First BP- Is this setup ok?

[NotAnotherHonda]

hey guys, my names Tommy. Ive been a member on here for a few days, and Ive been searching and educating myself about BP's for a while now. I'm about to pick up my first snake tomorrow from a breeder here in Tallahassee (ssnakes.com). Nothing expensive, looking for about $100 ranged).

anyways, i put this setup together the past few days and wanna make SURE that this snake will be ok in it.

here are some pics







the other side (the hot side WILL have another hide, but Ill get that tomorrow.

the substrate is still damp, so the humidity levels are prolly higher than they should be. how does it look? Im prolly gonna ditch this CVS heat pad and go with something a lil more reliable. suggestions?


THANKS GUYS. I can't wait. oh, i have a branch (that i put in the oven and cleaned already) that Ill put in the cage as well.

[Topher]

You will definately want your temps higher then they show on the thermometer. About 82 cool side, and 92 warm side. Otherwise, things look good. I used to decorate my BP's cage, till I realized he hardly ever came out of his hides. Now its newspaper, some plastic hides and a dog bowl in a sterilite tub in the closet.

[jenakle]

This is a lot like my current set up
Warning: man that dirt stuff is a pain to clean up though!
I've tried cypress and brick-o-dirt and the chunkier repti-bark stuff. I'm using aspen now...think I like the look of cypress better and it has a nice hold on the humidity.
I found it helps in spot cleaning/partial cleans to keep newspaper under the substrate...no matter what kind I use, it's the only way to ensure I've cleaned up all the urine.

[NotAnotherHonda]

thanks! yea, i think im gonna switch to aspen asap. this stuff seems hard to get/hold heat. plus like you say, waste is a lil harder to see.

im thinkin about throwin something in there for him to climb on. this guys loves to climb!!!

[jenakle]

Also, welcome to the world of worrying about humidity
That dirt/coconut stuff will start off humid as all get out, but once it dries, it's much like other substrates..you get to spray a lot. I use a humidifier in the house when it's dry like this and I'm still spraying daily. I'm reconfiguring how to cover up most of the screen, since I want it to come off easily as well. Easy way out is some type of plastic over the majority, and lay off the lights...but a red bulb seems to be the best way to keep ambient temps up on my tank (until I get the cash for another uth and rheostat).

[NotAnotherHonda]

yea i have to do SOMETHING, cause my cold side is like 70!!! heat light i guess ?(on the hot side only of course)

[jenakle]

I gave up and ordered another thermostat and heat mat

[djslurp1200]

yea i have to do SOMETHING, cause my cold side is like 70!!! heat light i guess ?(on the hot side only of course)

Yeah, that flourescent isn't giving off any heat at all. a 75w-100w heatlamp/ceramic heat emitter would give you that extra bump in heat you need. Either one of those and covering half the screen with some aluminum foil taped over the top should have you right where you should be heat and humidity wise.

I will say the shredded coconut bedding is rather messy when your first setting up your tank but I myself love the way it looks with all the branches and hides in place.

Other than that your tank is coming along great! Can't wait to see it all done!

[NotAnotherHonda]

thanks guys! i switched to aspen last night and it sure does look cleaner. ill get a bulb this weekend, and ill tape up half the top as instructed haha

thanks alot!!!

[NotAnotherHonda]

update: i read in the husbandry sticky that in glass tanks, some sides should be covered up tp prevent stress on the snake (prolly helps a lil w insulation too), so i cut up some cardboard and tapes them to the sides, so theres only the front to see out of for the snake. plus, i read in the same sticky that people use 3 layers of tin foil to help temps and humidity on the hood, so i did that too. heres some pics







and heres the het ghost who has yet to be named haha