New tank set up, awaiting snake (pic heavy)

My two young sons have wanted a snake for awhile now. Both being young I knew I would be along for the journey and undertaking so that they could get a ball python. After spending an ungodly amount of time on the forums learning and researching from all of you guys, the set up is finally done. So first I am posting a big thanks to all on here, just from your posts I have been reading. And how willing everyone is to help new members out. Secondly I am posting a bunch of pics of the set up so maybe new members like myself can see what I have learned and also for critique from the veterans.

Tank is a 20 gallon long 30x12x12
First I applied adhevise corkboard paper from Walmart that is used to line kitchen drawers, on three sides and bottom for insulation and privacy. This stuff worked awesome, cut to shape and just stick and also insulates somewhat.
Next placed an Accurtie thermometer from Walmart on the cold side with industrial velcro near the top. Ran outside probe and wire to warm spot and hot glued the wire near probe end in middle of where the UTH is placed.
[IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t..._BPcage048.jpg[/IMG]
Next placed a Hydro Farms thermostat probe in the middle of the UTH on the bottom side of the tank with reflective foil insulation tape. Then secured the thermostat on to side of tank with velcro.
[IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t..._BPcage052.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t..._BPcage051.jpg[/IMG]
For the top, I first had just normal screen top, found a black laminated shelf with MDF core and cut to size. Cut on 8.5 inch hole in center for light and 6 inch holes centered on each side for ventilation. Covered bottom of shelf with reflective foil tape. Secured screen with small set scews so it is all one piece.
[IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t..._BPcage062.jpg[/IMG]
For lighting I am using 8.5 Flukers light with dimmable switch and 75 watt IR bulb in order to keep ambient temps up in a cool house.
Then just added all the fun stuff. Reptibark substrate, water bowl, one cool hide on left side and one hot hide on right side. Hides are not the same unfortunately, so I hope they work. Have placed rocks in the wood hide on cold side because I know it was to large for a baby BP which we will be getting.
[IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t..._BPcage059.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t..._BPcage055.jpg[/IMG]
Next placed some moss on both cool side and hot side to help me with humidity since our house is always dry.
Secured modified top with two of the child safety appliance latches found at Lowes. They are adhesive and stick to side and top with a latch. These are cheap and worked great to give a tight and secure top.
[IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t..._BPcage065.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t..._BPcage070.jpg[/IMG]
And lastly for fun made a homemade humidifer set with timer. Cheap ultrasonic humidifer from Lowes. Just placed 3/4 PVC adapater over humidifer top and hot glued it down, added 2 feet of 3/4 tubing and and 1 inch adapter to fit top of cage. All found at Lowes and put together was 25 bucks. Only have this to boost humidity during shed I hope and also makes a cool little fog show with red light that the boys love lol. Got this idea off of youtube.
[IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t..._BPcage072.jpg[/IMG]
And lastly the final product with perfect temps thank god 92 hotspot, 81 cool side.
[IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t..._BPcage067.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/t..._BPcage064.jpg[/IMG]
So with the set up I have had my temps and humidity right for the past week. We are finally ready for the All Ohio reptile show this weekend to pick up a new baby ball python.
First I wana give a disclaimer and say I am brand new to all of this and do not have near the knowledge of many on here. I just created the post in hopes of giving ideas to new members and how some of the set up goes. My cage is surely untested since no snake has yet to reside there. I also know this is probally overkill when a tub will work, but my sons are only young once. And for all the veterans if you see anything really off or something I can tweak let me know. Thanks all.

I have not been able to get my snake yet as I am trying to learn all I can, but based on what I am seeing your post should be used as a guide to those trying to set up a tank. It looks awesome, if I myself was a snake I would be happier than hell to slither and lay around all day in there.

Thanks urban slayer, I am in the same boat as you with no snake but the countdown is on. I hope some of the post helps people just getting into like I was about a month ago. It would have def been easier to go the tub route, but I knew we wanted a glass tank and had to make the best of it.

Don't know too much about tanks (I'm using a tub) but it looks good! Congrats on the future snake and make sure to post pics when you get the little one! You should try to get identical hides, though. They'll pick the one they feel safer one over the one that's the proper temp for their body at the expense of their health. As long as there's plenty of stuff so the baby doesn't feel stranded it'll be okay, so nice job cluttering up the tank!

It looks fantastic! You've sure put a lot of thought into it and sounds like you've done your research. Only thing I'm seeing off hand is that it looks like your Accurite thermometer is placed near the top on the left side of the tank. You want this down lower - as close to the ground as possible.

Your BP will be spending 90% of its time on the ground and this is where the temp should be monitered. The heat lamp above can really skew temps taken near the top - it might say 81 there but it could be as much as 10 degrees cooler near the bottom! Move it down and you should be good to go! :gj:

And make sure to take pics of your new baby when you get him! Are you planning on a normal or a morph??

Thanks for the comments guys. I did have the accurite on the ground in front of the cold side hide for a week while dialing in temps but didnt have the floor space once I crammed it full lol. Maybe I should just get a small stick on gauge for that side near the floor just to be sure. Thanks for the tip. And we are just planning on getting a normal BP unless plans change once we get to the show.

I may be wrong, but I'd say get a bit bigger vent holes up top. Also, if your hot temp probe is outside the tank on the bottom of the UTH how do you have any idea of what the temp is on top of the UTH inside of the tank where the snake will hang out? You will lose a couple degrees going through the glass.

Brent, thanks for the comments. I am hoping the vent holes are enough and where the light sits there seems to be plenty of room for good ventilation btw that big hole and the six 1 inch holes but only time will tell. With the probes I have the Hydrofarm thermostat probe taped to the bottom of the UTH on the outside bottom of the tank and set at 95. And then I placed the accurite probe hotglued down to the inside of the tank above the UTH. That way I can see how truly hot the UTH gets if the snake burrows down in the substrate. With that setup I am getting 91 to 92 inside tank temps over the UTH. Hope that explains it a little better.

The stick-on gauges aren't accurate at all, you should just have the accurite buried in the foliage and push some leaves aside to see it. Or move it to the front of the tank and just let it sit on top of the substrate.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IAFFbuckeye

Thanks for the comments guys. I did have the accurite on the ground in front of the cold side hide for a week while dialing in temps but didnt have the floor space once I crammed it full lol. Maybe I should just get a small stick on gauge for that side near the floor just to be sure. Thanks for the tip. And we are just planning on getting a normal BP unless plans change once we get to the show.

---

No stick ons! Widely inaccurate and no way to measure what the BP is /actually/ sitting on. I have a crammed full tank too, you can just set the probe under a little substrate to make sure he or she can't move it and leave it at that :3