BP housing question

[deminon]

Hi, i'm going to be getting my first ball python sometime in January and was just curious as to which is better, a glass tank or a plastic tub? i have heard tubs are easier to control heat and such, so i just wanted some opinions on this.

[deminon]

BTW, im new to this forum, and i'm talking about a single tub, not a rack.

[Bo_]

we just got a bp (a few months ago) and started in a tank, but had the hardest time keeping the humidity high enough. We just switched to tubs ( got a boa this weekend) and the humidity is wiked good and the heat also. its also a lot easier to clean and is wiked open and the two snakes seem to like them.

Im no expert, but thats my 2 cents.

p.s we only have 2 tubs that are side by side an a single table, heated by flexwat.

[deminon]

what size tub shoud i use for a small ball, 16qt or so?

[missi182]

A 16 qt would work well, tubs are definitely easier to control overall but I love having tanks. If you do consider a tank - do yourself a hugeeeeee favor and make sure it is a short tank. I have used 6 different tanks between my two snakes in the last 2 years and right now I am having a 12 inch high tank made. This tank will be much easier to control compared to my 45 gallon now which is difficult to heat and keep humidity in at 20 inches tall.

[deminon]

my house is kept at about 65-68 degrees, i plan to use a heat mat for the hot side (not sure what kind yet, will have to see what i find at the store) and will get a thermostat soon after. now, how to i get the cool side WAY above 65? use a another heat mat?

[Wh00h0069]

I suggest going with a tub. Good luck once you get him / her.

[Argentra]

Ok, here is my say on the question:

TANKS: Not as hard to keep up as most people think. Yes, they take more work to stabilize...but once they're there, they stay there. Good insulation around the back and both sides as well as a good foil treating of the screen top do wonders to keep temps and humidity up in tanks. Tanks are nicer looking and glass is by far easier to clean than plastic. True, tanks are heavier and take up more space, but it's a small price to pay.

TUBS: Cheap, light, can be placed in racks. They come in a variety of sizes, thicknesses, and shapes. Real space savers, tubs are best for those with large collections and limited room as well as limited funds. They can be said to be easier to clean than tanks, since you can just lift the tub and take it to be sprayed down, but plastic can be hard to KEEP clean. Doesn't look very nice unless you really try to pretty it up.

In my experience, my tanks are more stable for temps and humidity than any of my tubs - in or out of racks. If someone would invent a metal 'rack' with tracks so you could pull out the tank on a shelf or something for cleaning, I would SO buy it! For now, most of my Ball pythons are going to be in tubs in racks due to space issues, but if ever I get the chance to put them in display cages or stackable tanks then that's what I'll do.

Sorry for rambling on...