Soon to be new owner.

[TraviZ]

Hello, my name is Travis, or TraviZ if you will, I have had my eye on a bp for a few weeks now, actually it started last year but that idea died, but recently since i've moved and am more settled, It has been bugging me again to get a snake! I am just looking for some pre-setup advice before I pick the critter up. And I wanted to hear it from you professionals.
So far I have a 20 gal tank picked out, with aspen bedding, two wood hideouts, a water bowl big enough for his body to fit in(correct?) and a tree decoration somewhere in the middle and branched up for him(or her) to play on. I would like some more advice on heating and cooling for my baby to be.. I understand I should put a heat pad under the tank on one side and some light on the other side from above? what kind of light should I get? I saw lots of choices from 100-150watt bulbs and infrared that can be left on all the time? also long uvb bars that run across the whole tank? I want to get the best for my baby and money is no consideration.
is it best to use those round gauges for temperature or should I use strips like fishtanks use? do I need one on both sides of the tank to monitor temps? should the heatpad have some sort of temperature control ?
lots of questions I know, but I want to know im doing everything properly before I bring another life under my care

Thanks
-TraviZ

[TheOtherLeadingBrand]

Thanks for doing your homework. You are off to a good start IMO. I don't use lights on mine, but under the tank heating. I also do give large bowls though apparently that's not absolutely needed. I learned that here today

[BPMIKE]

Here ya go http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=55849
Mike.

[b8g8]

Check out this great sticky: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56846

It's what I honed in on when I first came! It talks about the temperature questions you have.

[llovelace]

[hud556]

welcome to the site

[TraviZ]

Thanks for the compliments, Can I ask, I am still not clear on, how can I maintain humidity? I keep reading about 50% normally and 70% when they prepare to shed?

[mrshawt]

couple things:
do this right off the bat
using a substrate that holds humidity (repti bark, cypress mulch, newspaper)
sphagnum moss
spray bottle
humidifier in the room
humid hide (pretty much a hide with damp sphagnum moss, but this isn't really necessary unless all above fails)

[pavlovk1025]

To maintain humidity of a tank in a low humidity area ( Salt Lake City ), I "insulate" the screen lid with foil & plastic. Sphagnum moss, larger water bowl and light misting during sheds. Here's some pics of what my set up looked like before I switched to racks/tubs.


"insulation"

Sphagnum moss on a half log that he used as a tunnel to go hot to cool side


Lots of info here for temps and humidity and so much more. Welcome!

[TraviZ]

thanks for the info! this is helping alot!

I bought my tank this morning and the astro turf stuff. and reptile-bark made form douglas fir.

I also will be picking up the heating pad after work and some caves and water bowl.

two questions..

how big a water bowl should I get? A bigger one will help with humidity right?

and I am not sure still what lamps I should get for the top of the cage, what do our lovely bp's prefer? the infrared or what?

and I understand I should have two bulbs? which one should be on the hot side and which one should be on the cooler side? thanks for all your assistance so far!