How does my enclosure look?

Ok, this is the glass tank that I'm keeping Salem in. Its a 10 gal, because thats all I have room for at the moment, and personally I think he's too small to stick in a 20 yet... I have the sides and back blocked off with dark paper, and the screen top is mostly covered by plastic wrap taped down along the edges, with a gap for the lamp and two smaller ones to make it easier to mist without having to open it. Lid clamps on either end to keep it closed. I have a thermometer with a probe to keep track of the temp under the warm hide, and regular dial thermometer and hygrometer to measure overall tank temp/humidity. And I know, half log hides arent popular, but I stapled cardboard to the back end of it, dug it down deeper into the substrate so it isnt as tall, and its pretty small anyway. He uses it about a third of the time, so he seems ok with both hides. Its on the cool side too so it isnt really a problem having the deeper aspen in it, its not over the heat mat anyway. I have a small container of damp sphagnum moss that I keep hidden in the back under the leaves over the heat mat with holes in the container, which helps with humidity. I also mist about twice a day. In the morning, and when I get off work. My bedroom rarely gets under about 78 degrees, so I usually dont bother with his heat lamp. the mat keeps the overall temp at about 80-84 depending on the temp in my room.

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/103_1959.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/103_1960.jpg

Nice however I would suggest to replace your dial thermometer and hygrometer (which are not accurate) by something like this http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Acu-Rite_T.jpg which will give you a reading for the cool side, warm side and the humidity level!

Very nice! :)

Only one suggestion, eco earth rather than aspen, it creates the the right humidity if sprayed every few days so need for fancy misters.

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Originally Posted by Jo81

Only one suggestion, eco earth rather than aspen, it creates the the right humidity if sprayed every few days so need for fancy misters.

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I read Eco Earth sometimes mites in it, but you can bake it in the oven for a few minutes to kill them. That or PAM.

I hear Cypress Mulch works pretty good for humidity too.

Wow looks like a really nice set up. :gj:

I see you have a lamp mounted over head. I'll assume you are using some type of Ceramic style bulb if not I would make the switch or go to some type of under tank style heating element with a nice thermostat to regulate the temps.

Ball pythons are nocturnal and spend the majority of theirs lives underground so bright heat lamp style set ups tend to stress them out overtime. Good luck!

:salute:

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Originally Posted by Larry Suttles

Wow looks like a really nice set up. :gj:

I see you have a lamp mounted over head. I'll assume you are using some type of Ceramic style bulb if not I would make the switch or go to some type of under tank style heating element with a nice thermostat to regulate the temps.

Ball pythons are nocturnal and spend the majority of theirs lives underground so bright heat lamp style set ups tend to stress them out overtime. Good luck!

:salute:

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actually, I have a red bulb in it since it said "nocturnal heat" or somethinglikethat. :rolleyes: should I still switch? the ceramics are more expensive and harder to find here, but I'm sure I could find one. there is a heat mat under the warm side, but I still need to get a thermostat. currently, I have a pillowcase secured to the inside bottom of the tank over the mat to keep Salem from being burned. my friend's BP got burned from his mat and thats what she does now, so it will be that way until I can get a thermostat or rheostat.

Thats should be fine as long as the temps stay stable.

I'd be careful about that pillowcase thing as it seems like a fire hazard to me.

If you need a cheap alternative until you can get a T-stat you can get simple lamp dimmers from home depot / lowes or whatever for around $5.

Dial it down until you get the correct temperature and as long as you check on it periodically you should be OK.

wow very nice, move the heat lamp from above the water bowl though, warm water is a bactril sauna, other than that looks cool