40 Breeder tank to start? and where to buy?

Hi all, first post here and I do not have a snake yet so please forgive any stupid questions. I did have a ball python for several years when I was a kid but my mom really didn't take good care of her and eventually gave her away while I was gone. I want to set up a shelving unit with a 40 breeder tank for a ball python on the bottom. Above that would be a 40 breeder aquarium and above that would be a 20 gallon aquarium (the shelving unit is rated for 1000 pounds per shelf).

I think I want to start with a younger snake though, would it be too difficult to set up the 40 with tons of stuff in it so the snake doesn't feel exposed? I would also like to only purchase all the heating pad and heat lamps etc. once instead of sizing up several times. How small/young do you suggest?

I'm also pretty unsure about where to buy a snake? I've seen some online but I'd love some personal opinions/experiences I'm leaning towards a champagne and want to stay around $200-300 total. I'm also looking at going to a repticon/reptiday but I'd likely be traveling several hours to go as well as going alone and I'm not exactly sure how to tell a healthy snake from a not so healthy one nor am I confident about hagling. However I do think I would like to see the actual snake in person and I feel like an expo would be an interesting experience.

Any help or suggestions are appreciated!

$200-$300 total? Your thermostat is going to eat up 1/3rd of that at the least.
I wouldn't do tanks either but that's just me...

Lol no sorry maybe that wasn't clear I was talking about just for the snake itself. The other stuff I'm prepared to spend what I need :)

Hi Allie I'm with Pit on the tanks. Tanks are doable. They bring a lot of challenge for a new keeper though and getting your husbandry dialed in correctly will be a long struggle for you at first.

I know you can get into the champagnes for between your 200-300 budget I've done a good amount of business with Garrick DeMeyer of Royal Constrictor Designs lately and his quality is top notch. I see he has some pastel champagnes on his site for your price area.


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I'm a first owner and with the tank I just use a thermostat and uth and I'm set. Just have to mist alot. Every day or every other day maybe

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Sounds like you've been bit by the BP bug before you got your first one.

Do yourself a favor and get a rack now, and a few various-sized tubs for quarantining new critters. Your wallet will thank you later.

I'm definitely set on one lol as I said I have a couple aquariums already, I don't want to get in too over my head. and I have really been looking into everything needed for a tank setup I'm really just concerned about the size, I don't want to have a stressed out snake because of a sizing issue if I can help it.

I do plan to have a uth with a thermostat as well as a ceramic heat emitter as I like apartment pretty chilly (I have a temp gun but still need to get something to measure the temp and humidity). I feel like humidity should be okay as I am in florida and will have 2 fish tanks with screen lids directly above, but I do plan to check the humidity before purchasing a snake to be on the safe side!

I appreciate the recommendation BMorrison! I'll be stalking that website tonight lol

I would personally do a tub setup that suits the size of the snake your getting, it would only cost between $5-$10. I would use paper towel as substrate and a hot side uth that cover 1/3 of the tub and since you said it's chilly I would get another uth that covers the other 2/3 of the tub for the cool side then buy a spyder robotics Herpstat 2 set the hot for 88-99 and cool around 80. Then get 2 hides from reptile basics, a good ir temp gun and hygrometer. I wish I would of done a rack or at least a tub setup at first bc now I have 4 snakes and out of room for pvc cages so I just built a rack bc I ordered another snake from Garrick lol.

If your set on using a tank then the first thing I would do is get ammonia, dawn, f10scxd, f10sc and clean the crap out of it. Then cover the screen with plexiglass with a cut hole for the che dome to help with humidity. Buy 2 reptile basics hides, a good ir temp gun or acurite 00891 or both. Lots of plants and decor. I would still get the Herpstat 2 so you have something to regulate both the uth and che. Ik I'm forgetting something's.

Depending on the size of the snake a tub setup may be the best and if you want to move it to the tank when it's bigger than you can do so then. You could also set the tub inside the tank and use the che to keep the tub around 80 and still use a uth on the tub for hot side.

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I know Petco is shunned by most everyone, but, at A BUCK A GALLON SALE till August 6th, you will not find a better price on the hardware. Got my 40B for, yea, 40 bucks......

I had gotten two of the reptile basic hides and at first, they were fine, but after feeding my snake, she would plump up a little and not fit through the opening. From what I understand the size of the opening doesn't change throughout the bigger sizes. They are however light and easy to clean and don't take up that much space as they aren't super tall, that being said my little girl loves coiling into a taller coil rather than a flat one and so she pushes it up more. I now have two Exo Terra reptile caves in a size large for my 3ft BP and she really loves them. They're a bit more frustrating to clean and are a bit heavier but she tends to like them a lot better, and they fit nicely into the 40gallon tank. Just my input on hide boxes.