New to herps! Am i missing something?

[jacobthomason]

Hello,

New to the hobby, was looking to get 4 inch flexwatt heat tape with the wire/clip/insulator( from reptilebasics) for a 16qt tub housing a baby cornsnake or ball python ( havent decided). With one face of the flexwatt taped to the tub, will it be safe to leave the tub on carpet or is that a fire hazard?

I am on a tight budget and so far am recycling an old tub, making my own hides, gonna use old newspaper for bedding However some stuff im missing: can you guys give me recommendations w/ price ranges?

- a good inexpensive thermostat w/ probe
- a good inexpensive rheostat ( my house temp ranges from 68-73 F)
-I live in Los Angeles, where can i get affordable mice on an individual basis? i wont want to be keeping mice in the freezer and buying in bulk just doenst seem to make sense with 1 snake in hand

am i missing anything else? thanks for the help in advance!

[jjsnakedude]

I would say if you are sure you are only going to get 1 snake or 2 then go to cages not tubs because people use tubs to hold more snakes and stuff like that. If you still want to go with the tub i would not put it on the carpet. I have a quarantine tank that is on a table then a towel, then a bord of plywood and then at the end to 1/2 inch wide small strips of plywood on each end of the tank so that the tank is of the ground. Just do the same thing with the tub. Also keep in mind that the tub will have to be replaced as your snake grows.

Im still a newbie myself but I dont think you need a term. and a rheos. together, just a therm.

Most thermostats are in the 100+ range. I just barely unwrapped one of my presents today and one was a Helix DBS-1000 Thermostat that cost 135.00. Other good ones are Ranco and Herpstat.

[steveboos]

A Ranco thermostat with 6 outlet surge protector from Reptile basics is $75 so that is the cheapest, best one you can get. I use one and i love it to death, definitely better than my rheostat i was using.

As far as mice is concerned, i would see if you have a breeder near you buy asking on the for sale forum here or craigslist.

[snakesRkewl]

No to carpet, bad idea even plugged into a t-stat.

I would put the flexwatt onto a shelf of some sort and sit the tub onto it.
Taping the flexwatt to the tub makes for a hassle cleaning the tub.

Make sure you have the flexwatt plugged into a t-stat, straight plugging them into a wall flexwatt can get 120+ degrees.

Rats think rats

[Kaorte]

The problem with putting the tub on carpet is that there would be no air flow under the tub, which you need.

If you just have one snake, a reptitemp 500r thermostat will be just fine. It is hard to find in store so you will probably have to purchase online. If you have a thermostat, you don't also need a rheostat.

[jacobthomason]

Thanks for all the replies so far!

Im sorry i must have confused everyone what i meant to say was that I would just purchase a rheostat ( instead of a tstat) and get a thermometer to measure temps ( i think Acurite was the affordable one everyone was recommending in other threads?)

Would a Rheostat be suitable if my room temps were 70F during the day and 65F at night?

[jacobthomason]

bump anyone?

[Kaorte]

If your room temps fluctuate at all you will have problems with the dimmer. Just save yourself the trouble and buy a thermostat. It is worth the money.

[jacobthomason]

Oh alright im considering the Repti500 (its 30$) more of my price range I believe, and would it be better to get an acurite thermometer or use the infrared "gun" thermometers?

On a side note: is it true that for cornsnakes a dimmer is ok? ( room fluctuates 70F daytime-60F night time)

Thanks!