Ralph Davis - Ball Python Setup

Part 1
YouTube - Basic Ball Python Set-Up ( part 1 )
Part 2
YouTube - Basic Ball Python Set-Up ( part 2 )

Not what I expected. Kinda contradicts a lot of the info on this site. What do you guys think?

I think that if i employed the generic set-up, my snake would either die of the cold or shrivel up due to extremely low humidity!!

My house is cold, where I live is cold, and the relative humidity outside is typically about 25-285 year round and so much drier in the house due to the heater being on!

Generic, in this case, would only work well if you lived in a warmer and more humid environment :)

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

Kinda contradicts a lot of the info on this site. What do you guys think?

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There isn't just one correct way to house a ball python. There are a few basics and then the rest is all personal preference.

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Originally Posted by brainman1000

There isn't just one correct way to house a ball python. There are a few basics and then the rest is all personal preference.

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Yes! :gj:

Great videos. Great tips. It's always helpful to see someone set it up.

Yes, some of the info is contrary, but it's not wrong. It's just another method.

Ralph knows what he's talking about and honestly it's not a bad setup, personally I'd change a few things but all in all it's not bad at all. Simple and easy to clean for a tank, I think that's where he was going with this.

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Originally Posted by starmom

I think that if i employed the generic set-up, my snake would either die of the cold or shrivel up due to extremely low humidity!!

My house is cold, where I live is cold, and the relative humidity outside is typically about 25-285 year round and so much drier in the house due to the heater being on!

Generic, in this case, would only work well if you lived in a warmer and more humid environment :)

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I agree that things are different in a cold climate vs a warm climate.That wouldn't be the ideal set up for me either. Ralph and his friend are in Florida though. Where I live temps have been below freezing for a good while and down around 0 degrees at night for weeks. I keep my house at 65 degrees, but have an electric heater in my herp room. While I like pvc type cages and racks myself, I can well understand how the price of a glass enclosure might look like the way to go for anyone.

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Originally Posted by dsirkle

Ralph and his friend are in Florida though.

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Um... Unless I am going nuts, Ralph is in Maryland...

http://www.ralphdavisreptiles.com/contact_me/

Please no one take this personally. This is just a an observation of mine.

I have seen a lot of posts on these forums from new people who post pictures of similar set ups and get absolutely ripped to shreds for it. I can almost guarantee that if a joe blow that no one knew had posted a video like this that I would have seen the following:

"You need two identical hides."
"Those stick on thermometers are terrible. And there's no humidity guage! Please use an Accurite!"
"Those UTH's get up to 120 degrees and fluctuate wildly. You have to use a rheostat/thermostat!"
"Please cover the sides of the tank with a dark material."

From my perspective, it appears there's a double standard.

Maybe my perspective is skewed but that's how I see it. Am I wrong?

Looks good to me, 'cept... I'd lose the lamp, get a thermometer, and start with a 20 long tank instead of a ten. I'd cover part of the screen top to help hold in humidity(its very dry here in the winter) Newspaper is great, I hate the green carpet. Aspen would work and look nicer.
I'm not sure I would trust a UTH without a way to regulate it, (rheostat or a thermostat) I love Helix but they are a bit pricey.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

Please no one take this personally. This is just a an observation of mine.

I have seen a lot of posts on these forums from new people who post pictures of similar set ups and get absolutely ripped to shreds for it. I can almost guarantee that if a joe blow that no one knew had posted a video like this that I would have seen the following:

"You need two identical hides."
"Those stick on thermometers are terrible. And there's no humidity guage! Please use an Accurite!"
"Those UTH's get up to 120 degrees and fluctuate wildly. You have to use a rheostat/thermostat!"
"Please cover the sides of the tank with a dark material."

From my perspective, it appears there's a double standard.

Maybe my perspective is skewed but that's how I see it. Am I wrong?

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It's easy to rip on Joe Blow(the poor guy). I think Ralph knows his stuff and is suggesting a "bare bones" setup for a person starting out with their first ball python.