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Wow, your roommate sucks. Thank you for being willing to help this poor snake!
You can get a cheap plastic tub at Target (or similar) and use a couple bungee cords to reinforce the lid locks. The 27.5 gal Sterilite bin is $15 and can support a 4 foot snake (bulls would prefer a bit more space, but this will meet its needs in a pinch). If you can find a clear Christmas tree storage tub, that would work even better size-wise, but they're hard to come by this time of year.
Yes, they do need a hot spot at all times of the year. She'll be okay if you need some time to gather supplies, just hold off on feeding her. If you do get a plastic tub, you'll need to use a heat pad (can buy from any pet store, they're not expensive) and thermostat (all heating elements can reach dangerous temperatures if left unregulated). You want a hot spot of high 80s. Throw that heat rock into the garbage right now, they are dangerous and ineffective.
Ambient humidity is usually just fine unless your area is super dry. You can use a spray bottle to bump it up, though. If you use a substrate like coco husk, cypress mulch, or a bark blend, that will help retain moisture if you're having trouble.
Reptile-specific rescues are few and far between, but they do exist. You would probably have better luck posting on a FB group - look for some combination of "[your area] + reptile/snake" and you will likely find something! Sometimes people have even successfully rehomed snakes through posts on this sub.
Good luck!
Nice video. You covered basically everything I bring. I ended up buying a cart on Amazon though and it's made my life 10x easier. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BUUUIGK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also bring bug spray because I've been outside with bugs a few times and there's nothing more miserable than getting eaten alive when you're trying to focus on shooting.
A small power strip comes in handy so you can charge multiple devices at the same time.
Drinks were something I forgot only once.
Noticed you didn't have a light. I just got a smaller one and I loved it for my last shoot. Was an Aputure Amaran AL-F7.
It a food composter for the garden. It spins so that it will Mix and rot evenly.
IM4000 Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009378AG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_318G5MG1JDPMC8FPXYQG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Keep your heat mat on a thermostat! Check Amazon for the Hydrofarm Jumpstart. Do this ASAP, before anything else. Snakes don't feel pain the same way we do, and they have been known, commonly, to literally cook on an unregulated heat mat. Jumpstart
Make sure you have lots of clutter in that tank, and at least two hides which would be relatively snug fits. It is a very large tank for a young BP. Use black/dark paper to cover the back and sides of the tank. BPs like to feel safe, and that will help especially since the tank is so large.
Moving around at night is normal. They are nocturnal creatures. Being nocturnal, you should look into switching the lamp to a ceramic heat emitter (think light bulb, but without the light, only heat). Artificial light is unnecessary for them.
Don't handle them for 36-48 hours after feeding. You don't want to stress them and cause them to regurgitate.
Try to keep temps around 82, even at night, and no higher than 88 or so during the day
Congratulations on your successful composting! I too have a small city lot. What may work well for you is a dual-chamber tumbling compost bin like the YIMBY which is 37 gallons total. Or for something larger (100 total gallons), a Mantis or Lifetime model. If possible, consider buying one off Craigslist. It takes a good long while to assemble a YIMBY. Had mine for about four years, and it made fine compost and was sturdy. I only sold it because I switched from traditional composting to worm composting.
No it won't really give belly heat, you need a heating pad for a ball generally, and they are literally not usable without a thermostat. I got one for $18 on Amazon and it works fine. This isn't exactly it but close:
https://www.amazon.com/MTPRTC-ETL-Certified-Thermostat-Germination-Reptiles/dp/B000NZZG3S
Sure, i use the test drops, I don’t use any pH pens and I’ve never had a single issue. Although there’s nothing wrong with pH pens they’re just a little expensive. Here’s a link for the kit I use to test pH
General Hydroponics pH Control Kit for a Balanced Nutrient Solution https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NC28GPNWV0KR7GPSFE25?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
7a here! I was thinking the same thing. I finally broke down and put some cardboard boxes over the few annuals I had planted. I wouldn't have planted annuals yet, but they were birthday gifts. I did just move my whole greenhouse shelf thing outside this past weekend because my seedlings just weren't getting enough light to thrive inside. It's all zipped up but I'm a little worried... But probably not worried enough to carry it all back inside again.
