some really newbie questions - for a newbie

okay, ive decided that i want a ball python and have been reading all over the forums about how to care for them all day long. there is a reptile show in tampa this weekend, tomarrow being the last day, so i want to act fast in getting my tank setup today so i can go to the show tomarrow and purchase my python.

i am confused about thermostats. i am not smart with electronics and such and the only thermostats i have ever seen were the ones to heat/cool houses.

how do thermostats work with under tank heaters? i am familiar w/ the heaters, i have a frog and use one for it. but how do they work with the heaters and where can i buy one. can someone please go into detail for the dummy.

my plan was to get a tub setup for my python. my next question is what is the easiest/ best way to ventilate the tub. I was guessing i could just cut a large hole in the lid and cover the hole with a small metal mesh cagey type deal and then duct tape that down to the lid realy good. does that sound like a good idea?

and then there is the digital thermometer. should i have the thermometer sitting on the outside w/ the little metal sensor connected to the wire on the inside of the tub?

i know these are pretty common sense questions but i figured it is better to make sure i know what im doing 100%

thanks for the help guys :salute:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by First_Phantom

i am confused about thermostats. i am not smart with electronics and such and the only thermostats i have ever seen were the ones to heat/cool houses.

how do thermostats work with under tank heaters? i am familiar w/ the heaters, i have a frog and use one for it. but how do they work with the heaters and where can i buy one. can someone please go into detail for the dummy.

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Most can be found online, but otherwise I wouldn't know what to tell you.
How it works is you plug your heating device into it, and set the temp, the t-stat plugs into the wall, giving you better control of your heat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by First_Phantom

my plan was to get a tub setup for my python. my next question is what is the easiest/ best way to ventilate the tub. I was guessing i could just cut a large hole in the lid and cover the hole with a small metal mesh cagey type deal and then duct tape that down to the lid realy good. does that sound like a good idea?

and then there is the digital thermometer. should i have the thermometer sitting on the outside w/ the little metal sensor connected to the wire on the inside of the tub?

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Do not cut a hole in the lid of the tub and use duct tape to secure it, Pythons are great escape artists and will get out! Either use a drill and put holes around the top edge of the tub, or use a wood burner to burn the holes in. Also you will need to be sure the lid is secure, a larger snake can easily escape most tubs, a smaller one would be ok with the tubs that have locking lids (the ones with the clips)
You will need a thermometer/hydrometer for at least one end of the tub, to check ambient (over all temp/humidity) and another for just the hot spot.
Also what type of bedding do you plan on using there are some things that can cause illness, or death (like pine)



I like to leave you with a little drawing of a tub set up

_________________________________________ lid
\ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . / row of holes in the tub
. \[hide]_____________________[water]_____/
. .{-----------} hot spot

you can also add a second hide if the tub size will allow




Welcome to BP.net

thanks for the reply

i was planning on just doing some paper towels or news paper to start with. i may upgrade to repti bark in the future. i am aware that some substrates can cause problems so i will definately watch what i put in there.

oh and also you mentioned that when they grow up they can escape the clip on lids of tubs easily. how do I secure it to make sure they cant get out :colbert:

You can get a lamp dimmer from home depot (a rheosat) in the electrical dept. made by levitron, and to prvent escapes I put weights on top of my enclosures (that aren't critter cages with locks).

excelent! thx love. heres another question. what size tub is ideal for a baby sized snake? at what length of my snake do i want to upsize my tub (ive read that 32 quart tub is good for an adult male?) i do not have anyway of measuring the weight of my snake in grams so i will have to go by length.

A hatchling would be fine in a 6qt tub
A juvinile would be fine in a 15gt tub
An adult male in a 28qt tub
A small adult female in a 32qt
A large adult female in a 41qt

I wouldn't know by length, only by weight.

The maturity is measured by weight, so a scale is a must have.
Also you will need to keep records. How often you snake eats, poops, sheds, its weight every couple months or so.

http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/k...tubpics001.jpg

http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/k...tubpics002.jpg

here is what i have so far for my tank. not exactly eye pleasing but i dont think the snake will know the difference. he/she is just lookin for the right conditions i would imagine.

so i got my temps strait, no problems there. my humidity is a little low...would misting w/ a spray bottle a few times a day solve that problem? :confused:

is my hide too big? could i go smaller? because i think if i add another hide the same size the snake wont have much room outside its hide's

is this tub large enough? it is 31 quart but alittle tall. i plan on getting a juvinile tomarrow at the reptile show.

One of those thermometers needs to be inside the tub.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...bum/Rashid.jpg

This is the size I keep all my babes in, up to around 400g...

That is a 6 qt plastic shoebox he is in.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...newsnakes4.jpg

Juvie... in a 12qt rubbermaid.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...wenclosure.jpg

sub adult - adult.

Get that hide with the tape on it out of there. Just pick up a cereal bowl from the dollar store. Moisture, heat, and snake will get you a snake wrapped up in tape... seriously.

The probe of your thermometer goes under your warm hide, and the unit sits on the cool side. You only need one.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...moderntubs.jpg

Good luck on the snake.

Bruce