I’ve recently taken a roughly 5 year old ball python from former roommates due to them not taking care of it properly.

I’ve had him for 2 weeks now. I’m a beginner and have just been trying to give him better living conditions. I am worried that he may have some sort of respiratory infection. I can hear his breathing more than usual and he has been opening his mouth frequently seemingly to breath. The exotic vets are closed.

His prior living conditions: His tank wasn’t being regularly cleaned or spot cleaned. His heat lamp was not working for at least a month if not longer, so I am not sure whether or not the household temperature was warm enough as Cali weather has been very cold lately. I am almost certain he was likely in temps 60s and below. I often would find him without water (bone dry). They were not knowledgeable about how ball python’s need to be kept in higher humid conditions so he has lived mostly his whole life without proper temperatures and humidity. His last feeding with them he did not eat. He has already eaten though in the first week of me having him. He is familiar with me as I was their roommate for 3 years and handled him regularly because he otherwise did not receive any attention.

I am still learning. I’ve never owned a snake or reptile so I know that I’m not getting everything right just yet, but here are his current living conditions with me. He is 4 feet in a 31x12x12 tank (what he’s been in for the last 3 ish years). Currently aspen bedding planning to change to coco reptichip. He’s only known aspen. For the last week I got him a heating mat and a ceramic heat lamp. I’ve given him a couple of soaks because I’m concerned it’s not humid in his current setup and I don’t want him to get dehydrated. His heat mat and lamp are plugged into temp control with probe. His temp doesn’t really reach the temp I have set which is 88. It usually hovers around 70–75 sometimes reaching 80-85 if the heat in the house is running also. I’ve been just trying to see how other people do it via YouTube and articles. I’m still acquiring things to try and create a more humid environment and hoping to get him bigger tank. I wasn’t financially prepared to take him on but I couldn’t leave him where he was so I don’t have loads of money to do it up but I’m trying. He is currently about to go through a shed I believe as his eyes are fully covered. I’m worried that he doesn’t like the ceramic lamp above because he doesn’t really come out of his hide. I’m so nervous about burning him or hurting him. I’m still trying to properly understand his behavior because up until now having taken on the responsibility of him I didn’t know so many things that I’ve just learned.