First Snake

[kendracandraw]

I'm hoping to get my first BP in a couple weeks. I've been looking at a few local breeders, I'm near Dallas, TX, and if anyone has breeders to recommend please let me know. Before I get my snake I want everything set up correctly though. I'm thinking about going with the tub route for housing since everyone seems to be saying its easier and cheaper

I'm curious though because from what I've seen on UTH packaging is that they are only supposed to be used on glass aquariums. Yet I've seen people using them on the tub cages, so is it ok to use on a tub or is only a certain brand ok?

Does any brand of tub matter? Like is there a snake version or can i just go to target and get a sterilite bin?

Do I need two thermometers or just one over the hot side?

Honestly any help or tips you wish you knew when you got your first snake would be great, thanks guys!

[llovelace]

Welcome to BP.net

I'm hoping to get my first BP in a couple weeks. I've been looking at a few local breeders, I'm near Dallas, TX, and if anyone has breeders to recommend please let me know. Before I get my snake I want everything set up correctly though. I'm thinking about going with the tub route for housing since everyone seems to be saying its easier and cheaper

I'm curious though because from what I've seen on UTH packaging is that they are only supposed to be used on glass aquariums. Yet I've seen people using them on the tub cages, so is it ok to use on a tub or is only a certain brand ok? Your flexwatt will only be heating up to 90ish degrees, it won't melt the plastic tub.

Does any brand of tub matter? Like is there a snake version or can i just go to target and get a sterilite bin?Any sterlite will do

Do I need two thermometers or just one over the hot side? Definitely 1 for the hot spot, you could also use another one for cool side or ambient temps. Your best bet is an IR temp gun.

Honestly any help or tips you wish you knew when you got your first snake would be great, thanks guys!

[kendracandraw]

Alright so i'm probably getting a 30-40 qt bin, one of the long under bed varieties. What size UTH should I get? I'm going to go with the Zoomed heaters
( http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752652 ) Should I get the 10-20gallon one?

ETA: Also the snake i'm looking at is a baby, only 2 months old, so is that bin size too big? Should I go with something smaller for now?

[youbeyouibei]

That tub size is going to be waaaaaaaaaaay too big for that young of a ball. I'd say go with a 28 quart or so or smaller yet. You want to be able to provide a thermal gradient (warm area and cool area) so you want enough space to be able to do that correctly. As for that type of heat mat, I'd steer clear of them. I had one for my corn on his tank before I switched to tubs/racks and they're basically junk. I had great luck with a Cobra T-Rex heat mat for a UTH after I got rid of the ZooMed but that's just me. Do what works for you.

Here's the caresheet for a ball python and it has a lot more in-depth info that what I could write out without forgetting something.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

If you elect to use a tub/Sterilite, make sure to solder holes in the sides of it or drill them out to allow ventilation and heat exchange in the tub. You'll also want some way of securing the lid as they can push themselves out and the latches on those tubs shouldn't be the only thing securing them. Lot to digest, I realize, so hang in there and keep asking questions! This is the place to learn and there are great people here to help, so good luck!

[youbeyouibei]

Should've included this in the previous post but then if my head weren't attached most days...anyway, here's some info on setting up a tub and what you'd need to do it:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Basics...*DUW*

[kendracandraw]

That's what I've been following to get it set up but there's been a couPle things I still had questions abOut bin size fOr a foot long bAby Bp and what size uth mat would that size bin need?


Sorry about the awful typing...

[dogdayofsummer]

I would look into other heat recomended here, especially since you plan on getting set up ready before hand. At the moment I have a zoomeds for lizards and snake, yeah they work, but honestly I will be switching over. For all these pets they were rehomed with me and that is what they had when we got them. We have made good use of of them, but I feel they only provide just an adequate job. They seem kind of spotty on heat, and I feel like I am constantly checking them, hotter in the middle, not so much on the edges, etc.


Good luck and welcome, this place pretty much saved me and snake. I had to rush to get his set up stablized and he was a bit of mess. Now a bit longer than a month later, I have nice healthy ball. BTW I am just north of dallas.

[youbeyouibei]

That length of snake, I'd say 28 quart with two hides (warm side and cool side) and you should be fine. If he/she is nervous, you can always black out the sides of the tub with posterboard cut to fit and then taped over it to give it a more secure feeling. As to UTH size...4 quarts in a gallon and with a 28 quart tub, that'd be 7 gallons?, so if anything, a 10-20 gallon size UTH heater would be more than you'd need but that way you wouldn't be maxing out a smaller unit trying to heat the tub. Whatever you do, ABSOLUTELY get a thermostat to regulate the heat output/temperature of the UTH.

[kendracandraw]

What about heat cables like these?
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=3716152

Or this UTH http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=2752561?

Are there any stores I can buy the T-Rex Cobra one in or do i have to order it off the internet?

[kendracandraw]

Alright so I ended up getting 32qt bin at target, it was on sale and they didn't have anything between 16qt and the 32qt so I'll just make sure I get nice tight hides.

Since I didn't get any thumbs up on the zoo-med UTH, I'm now thinking about the Exoterra 8x8 heat mat.

I can't drop 100+ on a thermostat right now and I have the one everyone hates, the reptitherm or whatever, left over from my sisters red tail boa she had for a couple months. Again I know you've all given it bad reviews but if I get the hydrofarm could I use the other as a back up or just junk it?