I Just Don't Want Him To Die

[thejohnbob]

I just got my bp 2 weeks ago, and I lov em. I fed him last Friday and since then I've noticed some things. This is the first bp I've had and the pet store guy was an idiot so I need help. I noticed that he is kinda feeling stiff, he's not moving as fast as he used to for the first week I had him. Last night he stayed in the same position the whole night with his head up on the glass. And now he won't go to the hot side of the tank or sit on the heat pad. Is any of this normal? He also has not pooped yet (but I have seen that might be normal)

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

[ssjsmits]

What cage temps do you have?

[thejohnbob]

Well on the cool side air temp is 70ish, I put a thermometer on the heat pad side on the ground, and its 80-85

[ssjsmits]

70ish as in low 70's, high 70's? Do you own a temp gun? Thermometers don't measure surface temps. Your basking area could too warm. If your basking area is 80-85, you might want to rethink you husbandry a little and do some tweaking. You need to try and keep basking temps at a fairly consistent setting.
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What's your humidity like?

[thejohnbob]

I don't own a temp gun, Not sure on humidity the guy at the pet store told me just to spray the substrate lightly with water in the morning. "it should feel like dew" he said.

[ssjsmits]

Get a device for measuring humidity. Preferably one that is digital. And I highly recommend a temp gun.

[razeraze]

Sounds like you may be making the snake too wet and too cold. You need to run out right now and get a digital thermometer and hydrometer.

[thejohnbob]

I can agree with the cold thing, the substrate stays "dew like" for about an hour then its dry. I have a digital thermometer stuck to the tank, and I have a glass thermometer to measure the ground.