Another newbie...

Acurite is the most popular on this website--just do a search for that word and you'll see what I'm talking about. Not made for herps--rather, it's a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer that comes with a hygrometer (humidity gauge). It's inexpensive--around $15--and widely available. Wal-Mart carries them, as does Lowe. Not sure if they're all under the same name brand--it's Acurite at Wal-Mart--but they're easy to spot once you know what you're looking for. I'm sure Home Depot likely does as well. Besides having the ability to measure temps on BOTH sides of the tank, it also makes sure your humidity is right. Don't use the dial types sold by pet stores. I still have my old humidity dial gauge up for laughs more than anything else, and it's horribly inaccurate.

K how about some pics to illustrate....

Here's a basic baby BP home we use...not pretty but very VERY functional and easy for you as a new keeper to set up and for the baby snake to feel secure in till it gets a bit of growth on it....and a secure happy snake is more likely to eat for you :)

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...MuirnesTub.jpg

That tub is a found anywhere for about $5.00 (get the one with the lid with clips not just the snap on lid and make sure it has no give whatsoever), the hides are $1.00 each (just terracotta plant pans but plastic is even better for about the same cost or less)...newspaper or papertowels for the substrate another $1.00 or less (aspen is a good substrate, avoid cedar or cedar mix and pine for snake bedding but to start out plain white papertowels are great...you can get a fecal sample if you need and can watch for mites)...if you don't own a soldering wand for melting holes in the tub you can get a basic one at WalMart for about $5.00....water dish - something heavy but not big enough for the snake to get into (the one in the pic is just a typical small rodent one for $2.00).....Acu-Rite about $12.00 plus one AAA battery...UTH and basic t-stat your choice and a wide variety of prices. So basically a simple tub setup is about $30.00 plus your heating choice costs.

You may want to fill the tub with crumpled up newspaper for awhile till the baby settles in. It is a breeder trick and works beautifully to settle snakes and make them feel hidden and safe.

Same tub as above with newspaper in it (and yes a baby BP in there somewhere LOL)....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ickTopView.jpg

Acu-Rite (an absolute must...the analog dial things from the petstores are unreliable and a waste of your cash)....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g/Acu-Rite.jpg

Close-up of the hides we use for baby BP's (you need two).....anything similar will do as long as it's heavy, dark and easy to clean...should be no bigger than the circumference of your snake curled up...think tight and dark...snakes love this in a hide....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...lingBPHide.jpg

Check Reptile Basics for heating supplies or you can buy an undertank heater from a good pet store. This is about the only thing I'd ever buy from a pet store (they are usually overpriced). I even buy aspen from WalMart as it's way cheaper there and a very nice quality fine shred aspen ($4.00 for a compacted bag).

Where are you getting your 06 BP from by the way? Nothing about husbandry will be all that important to you if you end up buying a sickly or badly started baby. Then it's an uphill fight to get it eating properly or a lot of vet bills which nobody needs. The buying process is a huge part of a successful first experience with a BP.

Thank you all so much. That was awesome and detailed, and more than just a grocery list! We're setting it up tonight, we decided to use a spare ten gallon tank we have instead of the thirty. All I need is the screen lid! I'll be reading up on here all week, and I'll post pictures once s/he settles a bit.
Thanks again!
Holly

Oh, forgot to say we will be going to the Indy Reptile Expo and I have talked with a few breeders with bp's available. I am new to snakes but not pet stores! I buy as little as possible at pet stores and I will not patronize any pet store that sells puppies or kittens(puppymills). I show and breed dogs on a small scale and I know all the right cataloges and online sources such as Revival, Petedge, etc. I'm sure there are good ones for reptiles as well. What do you think about lllreptile?
Holly

welcome!!! i can't wait to see pics!!!

What are you talking about???? Do you have any proof about this?

I am sorry for my comments, I take them back, because it was just hearsay. If someone could delete it, please do.

I have HEARD some pros/cons about there animals. There products are great though. If your looking for a snake just look up top at the 8ballpython ad and click it! Or just click this link..www.8ballpythons.com :carrot: .

I take it there were some naughty comments about lllreptile? LOL I just asked because they are on the expo vendor list and I know they have lots of supplies too. Says their snakes are cb. But you never know. Here is the link to vendors at this show.
http://www.danwagonerdesign.com/indyexpo/vendorlist.php
Holly

Wow you've got some excellent breeders to pick from at that show! BHB, Roussis Reptiles, Peter Kahl, Amir Soleymani....all are names with excellent reps behind them as well as I'm sure many more on that list! I'd look at them before LLL myself. A lot of top breeders will have their very expensive morphs there for you to drool over but may have some nice normals to sell or can direct you to someone reputable that has what you want to purchase. Likely as you are looking for a nice wellstarted baby BP for a pet then a nice normal male is your best and most cost effective snake. If you are thinking of breeding down the road then you may want to think morph genetics now with your first purchase or go with a normal female and raise her up to breeding size. If you aren't sure what to look for in a healthy 06 baby BP or what sort of things to expect from a breeder, feel free to ask for help on that.