Advice?

Hey guys! So I got my first BP today, a normal male I named Riddle, and I bought a regular rubber maid container for him from the breeder I bought him from. I asked the breeder how I should put holes in the sides, and (keep in mind that I've known this breeder for awhile, and he's been dealing with all kinds of snakes for close to 35 years now) he said that as long as the container wasn't air tight, and I would be taking him out and handling him daily, there was no need for holes because it would decrease the humidity.

I'm just wondering if that was good advice?! I don't have any sort of way to put holes in the side without going out and buying something, so for now he's stuck in a hole-less (but definitely not airtight) rubber maid container.

I also had a question about heating. I bought a heating pad (don't remember exactly what kind, but it was a name brand from petsmart) and it's the kind that self-regulates the heating. As of right now, that's all I have for a heat source for the little guy, because I can't exactly put a light in the tub. Is that adequate enough for him?

He's been curled up on top of his hide so far, and I'm wondering if it's because he's trying to get away from the heat (though he could easily just go to the other side of the tub, which is a good two and a half feet long...and I checked, the other side is cooler than the warm side) but...yeah. I've done almost five months of research on these guys, and I thought I knew enough so that I would have no problems when I got him, but now that I have him, I'm like...I don't know what I'm doing! It's definitely not the same, reading about them and actually having one, lol.

Thanks for your help guys! I'll post a picture of the little guy soon =)

Read the caresheet on this site, it can offer alot of answers to your question, you need to get a thermostat for your heating device to regulate the temp, it may be TOO hot in the hide.

How are you reading the temps? Do you have a temp controller? How are you reading the humidity? If the humidity gets a bit high lets say over 65% and you want to bring it down by adding a few holes you should be able to by taking a Philips head heat it over the stove and poke a few holes from the outside in just make sure your little friend is not in while your doing and air it out afterward for about 30 minutes.

I did read the caresheet on the site, and I know it said that air holes should be used to prevent stagnant air. But on the other hand, a breeder of almost 35 years said as long as I open up the enclosure while handling my BP and let the air flow through, he would be just fine. If he'll be just fine, I don't want to go out and buy a new tool (which honestly, I would have no clue how to use, lol).

As for a thermostat to regulate the temperature, it's a mat with an inbuilt thermostat (designed FOR reptile heating), so it's supposed to be the right temperature for them. I'm going to try and get a temp. probe tomorrow just to make sure...but if the temp from the mat is way off, I'll definitely need to get one that doesn't have an inbuilt thermostat. I'm hoping it's right though, since this is a quality brand product and many breeders have recommended it! =/

Thanks for commenting, icandi <3

Ladymisery - right now, I don't have a way to read the temps. I was told by numerous breeders (who all use the mat I bought) that the heating mat would regulate itself to the temperature needed. Now I'm seeing that I still need to have a way to check, so I'll be going out tomorrow to Petsmart and buying a temperature probe. As for the humidity, I...am ashamed to admit that I completely forgot about that. Some snake owner I am *sighs* I'll buy a humidity gauge tomorrow, as well. Thanks for the reminder =)

YVW, So the heat pad has a dial thingy on it? You may end up with high humidity (depending) inside the tub if so you can make a few air holes at a time, I prefer to use the tip of a hot glue gun, works fantastic. For a temp/hydrometer, most ppl that use a single tub setup get the accurite digital hydrometer/temp from wal mart in the neighborhood of 11 bucks or so.

No, it doesn't have a dial on it. I'm wishing I had gotten one that did though. My breeder said that it has an internal thermostat that sets it to about 88 (or so), which should be just right for most reptiles.

I think it may in fact be too hot inside the hide, but my guess is that the hide is serving as a nice UTH for him currently. That's probably why he's on top of it. It may be that the hide is too hot, but the cool side is too cold. You won't know for sure without a way to record the temp though.

As for air holes, yeah, a hot glue gun would work nice, but I think the screwdriver over a stove should work well too.

i would not be using ant heating element on plastic without an external regulator, its a fire hazard. As for adding holes to your tub-- a soldering iron is a good tool just make sure to do it outside because of the plastic fumes.

I hear what u are saying about the breeder saying it does not need wholes in the tub but why not put 2 or 3 little wholes in there just to make sure he is getting enough air..and how big is the tub and how big is the snake..

You can use a soldering iron or a drill. I have lots of holes in my tubs for air exchange. When they poop/pee is smells pretty bad, I can only imagine what that smell would be inside the tub with no holes.

It is very easy to put holes on that rubbermaid. It doesn't even have to be round holes. If you don't have a screwdriver (get one! It's a buck at the dollar store and you can use it for all sort of stuff like replacing batteries and such) you can just go get a knife and punch an X into the sides of the bin and poke it from the inside out with your fingertip. I'm gonna flip if you say you don't have a knife...

Anyway, once you put a water bowl inside that rubber maid you can easily get humidity close to 100 with that UTH. You will notice a lot of condensation on the lid of that rubbermaid. Especially when your snake spills his water bowl onto your substrate.

Sure you can do air exchanges if you open the tub daily to handle the snake. But, when your snake is in shed, when you want to go on a weekend party, when you get too busy, you'll find out soon enough it will not always work out that way.

Richieboo - the tub is about a foot and a half long, and a foot wide, and Riddle is...somewhere around 14 inches, I think.

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/P1010140.jpg

And I did what you guys suggested, using a knife to put holes in the side =) I'm pretty sure I need a bigger heating pad, though. The one the breeder told me to get seems too small, as it only just covers the bottom of the hide, so I don't think it's heating the tub well enough >> I'm going out tonight to exchange the pad so my little guy doesn't have to chill on his hide the whole time.

Thank you all for your comments! Like I said, it's one thing researching these guys, and another thing entirely having one. Seeing as it's only my second day with him, I'm hoping I'll learn pretty quick.

What a little cutie pie!

And yes, reading about them and owning them are two TOTALLY different things, the good news is, you have this amazing place to turn to for help. I know my babies and I couldn't get along without this place.

Gale