Setting up a BP for less than 100 dollars

I am not bashing Brian nor do I particular dislike him but if you look at his videos he has this tile, and he uses a half log hide, a lamp from home depot with a regular light bulb and states heat mats don't need a thermostat because they do not get hotter than 95 degrees??!? It is even linked now in where you buy his Royal pythons a man with his experience should know better than to try to pinch pennies there but seeing all these enclosure WITHOUT a thermostat has me wondering how many people been lead a stray. Just wondering what everyone thinks here ?

if everything is working correctly the temp is not supposed to exceed that threshold. the problem is they don't always work correctly. I just had two blow out while hooked up to a thermostat. prior to that I've had one have a runaway, luckily I noticed the smell and was able to get it turned off before it did more than discolor the wood underneath and no harm to the critters it was supposed to be warming.

at best he is being very irresponsible.

I think he's just trying to sell more snakes....the pricey balls become more appealing when the average schmo thinks they can just skimp on the husbandry equipment. I've had people at petco give me better set up advice.

How to do it for under $100 INCLUDING A THERMOSTAT:

Hefty 100-qt tub, normally $20 currently on sale for $8 (I bought a dozen of these recently because they're just too useful and not just as snake tubs)
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hefty-25-Ga...g-Lid/50150118

Depending on the size/brand you get, a UTH will run $17-25 from Amazon and a thermostat is $20-30. For $26 you can get one from iPower that has a thermostat/heat mat combo hard-wired together. It's not the best but if you're going cheap and you're only getting one ball python it's a lot better than an unregulated UTH.

Amazon has IR temperature guns from $4 to $40. Not sure I'd trust a $4 one but there are plenty in the $12-15 range that will work.

The AccuRite thermometer/hygrometer with probes is normally $12, currently on sale for $9.

Water bowls are available from the dollar stores for a buck apiece. Get two so you can swap them out when your snake uses it as a toilet.

Hides - Plastic food containers for microwave lunch/dinner meals are free after you've eaten the food in them. They also don't mold like those log hides do.

Substrate - newspaper is free. You can even make hides out of it.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

How to do it for under $100 INCLUDING A THERMOSTAT:

Hefty 100-qt tub, normally $20 currently on sale for $8 (I bought a dozen of these recently because they're just too useful and not just as snake tubs)
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hefty-25-Ga...g-Lid/50150118

Depending on the size/brand you get, a UTH will run $17-25 from Amazon and a thermostat is $20-30. For $26 you can get one from iPower that has a thermostat/heat mat combo hard-wired together. It's not the best but if you're going cheap and you're only getting one ball python it's a lot better than an unregulated UTH.

Amazon has IR temperature guns from $4 to $40. Not sure I'd trust a $4 one but there are plenty in the $12-15 range that will work.

The AccuRite thermometer/hygrometer with probes is normally $12, currently on sale for $9.

Water bowls are available from the dollar stores for a buck apiece. Get two so you can swap them out when your snake uses it as a toilet.

Hides - Plastic food containers for microwave lunch/dinner meals are free after you've eaten the food in them. They also don't mold like those log hides do.

Substrate - newspaper is free. You can even make hides out of it.

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Its really not that hard. All in all with Paarthurnax's tub setup, i maybe spent about $80-90, and a good portion of that was shippimg. Granted, i was able to get some things on 20% discount at the store i worked at.

As for what Brian stated, it was irresponsible. When i saw that video, i wasnt too impressed, to say the least

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You talking about Brian Barczyk at BHB? I went there and couldnt find the video lol. As for what i think about it although i havent seen it, sounds like bad advice and he needs to be blasted for it lol.

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

You talking about Brian Barczyk at BHB? I went there and couldnt find the video lol. As for what i think about it although i havent seen it, sounds like bad advice and he needs to be blasted for it lol.

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Its also on his Ball Pythons main page, if you wanna find it quickly

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Nm, i found the video. I love how he says 'Reptile Prime is $15'.......but why did i pay $20.99 for it? It says free shipping....so again, why am i paying $20.99?

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

Nm, i found the video. I love how he says 'Reptile Prime is $15'.......but why did i pay $20.99 for it? It says free shipping....so again, why am i paying $20.99?

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That was before theychange it so it was just included in the price and called it "free"

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Lol so i can link Brian the video and then link him his price page for the product and say 'you said $15 on your video and on the product page, you say free shipping. So what is this extra $5.99 for? And if i decide to come pick it up from you directly, do i get it for $15?' Lol sorry, just slamming the inconsistencies in this. I'm a jerk like that :)

The sad part is even though i talk BS about the pricing and his BS free shipping, Dottie actually seems to like the stuff over cypress so i think i will have to suck up my pride and order it for Dottie :( Everyone else loves the cypress. It's always Dottie the BP causing waves lol. Doesnt want to eat....wants to be the unique snowflake with bedding.....:P