some really newbie questions - for a newbie

[First_Phantom]

okay, ive decided that i want a ball python and have been reading all over the forums about how to care for them all day long. there is a reptile show in tampa this weekend, tomarrow being the last day, so i want to act fast in getting my tank setup today so i can go to the show tomarrow and purchase my python.

i am confused about thermostats. i am not smart with electronics and such and the only thermostats i have ever seen were the ones to heat/cool houses.

how do thermostats work with under tank heaters? i am familiar w/ the heaters, i have a frog and use one for it. but how do they work with the heaters and where can i buy one. can someone please go into detail for the dummy.

my plan was to get a tub setup for my python. my next question is what is the easiest/ best way to ventilate the tub. I was guessing i could just cut a large hole in the lid and cover the hole with a small metal mesh cagey type deal and then duct tape that down to the lid realy good. does that sound like a good idea?

and then there is the digital thermometer. should i have the thermometer sitting on the outside w/ the little metal sensor connected to the wire on the inside of the tub?

i know these are pretty common sense questions but i figured it is better to make sure i know what im doing 100%

thanks for the help guys

[JamieLynn]

i am confused about thermostats. i am not smart with electronics and such and the only thermostats i have ever seen were the ones to heat/cool houses.

how do thermostats work with under tank heaters? i am familiar w/ the heaters, i have a frog and use one for it. but how do they work with the heaters and where can i buy one. can someone please go into detail for the dummy.

Most can be found online, but otherwise I wouldn't know what to tell you.
How it works is you plug your heating device into it, and set the temp, the t-stat plugs into the wall, giving you better control of your heat.

my plan was to get a tub setup for my python. my next question is what is the easiest/ best way to ventilate the tub. I was guessing i could just cut a large hole in the lid and cover the hole with a small metal mesh cagey type deal and then duct tape that down to the lid realy good. does that sound like a good idea?

and then there is the digital thermometer. should i have the thermometer sitting on the outside w/ the little metal sensor connected to the wire on the inside of the tub?

Do not cut a hole in the lid of the tub and use duct tape to secure it, Pythons are great escape artists and will get out! Either use a drill and put holes around the top edge of the tub, or use a wood burner to burn the holes in. Also you will need to be sure the lid is secure, a larger snake can easily escape most tubs, a smaller one would be ok with the tubs that have locking lids (the ones with the clips)
You will need a thermometer/hydrometer for at least one end of the tub, to check ambient (over all temp/humidity) and another for just the hot spot.
Also what type of bedding do you plan on using there are some things that can cause illness, or death (like pine)



I like to leave you with a little drawing of a tub set up

_________________________________________ lid
\ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . / row of holes in the tub
. \[hide]_____________________[water]_____/
. .{-----------} hot spot

you can also add a second hide if the tub size will allow




Welcome to BP.net

[First_Phantom]

thanks for the reply

i was planning on just doing some paper towels or news paper to start with. i may upgrade to repti bark in the future. i am aware that some substrates can cause problems so i will definately watch what i put in there.

[First_Phantom]

oh and also you mentioned that when they grow up they can escape the clip on lids of tubs easily. how do I secure it to make sure they cant get out

[llovelace]

You can get a lamp dimmer from home depot (a rheosat) in the electrical dept. made by levitron, and to prvent escapes I put weights on top of my enclosures (that aren't critter cages with locks).

[First_Phantom]

excelent! thx love. heres another question. what size tub is ideal for a baby sized snake? at what length of my snake do i want to upsize my tub (ive read that 32 quart tub is good for an adult male?) i do not have anyway of measuring the weight of my snake in grams so i will have to go by length.

[JamieLynn]

A hatchling would be fine in a 6qt tub
A juvinile would be fine in a 15gt tub
An adult male in a 28qt tub
A small adult female in a 32qt
A large adult female in a 41qt

I wouldn't know by length, only by weight.

The maturity is measured by weight, so a scale is a must have.
Also you will need to keep records. How often you snake eats, poops, sheds, its weight every couple months or so.

[First_Phantom]

here is what i have so far for my tank. not exactly eye pleasing but i dont think the snake will know the difference. he/she is just lookin for the right conditions i would imagine.

so i got my temps strait, no problems there. my humidity is a little low...would misting w/ a spray bottle a few times a day solve that problem?

is my hide too big? could i go smaller? because i think if i add another hide the same size the snake wont have much room outside its hide's

is this tub large enough? it is 31 quart but alittle tall. i plan on getting a juvinile tomarrow at the reptile show.

[Buttons]

One of those thermometers needs to be inside the tub.

[Bruce Whitehead]

This is the size I keep all my babes in, up to around 400g...

That is a 6 qt plastic shoebox he is in.



Juvie... in a 12qt rubbermaid.



sub adult - adult.

Get that hide with the tape on it out of there. Just pick up a cereal bowl from the dollar store. Moisture, heat, and snake will get you a snake wrapped up in tape... seriously.

The probe of your thermometer goes under your warm hide, and the unit sits on the cool side. You only need one.



Good luck on the snake.

Bruce