Am I on the right track?

I'm trying to prepare myself for a baby BP that I'll hopefully be getting at Repticon this July. I've kept BP's before, but it's been almost five years, and I've opted for a simpler set-up this time around to be more cost efficient and to make the care taking less of a chore. I just wanted to make sure that what I already have and the things I have in mind sound sufficient.

So far I have...
- 15 qt sterilite tub with locking lid (although, after messing with it, I think I will have to do some modifications to make it a bit more secure. Any suggestions?)

- 2 hides, salvaged from my tupperware/plastic bowls

- Water dish, also native to my tupperware cabinet

- Aspen bedding (It doesn't have to be the brand specifically for snakes, does it? What I have is a whole extra bag that we never used for some rodents. It is made for animals though, if that matters)

- Soldering iron, found in my garage (for the holes). I have never used one and don't even really know how to, so I'm going to ask my stepdad to put the holes in the tub for me. Is there anything specific I should know or should tell him?

What I still need to get (saving up/planning).....

- Ultratherm 11x17" heating pad from RBI. I was planning on getting it big so I can get the most use out of it, and I will just put it under half of the tub, as long as that is safe?

- Acu-Rite 00891 digital thermometer/hydrometer.

- Hydrofarm digital thermostat for heat mats. I believe this is made for gardening, but someone recommended it to me and all of the reviews are really good.


Is there a glaring hole in this set-up that I'm unaware of? Any suggestions? I do still need to check and make sure that a local petshop carries frozen rodents, because I'm pretty sure Petsmart doesn't.

Thanks.

glaring hole= thremostat

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Originally Posted by BILLB OKC

glaring hole= thremostat

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The thermostat is the last item on my list.. "Hydrofarm digital thermostat for heat mats"


Or are you saying that this is not a good thermostat to use?

ooops :oops:

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Originally Posted by BILLB OKC

ooops :oops:

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It's all good.

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Originally Posted by alittleFREE

The thermostat is the last item on my list.. "Hydrofarm digital thermostat for heat mats"


Or are you saying that this is not a good thermostat to use?

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Only thing I would say to you is...
You get what you pay for. You're buying a $40 t-stat and that's exactly what you will get. I'm not saying it won't do the job but remeber that if and when it craps out.

I don't know what your budget is but I would try to save the money for something a little more high end.

http://www.helixcontrols.com/DBS1000.htm

Gavin

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Originally Posted by Gavin Cooper

Only thing I would say to you is...
You get what you pay for. You're buying a $40 t-stat and that's exactly what you will get. I'm not saying it won't do the job but remeber that if and when it craps out.

I don't know what your budget is but I would try to save the money for something a little more high end.

http://www.helixcontrols.com/DBS1000.htm

Gavin

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Unfortunately, I'm a jobless high school student (a situation I have been hoping to change lol) and I make my money babysitting, so that is a little bit out of the question :/. I would love to be able to afford something like that but as it stands, I don't see it being plausible. My parents would never go for paying for something like that, as opposed to a vet visit or something which they would certainly pitch in for if I was dirt broke and couldn't afford it.

One of the reasons that I haven't bought the thermostat yet is because if by some miracle I have an extra chunk of money by June or so, I was going to go ahead and get a pre-wired Ranco or Johnson because I hear those are another decent option without being too extremely pricey.

With the heat mat ur getting a thermostat is not needed. Just as an FYI it peaks out at 95. But my vote is for the 11x11 the other one seems to big. Compare it to a 20 gallon pad and it's huge.

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Originally Posted by MitsuMike

With the heat mat ur getting a thermostat is not needed. Just as an FYI it peaks out at 95. But my vote is for the 11x11 the other one seems to big. Compare it to a 20 gallon pad and it's huge.

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Really?

That makes things a lot easier if that's the case.

And I might go down to the 11x11". Once I got out the measuring tape, 11x17" looked pretty huge..

Sounds like you've got the ball rolling. Good luck, and hope you enjoy your new ball python!