New to BP Care

Hello,
I just got a little pastel girl a few days ago and I was hoping to get opinions on what is best for her. I don't do the forum thing normally, so forgive me if these questions are redundant. OK, here goes:

I bought a 15qt sterilite container that I hope to be able to keep her in. However, I've been searching all over and cannot find any information on how to set up a heat source properly on a plastic tub.
Basically my worries are that with a UTH (which I planned on buying) it could pose as a fire hazard being set on the ground or a shelf (I have literally no experience building or putting things together on my own, haha)

How do you guys set up your heat sources on plastic tubs, and is it dangerous for a UTH to be on carpet or wood?

I also read about setting up aluminum foil along the bottom so it evens the heat out...is that necessary for plastic tubs?

Last question! (sorry this is so long!)--
I wanted to get some opinions on feeding outside of the tank. I was always told that to feed the snake in a different enclosure will help reduce the risk of being bitten when opening/reaching in the tank, but with all I've read on the ball pythons, I'm afraid that it might stress her out and lead to no eating at all.

This little girl is already VERY precious to me, and I just want to make sure that I get everything just right.
Thanks in advance for any input!! (I hope I'm not breaking any rules or anything by posting this here)

-Lynn

Lynn sorry I can't offer any help on the sterlite tub issue, as I have always used glass tanks for my snakes, but as far as feeding them inside the tanks, I have always fed mine inside their tanks, and have had zero issues with cage aggression, but others would tell you differently, but I guess whatever works best for each individual situation, so maybe there is no right or wrong way!!!:D

Welcome to the forums (this place is a WEALTH OF INFORMATION) and I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay!

I've used/am still using sterilite tubs for my BPs and heat is one of those things that are a little bit more difficult to set up--especially for the UTH because those things JUST DON'T STICK with their regular adhesives, so best invest in some aluminum tape (which you can find in any home depot.) As far as fire hazard goes on a carpet or shelf, if you have (and it's highly recommended) a thermostat, it shouldn't get hot enough to catch anything on fire, however it WILL discolor your carpet/shelf if you leave it there for a while and it's pretty unattractive (which I learned the hard way.) Your UTH should have come with these little elevation buttons so using them, as well as placing the container on a piece of furniture (or something you build yourself) should save your carpet/shelves.

The aluminum foil thing I notice is mostly for people who live in colder climates, so as long as your temps are right there's really no need for them.

As far as feeding aggression goes--it's one of those tricky subjects that's limited to the scope of the individual BP itself. I got tagged once when I was feeding mine outside of the tub, I set him down for a moment, turned around to retrieve the mouse, and BAM, got me right on the leg, coiled and everything and seriously trying to eat me even though I'm way larger than that itty bitty thing, so it's not absolute that there will be no feeding aggression just because you feed outside of the tub. I will tell you though when I prescent the room and they're actively hunting their prey, they can sometimes get very excited when I open their tub and on those days I'm very careful, but they're never actively aggressive without a cause. It's just up to what you're more comfortable with.

Sometimes you'll find your BP will refuse to eat in a separate container and in those cases you really have no choice but to feed them in their tubs/tanks.

More people should be along shortly and they'll offer their two cents as wel. =)

Welcome to the forum! I would definitely leave an airspace between the uth and the shelf or whatever you put the tub on! I would not put it on carpet because it just seems to be a fire hazard but that's just me! It is very important to have your conditions right on! Temps, humidity, hides, substrates are all important! I feed in the tank and never been bit yet! Good luck with your pastel, she won't be little for long!

Thanks a lot for your advice everyone, I'm definitely going to add a thermostat & some heat tape to my shopping list...and as far as feeding goes, I guess we'll just see how things work out once I get to that point haha

I was told not to feed her for a week or two after I got her, is that correct? I know she ate right before she got shipped to me but two weeks seems like a long time to me.

One week is fine. Its just an adjustment period. A stressed snake who has just been thrown around in a tiny box will probably not feel safe enough to eat until some time has passed for him/her to get adjusted to the new environment.

Your hot spot should be no more than 94*F and that is not even close to the temperature required to melt or burn plastic, carpet, or wood. As long as you are conrolling your heat source with a thermostat, there is no risk of things randomly catching fire.

haha okay, cool
I bought a thermostat and UTH (phew, didn't know how expensive those were!) I put the heating pad on the side of the tank in fear that she might burn her belly if she's laying on top of it all the time (I use paper towels as a substrate)...set it all up & added a thermometer, now hopefully everything goes according to plan!
Thanks again everyone- glad I found this forum!

She won't get burned if you have a thermostat. Put the UTH on the bottom of the enclosure. It gets more heat to the snake.

Definitely put the mat on the bottom -- as Kaorte said, as long as you have a working thermostat attached, your snake won't be burned.

When I first set my tub up I was paranoid about this as well :). I finally realized that pretty much everyone in the herp world uses tubs for their snake. They have to heat them somehow, and if it were dangerous, folks wouldn't keep doing it and recommending it. Even at full blast, that UTH should not get above more than 140f, and that is not nearly enough to even melt the plastic, much less burn it. Just make sure you follow all the safety guidelines that came with the UTH -- ie, throw away if kinked or bent, & allow airflow.

As for feeding in the tub, I have not really heard or read anything about many cases of cage aggression with ball pythons. I would say that at the very least, you should feed in the tub she lives in until she is an established eater.

Good luck with the BP, you will have a blast :)

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Originally Posted by missturpak

Thanks a lot for your advice everyone, I'm definitely going to add a thermostat & some heat tape to my shopping list...and as far as feeding goes, I guess we'll just see how things work out once I get to that point haha

I was told not to feed her for a week or two after I got her, is that correct? I know she ate right before she got shipped to me but two weeks seems like a long time to me.

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It took my bp 3 weeks to eat for the first time with me! He was only 3 weeks old when I got him! They can go several months without eating so don't worry about a couple weeks. Don't handle the snake or bother it until it eats. Good luck!