Ambient temps in a tub enclosure

Hello all,

I've been lurking on the forums for a while and while I have experience with various geckos and hognoses I just got my first BP over the weekend. It was an unexpected purchase at the show but no regrets! He's currently in a tub enclosure with flexwatt under the hot side hooked up to a thermostat. My house tends to stay rather cool so the ambient temps are anywhere between 72 and 75 but it's a cool 72-75 if that makes sense. His cool side was 71-73 before I brought him home. I used some extra flexwatt and set it on a 2nd thermostat at 80. Does any one have recommendations to help raise the ambient temps in his tub or should I stick with the current setup to keep his cool side from getting too cold?

Thanks!

Many people from particularly cold places (read "ambient temps consistently below 75ºF"), use that same method.

For a tub setup, that might be your best option, since you have everything properly connected to thermostats.
Another option is to actually warm the room your snake is in.

Now since it was, as you said "an unexpected purchase", if you want, you can share some more information regarding your husbandry (size of the tub, hides, temps, probe placement, etc.) and we can help you really dial it in so you can provide the best enclosure to your new slithery buddy.


P.S.: Since you said you have experience with geckos and hognoses, don't forget to quarantine him from your other reptiles ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dmt_jovi

Many people from particularly cold places (read "ambient temps consistently below 75ºF"), use that same method.

For a tub setup, that might be your best option, since you have everything properly connected to thermostats.
Another option is to actually warm the room your snake is in.

Now since it was, as you said "an unexpected purchase", if you want, you can share some more information regarding your husbandry (size of the tub, hides, temps, probe placement, etc.) and we can help you really dial it in so you can provide the best enclosure to your new slithery buddy.


P.S.: Since you said you have experience with geckos and hognoses, don't forget to quarantine him from your other reptiles ;)

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He was unexpected as I had no intention of buying anything at the show but the price was too good to pass up for a pastel. I was also still down of my Kenyan Sand Boa dying so that didn't help. As for husbandry; he's in a 41 qt tub, 3 hides, probe is inside the tub taped in place at the center of the heat tape. Basking spot is at 88 with the warm side at 85-86. He's on paper towels at the moment but I've considered putting down repti bark to help keep the humidity more stable. He's also in quarantine on a separate level from the others. Attempted the first feeding tonight without success but he was also eating live mice and I tried a F/T so I'll be picking up a live mouse on Friday or Saturday.

*Down from losing my KSB.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by andrewross8705

He was unexpected as I had no intention of buying anything at the show but the price was too good to pass up for a pastel. I was also still down of my Kenyan Sand Boa dying so that didn't help. As for husbandry; he's in a 41 qt tub, 3 hides, probe is inside the tub taped in place at the center of the heat tape. Basking spot is at 88 with the warm side at 85-86. He's on paper towels at the moment but I've considered putting down repti bark to help keep the humidity more stable. He's also in quarantine on a separate level from the others. Attempted the first feeding tonight without success but he was also eating live mice and I tried a F/T so I'll be picking up a live mouse on Friday or Saturday.

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I'm sorry for your KSB.


Regarding your new Ball Python, how big is he (weight)? The 41 qt tub might be a bit too big for him if he is still small.

How are you measuring your temps?

When you say "the probe is inside the tub taped in place at the center of the heat tape"? Which probe are you referring to, the thermostat or the thermometer? I would strongly advise against the use of any tape or "sticky" object inside the enclosure, since your snake will find a way to get in contact with the sticky side of the tape and it can result in the tape sticking to your snake's scales and leave him with a bad bruise when you try to remove it. If you need to stick something inside the enclosure use something like suction cups.

I would keep him in paper towels, at least during Quarantine, since it is easier to spot any ectoparasite and notice if there is something wrong with his sheds, pee, urates and poop.

What's your humidity like and how are you measuring it? Maybe you don't really need to fix it.