I figured. Those are extremely inaccurate. Your best bet would be to either get a nice pH pen or some of the GH pH test drops.
You can get them with the pH up and down kit, like this, or separately:
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/
OP’s look just like one I just got from Amazon. I haven’t set it up yet, though.
Gardman R687 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse, 27" Long x 18" Wide x 63" High https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NCTGQE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_.jjUFbFAQJSRZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
You know your limits better than anyone else, but really, we're all here cheering you on. Once you get the tools you need for a snek, they're so easy to care for, and they are wonderful pets. My snake was out last night and both my roommates got to hold her for the first time. She also chose to perch her head on my roommates thumb for a straight 90 seconds and I basically died of how cute it was.
Just because corns are easy doesn't mean that you were born with the knowledge to care for them. A thermostat from amazon will regulate your temps for you and then you can rule out the temps being an issue. Feeding is probably the most stressful part, but with patience,that can be overcome too. All snakes can go long periods of time without eating, so a couple more weeks of trial and error won't make him any worse for wear. You can do it!
I don't recommend the ones with them built in. Do you have a glass tank? When I had glass tanks I used an appropriately sized Zoomed Reptitherm heat mat, and used this thermostat from amazon. it's cheap and does the job well enough. I still use that one for my quarantine enclosure and I've had no issue with it.
If you want to get the best thermostat you can, spyder Robotics makes really nice ones. I use a Herpstat 2 for my ball pythons and it's fantastic, very safe and reliable.
That yellowing is because she is hungry. Go spend $36 on Amazon and order a nutrient kit. Use half the recommended label amount and she'll grow big. Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient Trio Soil Formula https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00572026S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_PgGIzbS5S8E0V
1) I think you're missing his joke. Look again at his post.
2) Good advice, though easier for most people is to buy a simple $15 soil testing kit and do it yourself. They're available all over, even from Amazon, and give you all the info you need. I use this one and have been happy with it. One purchase and I've been using it several years now.
We are going camping with our 1 year old for Memorial Day weekend camping this year so I'll be following this for other ideas! We are going with my coworker and all their friends (and their friend's friends) so there will be a huge group with us. But, here are the things that we plan on bringing!
- tent (my sister has a HUGE tent that she is letting us borrow) and footprint for underneath
- 1-2 Tarps for bad weather
- air mattress and pump
- pack and play w/ sheets and extra blankets/sleeping bags
- easy up canopy
- a head lamp (looks dorky but being able to do things hands free in the dark sounds great to me)
- a battery powered lantern
- tons and tons of clothes and different layers - Extra sweatshirts and extra socks
- a collapsible wagon like this one (Collapsible Wagon - Amazon)
- WIPES, all the wipes
- camping chairs
- Bug spray and sunscreen
- First aid kit with extra bandaids
- Extra batteries
We are also bringing a stroller because we are going to a festival in a nearby town. Otherwise, I wouldn't bring it.
To address your first question, rats and mice are different. If the breeder said she's eating ft (frozen thawed) hopper mice, then you shouldn't have any issues feeding her a small mouse. That is, if her set up is correct. Ball pythons don't ever really need to be eating mice to be honest. I know there are more differences between rats and mice than I'll get into here, but for one mice have higher fat than rats while rats are higher in protein and that's important for a growing ball python hatchling. She'll soon grow out of mice entirely so you should switch her to rats as soon as you can. But try to get her to eat what the breeder says she's been eating first.
