New Ball Python! First Snake! Need help with tub set up!

Hi! For a couple of months now, I've been interested in getting a ball python as a pet, I find them wonderful little scaly, cute creatures and I have fallen in love with them! Over these past few weeks, I've done plenty of research, watched Youtube videos, read care sheets, articles, and I've even looked on the forums a couple of times (though this is the first time I'm making an account) recently, I've been concerned about setting up my future ball pythons enclosure. I decided to go with a tub set up, since they are more cheaper, easier to clean, and keep temperature/humidity well. I also went with a UTH. I bought my supplies today at Petsmart and Albertsons. Here's a list of what I got:

• Zoo Med Repti Therm Reptile Under Tank Heater 10-20 gallon size, 8w x
• Zoo Med Aspen Snake Bedding 10qt x
• Zoo Med Reptile Terrarium Thermometer Humidity Gauge x
• Zoo Med Reptile Terrarium Digital Thermometer x
• Rubbermaid 15qt plastic tub x
• Microban pet bowl (couldn't find an image for this one!)
• One cave hide

I plan to get my ball python a few weeks from now, when Repticon shows up in my state. Worried about the conditions being perfect, I decided to set up my enclosure now to prevent any mistakes and make room for change before I purchase a bp.

First, I cleaned out the plastic tub and the water dish, as well as the hide. I dried them and I took out the digital thermometer. I placed the probe on the bottom of the tub on the "cool" side, and I stuck it on the wall of the tub. I then stuck the UTH on the "warm" side of the tub, covering about half of the tub itself. I filled the tub with some aspen. I made sure to cover the thermometer probe carefully. I placed the hide down, then the water dish (filled with water to mimik the conditions, and placed the thermometer/humidity gauge on the floor of the "warm" side. I plugged my UTH in, and closed the top. I still need to get a soldiering iron to make the holes in the top necessary for ventilation.

I let the UTH work its magic for a while, and I read the thermometer/humidity gauge and the thermometer on both sides. The "warm" side was around 75, but that was outside the hide. In the hide, it was around 85. The "cool" side stayed around 78. The humidity was around 60-70%, it was so high because I had not yet made ventilation holes with the iron. I know these are not the ideal habitat temperatures for a bp, and I knew something was off.

Looking at the results, I was very worried. First of all, I'm worried that the tub is too small, even for a baby bp. Secondly, I should have two hides instead of one, and I was thinking of making those out of plastic containers instead. I am also worried about the heating requirements. I have been a bit confused about that from the start. I tried asking an associate at Petsmart but she said she used a bulb for her ball pythons and couldn't give me any advice on UTH care. I am not sure what to use to regulate the UTH, nor how to set it up. What sort of temperature-keeping things do I need? And how many? Where should they be? I am really sorry if I sound ignorant about the subject, I am new to the world of bps and I really wanna make sure my first snake gets the necessary treatment and husbandry it deserves. I want to do whatever I can to make this a good enclosure for my future snake. Please help! It would be much appreciated!

PICTURES:

• A picture of the tub set up x
• The digital thermometer, it reads 78.5 degrees Fahrenheit x
• A side view of the tub, thickness of the substrate x
• Where the thermometer probe is placed x
• The thermometer/humidity gauge on the warm side x

Again, I am really sorry if I seem a little lost, but I just wanna do my best and I can really use all of your help! Thank you! I'm sorry!

Yes you need something to regulate the uth. What you need is a thermostat or tstat for short. I like Herpstat http://spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html but others really like these options from Reptile Basics http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermostats . I will not recommend anything cheaper to use and suggest buying the best tstat you can afford.

As for the set up the uth will plug into the tstat. The tstat will have a probe that you will put between the uth and the tub floor, this goes on the outside. Then you just have to set it and get the hotspot correct. The substrate over the uth needs to be thin, less than a 1/4 inch.

The uth does nothing for the ambient temps. If the room gets to cold it may be necessary to get a heat lamp to pick up your ambient temps. Preferably the ambient temps should be between 77-84 and the hotspot can be 88-92. I personally shoot for ambient temps of around 80 with a hotspot of 90.

As for the thermometer the one you have should do fine. The probe should be put on the tub floor over the uth to track the interior hot spot temp. The unit then should be placed on the cool side to monitor the ambient temp of the tub.

Yes two hides is what you want.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your help! As for measuring the humidity, would I continue to use the thermometer/humidity gauge? Should I get another one? Where should I place it?

Also! The tub I got has a lid, but its flimsy and doesn't lock well. Any advice to make sure it stays closed? I wouldn't want my bp to escape, and I've heard keeping the enclosure closed is one of the most important parts. Thanks! Again, I really appreciate your help! It means a lot!

If the thermometer you have has a built in hygrometer that should be fine.

You will want to use something to hold the lid on. Some people use luggage straps, alligator spring clamps, or even a bolt and nut. I used alligator clips before and picked some up at Lowes for just a couple bucks a piece. I had four and placed one near each corner. The setups Ive seen using luggage straps used two placing one on each side.

Use the search feature and you will find pics of people using these techniques to keep their lids on.

Thank you so very much for the help! I just bought two, smaller hides (i measured them to make sure they would fit in the tub) and I also bought a thermometer for the UTH that you linked me! I really appreciate it! I plan on getting a new tub with a locking lid, and I will make sure to add air holes as well! I will make sure to lessen the substrate. I also found some binder clips and bungee cords lying around my house, and I'll be sure to test those out once I get my new tub. Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it! Hopefully my future bp thrives in its new tub! I'll be sure to post pictures once I acquire the rest of my supplies in about a week. Thanks!

You meant Thermostat I linked you. Which one did you go with?

Thermostat, yes! Sorry! I went with the Herpstat 1 Basic Redline from Spyder Robotics!