I getting sick of glass aquariums!

I'm starting to lean more to the plastic containers instead. I'm getting annoyed with the constant maintenance of keeping the humidity up and stressing every time the temperature fluctuates. Sure, It makes it looks pleasing, but at this point, I don't care. I just want things to start working for me. Can anyone offer me a visual walk through on how to set up a plastic enclosure(Heating, etc.)?

Well are you looking more for a rack-like one or a actual plastic tub with height and all? If you want a rack setup they're really simple to set up and there are tons of guides in the DIY section that show you how to build them, or you could just order one.

check out this link

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=Sterilite

You could zip tie a piece of plexi glass over the screen of the tank, it will help a lot.

As for setting up a tub, all you really need is a heat mat or flex watt, with a thermostat. Most people only use hides for little ball pythons, but you could put a hide in for the larger ones too if you wanted. Other than that and a water bowl, that is pretty much all there is to it.

I use a wet/damp towel folded up on top of the screened lid to control humidity in my glass tank. If you try that things will get easier for you. :D

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Originally Posted by Oxylepy

Well are you looking more for a rack-like one or a actual plastic tub with height and all? If you want a rack setup they're really simple to set up and there are tons of guides in the DIY section that show you how to build them, or you could just order one.

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I'm not quite sure. I only have 1 snake, but I've been wanting another for the longest time and I don't know when that time is going to be. I'm guessing a tub for now..

Tubs can be either in a rack or on a shelf.

Extension cord and extra wire for multiple tubs if needed.
Flexwatt UTH pads wired and plugged into a t-stat.
Locking tubs if using a shelf set up.
This is my current set up with 28qt tub melamine rack, 6qt tub melamine baby rack up top and melamine 5 shelf for larger tubs off to the right.
There is 11x12 flexwatt on each shelf.
http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/SDC15868.jpg

It's really simple and cost effective and no worries about humidity and all the other issues a tank brings to the table.

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Originally Posted by Zedd

check out this link

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=Sterilite

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Regarding to this link, What kind of UTH should I use? I thought UTH's melt plastic If placed directly..?

Flexwatt!
I've been using flexwatt on melamine shelves for over 2 years with no issues.

Beanfarm.com

Reptilebasics.com

Also, since I'll only have one side that heated, how can I maintain a temperature gradient of 82-84* on the cool side? I don't want my tub to be 92 on one side and 70-something on the other.. :(

I apologize fore all these concerns..:oops:

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Originally Posted by Immy

Regarding to this link, What kind of UTH should I use? I thought UTH's melt plastic If placed directly..?

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As long as you hook the UTH or Flexwatt up to a thermostat it won't melt. I currently have 4 stand alone tubs running on UTH's...

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Originally Posted by Immy

Also, since I'll only have one side that heated, how can I maintain a temperature gradient of 82-84* on the cool side? I don't want my tub to be 92 on one side and 70-something on the other.. :(

I apologize fore all these concerns..:oops:

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The rooms ambient temperature has to be up around 75 to keep the tubs cool end temp around 77-78

With a hot spot of 92 the warm end should be around 85-87
and the cool end will be in the high 70's or low 80's depending on the ambient temperature of the room.

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

The rooms ambient temperature has to be up around 75 to keep the tubs cool end temp around 77-78

With a hot spot of 92 the warm end should be around 85-87
and the cool end will be in the high 70's or low 80's depending on the ambient temperature of the room.

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You're awesome. One more thing, could you tell how to install flexwatt? I never used it before. :(

People commonly think UTHs will melt tubs... They don't if you have them set up with a controlling device. I've used UTHs on tubs since I first got my snakes, I've never had a tub get remotely close to melting.

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Originally Posted by Immy

Also, since I'll only have one side that heated, how can I maintain a temperature gradient of 82-84* on the cool side? I don't want my tub to be 92 on one side and 70-something on the other.. :(

I apologize fore all these concerns..:oops:

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This is tricky because it is also a downside to tubs. I currently keep my ambient at the right temp by having my snake room at 80 using a space heater with a built in thermostat.

My UTH set at 93 does not heat my ambient up more than .5 to 1 degree above room temperature. So If your house is cooled down to 75 or below you may have issues maintaining correct temperature.

I have seen where some people have installed mettle mesh into the top of their tub lid and used heat lamps with a thermostat to control the ambient.

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Originally Posted by mozbink

This is tricky because it is also a downside to tubs. I currently keep my ambient at the right temp by having my snake room at 80 using a space heater with a built in thermostat.

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This is what I do, but not quite 80, 75 is fine for an ambient cool end temp, I won't let it go lower than that though.
Also if you put too many holes into the tub it will lower the tubs temperature too.

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My UTH set at 93 does not heat my ambient up more than .5 to 1 degree above room temperature. So If your house is cooled down to 75 or below you may have issues maintaining correct temperature.

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Below 75 could be an issue, but 75 for the rooms ambient is fine ;)

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I have seen where some people have installed mettle mesh into the top of their tub lid and used heat lamps with a thermostat to control the ambient.

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A recipe for disaster...