first experience with bp

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Heat lamps do have a place in this hobby

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I'm not trying to argue or anything. You do you. Just put a temp probe where your heat lamp shines. Better yet, use a temp gun and tell us what your readings are. Also the readings at the "point of contact", physical or where the light hits, where the snake can actually touch. Just saying that in my experience the temps get way way too hot. Maybe you have perfected a method?

I've been doing this a long time, not saying that you haven't, but I've seen melted tops and equipment, severe burns and broken glass in tanks. Not to mention totally drying out the air in the enclosure. Like I said, if you can make it work then bravo! :D

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Originally Posted by cecilbturtle

I'm not trying to argue or anything. You do you. Just put a temp probe where your heat lamp shines. Better yet, use a temp gun and tell us what your readings are. Also the readings at the "point of contact", physical or where the light hits, where the snake can actually touch. Just saying that in my experience the temps get way way too hot. Maybe you have perfected a method?

I've been doing this a long time, not saying that you haven't, but I've seen melted tops and equipment, severe burns and broken glass in tanks. Not to mention totally drying out the air in the enclosure. Like I said, if you can make it work then bravo! :D

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I completely agree that heat lamps alone get far too hot. Personally I have a few hooked up to thermostats to keep them in the proper ranges (not for BP's but other herps I own) Even cheap thermostats are more than satisfactory for heat lamps.

wait, so you don't use heat lamps for your snakes?

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Originally Posted by jfaria1891

i have heard nothing but good things about jkobylka reptiles and New England Reptiles (NERD). as far as healthy beautiful bp's go NERD is probably the best place to go. you will pay more but from what i understand their snakes are in perfect health and selectively bread to be beautiful. jkobylka is an awesome dude even if you dont buy off of him watch the videos on his youtube channel very informative and entertaining http://www.youtube.com/user/jkobylka?feature=CAQQwRs%3D His playlist called ProTips is very useful.

as of the last few years i refuse to buy anything from these places petsmart, petco, any chain petstore. i wont even buy items never mind animals i dont want to contribute to them being in business they get so many animals miss treated and killed because of the amount of false information they give out, not to mention they dont take care of their animals they couldnt even if they wanted to because they dont train their employees to care for the animals correctly. all they see is money and thats where they get off selling a normal bp baby for 80 bucks... seriously you can get a perfectly healthy one off any reasonable local dealer for 20-30 bucks who can give you correct advice so that this doesnt happen. Im sorry for your loss, petsmart and petco really are horrible places.

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I do see this in quite afew pet stores but to be honest the people at my local petco are quite knowledgeable. Most of them have quite a large collection of snakes and other reptiles from tegus to giant tortoises, I know that this is not the case in all petcos. Also I have seen these animals they are encouraged to bring pets to work with them and they all look healthy. Basicly Im trying to say that not all chain pet store employees are idiots.

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Originally Posted by cecilbturtle

wait, so you don't use heat lamps for your snakes?

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I use heat lamps on my Desert king snake, Leopard Gecko, and Bearded Dragon cages. My BP's, Carpet Python, and Dumeril's Boa cages all use flexwatt and/or radiant Heat panels. I live in florida so my apartment stays in the mid-upper 70's year round without having to run the heat too much.

The humidity in my apartment is very high 60% + usually, so I actually have to burn some off for my desert species.

Oh I didn't think I needed two hides I thought u really just need the one. I don't have a temp gage yet but I'm getting one today

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Originally Posted by Megz

Oh I didn't think I needed two hides I thought u really just need the one. I don't have a temp gage yet but I'm getting one today

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Check out this thread: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers

would it be better if I bought a small BP one or went ahead and bought a little bt bigger one??

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Originally Posted by shelby9189

would it be better if I bought a small BP one or went ahead and bought a little bt bigger one??

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If you are planning on putting it straight into size that tank, then a larger ball python would be the better choice.

wel what i was going to do was go to walmart and get one of those sterile tubs with a lid if i got a little one? would that be fine had a bunch of people tell me it would be?