Hi! For a couple of months now, I've been interested in getting a ball python as a pet, I find them wonderful little scaly, cute creatures and I have fallen in love with them! Over these past few weeks, I've done plenty of research, watched Youtube videos, read care sheets, articles, and I've even looked on the forums a couple of times (though this is the first time I'm making an account) recently, I've been concerned about setting up my future ball pythons enclosure. I decided to go with a tub set up, since they are more cheaper, easier to clean, and keep temperature/humidity well. I also went with a UTH. I bought my supplies today at Petsmart and Albertsons. Here's a list of what I got:


  • Zoo Med Repti Therm Reptile Under Tank Heater 10-20 gallon size, 8w x
  • Zoo Med Aspen Snake Bedding 10qt x
  • Zoo Med Reptile Terrarium Thermometer Humidity Gauge x
  • Zoo Med Reptile Terrarium Digital Thermometer x
  • Rubbermaid 15qt plastic tub x
  • Microban pet bowl (couldn't find an image for this one!)
  • One cave hide

I plan to get my ball python a few weeks from now, when Repticon shows up in my state. Worried about the conditions being perfect, I decided to set up my enclosure now to prevent any mistakes and make room for change before I purchase a bp.

First, I cleaned out the plastic tub and the water dish, as well as the hide. I dried them and I took out the digital thermometer. I placed the probe on the bottom of the tub on the "cool" side, and I stuck it on the wall of the tub. I then stuck the UTH on the "warm" side of the tub, covering about half of the tub itself. I filled the tub with some aspen. I made sure to cover the thermometer probe carefully. I placed the hide down, then the water dish (filled with water to mimik the conditions, and placed the thermometer/humidity gauge on the floor of the "warm" side. I plugged my UTH in, and closed the top. I still need to get a soldiering iron to make the holes in the top necessary for ventilation.

I let the UTH work its magic for a while, and I read the thermometer/humidity gauge and the thermometer on both sides. The "warm" side was around 75, but that was outside the hide. In the hide, it was around 85. The "cool" side stayed around 78. The humidity was around 60-70%, it was so high because I had not yet made ventilation holes with the iron. I know these are not the ideal habitat temperatures for a bp, and I knew something was off.

Looking at the results, I was very worried. First of all, I'm worried that the tub is too small, even for a baby bp. Secondly, I should have two hides instead of one, and I was thinking of making those out of plastic containers instead. I am also worried about the heating requirements. I have been a bit confused about that from the start. I tried asking an associate at Petsmart but she said she used a bulb for her ball pythons and couldn't give me any advice on UTH care. I am not sure what to use to regulate the UTH, nor how to set it up. What sort of temperature-keeping things do I need? And how many? Where should they be? I am really sorry if I sound ignorant about the subject, I am new to the world of bps and I really wanna make sure my first snake gets the necessary treatment and husbandry it deserves. I want to do whatever I can to make this a good enclosure for my future snake. Please help! It would be much appreciated!

PICTURES:


  • A picture of the tub set up x
  • The digital thermometer, it reads 78.5 degrees Fahrenheit x
  • A side view of the tub, thickness of the substrate x
  • Where the thermometer probe is placed x
  • The thermometer/humidity gauge on the warm side x


Again, I am really sorry if I seem a little lost, but I just wanna do my best and I can really use all of your help! Thank you! I'm sorry!