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Your comment about the temperature makes me concerned that you don't have a thermostat for your heating. You need to buy one immediately. This regulates the temperature of your heat mat. Otherwise (like you mentioned) it's going to get hot and stay hot. 103 is WAY too hot. You want to have her warm side at around 91. This amazon link is a very reliable brand of thermostat that a lot of people in the reptile community use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NZZG3S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 You should also get a temperature gun if you don't have one to accurately check the temperature regularly and make any necessary adjustments.
Ok your PH are way high. I’d recommend a ph balancing kit. You want it between 5.5 and 6.5. I got a good one from general hydroponics. this kit it’s about what I paid but you may be able to save a dollar or two by looking around online a bit. I got mine on eBay.
I use one that I buy off Amazon and it works great! https://www.amazon.com/Luster-Leaf-1601-Rapitest-Soil/dp/B0000DI845/ref=lp_3480689011_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1538146559&sr=1-2
You local university may also have a lab where you can send a sample for testing. They usually do not cost much https://ag.umass.edu/soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory/fact-sheets/sampling-instructions-for-routine-soil-analysis
Okay. You don’t need any lights, I was just making sure you didn’t have any. Temp on the warm side should stay around 90 F. If you don’t have a thermostat for your uth, you need to get one. I have this one: (https://www.amazon.com/MTPRTC-Controller-Thermostat-Germination-Reptiles/dp/B000NZZG3S). You should also get a temp gun.
As far as hides go, you should have at least 3, one hot, one cool, and a moist hide. Even if they aren’t shedding, it’s good to keep one out at all times. Make sure he isn’t on loose substrate, I prefer tile or paper towel. And you should keep a pure calcium supplement out at all times. Just put some in a milk cap.
Here is my set up: https://imgur.com/a/lQAeCac
It’s very plain and I’m actually going to be buying some more stuff to put in soon, but it can give you an idea of the basic necessities.
IM4000 Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009378AG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_Z3FWQ3265MTNR6JMCZCX
We’ve been working with this since the end of September. It’s a manual tumbler—nothing real fancy. We did put too many brown paper bags that weren’t broken down enough in at one point, but it looks like we are back on track now.
Im shure there is one. I was suprised to find one in my area. But id go ahead and order fox farm nutrients. And for now just ho get cheap gardening nutrients at ur local supermarket.
https://www.amazon.com/Fox-Farm-FX14049-Nutrient-Formula/dp/B00572026S get those
Get some ph strips, i believe lemons require a slightly acidic soil but don’t quote me on that. general hydroponics PH control kit can help.
I have used one similar to that, with good results. (The one you linked actually looks nicer.) Fair warning though, they are a pain in the butt to assemble. If you can buy a used one that someone has already put together, it will save you money and a good amount of aggravation.
I’m not following, are you saying you aren’t doing it at all and it’s getting away from you because it hurts your back to do it?
Try something like this
This is what I use. You can usually find them at local garden centers or even Walmart.
Luster Leaf 1601 Rapitest Test Kit for Soil pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potash
This is the one I got of Amazon 3 or 4 yrs ago. Think I paid 15 at the time. Price went up a little. Never had any need for the pH UP part of it. Don't break the bank on anything pH related. These buffers literally cost companies pennies to make.
If you can get a cheaper aquarium version. Go for it.
6.5 is about my upper limit on pH. I have an air disc and reservoir fed DWC system in place. One thing I do is check my pH in the buckets daily (or 2-3 times a day), and I have noticed that the pH tends to go up over time. Different chemicals get absorbed at different rates based on the pH. I take mine down to about 5.5, 5.6, then leave it. I let it climb back up to 6.5 (2-3 days), then take it back down to 5.5. This helps ensure absorption of the full spread of nutes. I use these chemicals to adjust the pH.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_Ak1bGb3B6YPKW?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I also bought one and set it up today.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NCTGQE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I always get a second opinion from a solution sample and the pH test drops. Like you, I often second guess the meter.
These are the drops that came with the pH Up/Down solutions: