-ball-pythons.html

Cage is perfect size for an adult male. Just be sure the heating pad your using is being controlled with a thermostat. Thermostats can range from low end 29$ up to 300$. These are a must as they set your mind at ease knowing temps will never spike.


Basic care i give out is on the link provided. You dont have to follow it to a T but its known to work VERY well. Its up to you to read your snakes body and fine tune it. My snakes dont like temps over 91 on the hot side. Some snakes like it hotter or cooler.

Thank you so much, Rich! I plan on some changes but sounds like I wasn't too far off...definitely getting a thermostat ASAP! I read somewhere on this forum that an Acurite digital was suggested (?). Should I get this as well?

My other concern is switching to a plastic storage enclosure. I'm paranoid about the thing melting or being a fire hazard. Obviously it works, as so many people use it. Is there a trick? Do the heaters emit a lower heat so as not to melt/burn the enclosure?

I don't mean to be the problem child Thank you again.

The acurite is a thermometer not a thermostat. It only reads the temperature. The thermostat will control your temps for you to precise temps.

And rubbermaid and sterilite plastic tubs are capable of with standing 200+F before they begin to warp/melt. So your perfectly safe and no need to worry about that.

No tricks at all just tape the flexwatt heat tape down on the shelf and then tape the thermostat probe on the flexwatt. Set your t-stat to the temps you want and your all set. Put the tub on the flexwatt and let it heat up and your golden.

Heres temps inside the tub on top of paper towels.


Heres temps under the paper towels.


T-stat is set at 90 on this rack

My mistake--thanks.

No problem Hope it all works well for ya.

I am going to purchase a heating mat/pad to use with a plastic tub. My BP sits atop of a bookshelf (short) and don't want heat marks on the shelf. Can I do this: Tape heating mat underneath/on the bottom of plastic tub, then put the tub on wood slats like 2 x 2's so it doesn't mar the bookshelf? Hope this makes sense...

Yes you can do that or use the spacers that most zoomed type heating pads come with to raise off surface.

Great, thanks again.