Let him be alone for at least 7 more days (since you tried to feed him already). After the 7 days I would try a f/t rat/mouse (appropriate for his size) and do the "zombie rat dance" like the rat is still alive. If he still does not take it, I would go with what he was eating at the breeder's (live mice).
If you have to feed him live remember to never leave the mouse alone with your snake, since it can really hurt your snake if you are not paying attention, and keep a pencil or pen handy to prevent a bite from the mouse once your snake is coiling arround him (place the pencil in the mouse's mouth).

If you can, post pictures, they help detect any problem you might not be seeing ;)

He is currently 71g. He's a long boy and honestly thought he weighed more so I'm reconsidering that 41qt even though I've heard and read of people using them when a BP is still small adding extra hides so they feel more secure. Recommendations on a proper size for him?

How are you measuring your temps?

I have a digital hygrometer/thermometer with a probe inside the tub on the warm side and a digital hygrometer/thermometer on the cool side as well. Apologies for the confusion. I have the thermostat probe on the outside of the tub taped to the bottom so it's in the center of the heat tape. It's secured with aluminum tape.

What's your humidity like and how are you measuring it? Maybe you don't really need to fix it.

Humidity has gone between 65 and 75. It's been holding at 71 since I came home with a light misting last night. It's being measured the same way I'm measuring his temps.

Pardon the blurry picture, I was trying to get a decent close up shot of him.
http://i.imgur.com/PguXV8j.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by andrewross8705

He is currently 71g. He's a long boy and honestly thought he weighed more so I'm reconsidering that 41qt even though I've heard and read of people using them when a BP is still small adding extra hides so they feel more secure. Recommendations on a proper size for him?

How are you measuring your temps?

I have a digital hygrometer/thermometer with a probe inside the tub on the warm side and a digital hygrometer/thermometer on the cool side as well. Apologies for the confusion. I have the thermostat probe on the outside of the tub taped to the bottom so it's in the center of the heat tape. It's secured with aluminum tape.

What's your humidity like and how are you measuring it? Maybe you don't really need to fix it.

Humidity has gone between 65 and 75. It's been holding at 71 since I came home with a light misting last night. It's being measured the same way I'm measuring his temps.

Pardon the blurry picture, I was trying to get a decent close up shot of him.


Your BP is a hatchling and should be kept in a very small inclosure. Big enclosures will stress them out and they won’t eat. I’d keep him in a 18qt tub. Also your temps are too low because your room is too cold. Never let your room fall below 75f, buy a space heater if you need to. Provide your ball python with a basking spot temperature of 88 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit and an ambient temperature of 78 to 80 degrees. The ambient temperature should not fall below 75 degrees. It is vitally important to know the temperatures at which you are keeping your snake(s). Spend more time trying to dial in your heat and less time on the humidity for now. When you see signs of him going into shed them up your humidity.

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I'd say your current setup is not a bad fix, but ideally, the ambient temperature would probably be higher. While I doubt your current setup will harm your snake, I would move toward something that would more effectively raise ambient temperatures. UTHs are notoriously bad at it. You can do a variety of things such as using a space heater or you can put a ceramic heat emitter close to the enclosures and heat it up that way.

Humidity is great 71%.

Per his enclosure, smaller is probably better, but I kept my babies in a 31 qt tub with several hides and had no problems. I would say as long as you have sufficient hiding places and cover, you will be fine.

So I've changed his setup after reading Deborah's sticky about hatchlings not eating. He's in a 6qt tub, hot spot is still being regulated by the thermostat however the ambient temp has dropped from the cold snap we got. He's on a shelf so a space heater won't do much since he would be well above the heater.

Would a CHE do any good since he's in a tub with a lid on it? I've been searching all over the forums and elsewhere but can't find a solid answer on whether heat tape on the side will help at all. Raising the temps in the room isn't an option unfortunately.

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I wouldn't use a CHE with a tub.

Is he on aspen or paper? If he's in aspen and he can burrow to the heat, the aspen will act like a blanket and keep him warm. If he's on paper give him a tight-fitting hide over the heat tape, that will help keep the heat under it even if the rest of the tub is cool.