Does my tub look ok?

I hope my mom doesn't see this post...I feel bad, but I couldn't take it anymore.
The photos I have seen of snake cannibalism were too much. They were stuck in my head. These snakes are my babies, not just a pet.
I was freaking out about still having Cleo and Madison housed together.
My mom didn't want me to put them in tubs, so I have Nergal and Cleo in separate tanks, and I took my clothes out of one of my sterilite carts and put Madison in the top drawer.
I put Aspen shaving down to cover it, slid a heat mat underneath with a piece of construction paper over the top of the heat mat (so it isn't directly touching the tub). I put a metal container in and filled it with water, and put a Zilla hide log on the hot spot. I'm going to try to make her another hide for the cool spot.
I don't have a thermostat yet to control the temperature. My mom said at one point she would buy another tank for Madison since she didn't want her in a tub, but never did, and now I can't find anymore good Craigslist deals on them.
I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to do something. I don't want any of my babies to die, be stressed, or eat each other.
So, does this tub look ok? Money permitting I will buy a thermometer and thermostat, and make her another hide.
I think it looks ok though. She has lots of room.
Here are photos:
http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...I5NDIuanBn.jpg
http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...I5NTEuanBn.jpg
http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/...MwMDQuanBn.jpg
Can take more photos if needed.

Great idea!

If you can, punch a small hole on the top of the rack and the handle of the tub, then slide a twisty tie or something through both holes to "lock" the drawer. This way, you can be sure the snake won't push the tub open. They can be surprisingly strong!

hmm, she still hasn't settled down since I put her in there. She's moving around a lot, hasn't gone in her log yet, keeps rubbing her nose on the side of the tub. Is she stressed? Is this normal?

Yes, perfectly normal for a bp getting moved to a new tub. It could take a few days - maybe even a week before he settles down. You might wanna make sure that heat mat is not too hot. Other than that, you're doing good!

Thanks anatess. :D
The heat mat, on the bottom side, feels warm to my hands. On the side Madison is on, through the substrate, I cannot feel any temperature difference to my hand, which I think is good, since that means it should be ok for her, right? I know what feels warm to us could be hot to them. I can't feel a difference between the cool spot and the hot spot on her side.
Is that good?
I'm trying so hard to take care of them. I love them to pieces, but it's hard when my mother disagrees with my husbandry. I need a house :P Too bad they don't come free. :(

Awsome idea and great job taking care of your babies! :gj::gj::gj:

Also, just so people know we are trying to hard to take care of our snakies...Max pawned his engagement ring this month (we'll hopefully buy it back next payday) so we could have enough money to feed the snakes. :tears::tears:
So, I really hope I'm doing ok with this move. :( I know my mom will be upset when she finds out. I hate keeping secrets. She's my best friend. This sucks, but I need my snakes to be ok.
She says she can't believe I can feed them live food and she looks up to me for it. I just tell her my kids are my snakes, and they have to eat like everyone else. :) I love them lots! :D :D :wuv:

[QUOTE=shelliebear;1472460]I don't have a thermostat yet to control the temperature.
[QUOTE]

Please get a t-stat asap.

I don't know... I might get bashed for this, but I feel like I have to say something. If you can't afford something as little as another tank for your snake, let alone a much needed thermostat, that you have to pawn your own "engagement" ring.. Maybe you should think about rehoming your snakes to someone who can afford these things so your snakes don't get hurt. Then, maybe, once you get a job and some money, get a setup completely ready before hand, and look into adopting another snake.

Just my $0.02....

I am leaving my opinion about money/keeping the snake out of this, but I will add this.

Looks like your "tub" is a drawer tub. I have heard that sometimes snakes will get out of these drawers through the encaved areas on the lid and escape out the back. Never experienced this myself (never used them) but have been told this could happen by others.

As far as does the tub look good? Kinda..........but husbandry right now is horrible

Why is my husbandry horrible?
:( Please let me know. I want to fix it. We got money for the ring so we can buy stuff.
As for adopting my snakes out...I've considered it before. Really, I'm just waiting until I'm 18 (February!) so I can get a job. Long story, but I'm not allowed to get a job while living in my house. I have been filling out applications, and I'm waiting until my b-day so I can help earn money to pay for things. That's one reason we haven't adopted the snakes out, though trust me, we have considered it once before.
By pawning the ring, I didn't mean every month we are totally broke. This month we had to buy a stroller for my sister in law's baby shower, our van broke from the cold weather, and...yeah. That sucked. Fortunately, even if the van does break again next month, we'll be able to pay for that, but the expense of the stroller (those suckers are costly) will be used for snake food since we don't have to buy another one or anything.
The point is though my snakes have never gone without food.
Also, just my .02 cents since you put yours out (and I appreciate you doing so), parents don't get rid of their children because they can't afford it. :oops: People would be angry, I think, if they did that. Why are my snakes different? I'm taking care of them, on a low income yes, but they're not getting burned, they don't go hungry, they get cleaned up after regularly and are healthy (I have brought them to the vet before.) They are mite and parasite free...
I just don't see why just because we are struggling means they should go out the door.
So far, my snakes are healthy. If that changes and I can't afford to fix it, yes, I'll probably adopt them out to someone....but that's why I'm constantly asking you guys if my husbandry is ok, etc. Nobody has said thus far that I need to be concerned, besides of course not having a t-stat which I have all picked out and I'm going to purchase today or tomorrow.
From everything 'I've been hearing my snakes are ok, so I don't think I need to adopt them out.
Please, please, let me know why you think my husbandry is bad, MitsuMike. I would like to fix it.
Thanks,
Shellie

....does the Zoo Med Repti-Temp Rheostat work to control the temp well?
I could pick that up today. Have been looking at it for a while....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shelliebear

....does the Zoo Med Repti-Temp Rheostat work to control the temp well?
I could pick that up today. Have been looking at it for a while....

---

That's not really a proper thermostat. It's a rheostat. Look for Zilla1000 thermostat or spend abit more and get a Herpstat, you will never have to worry about temps again!

looks awesome to me!

Ok, will definitely get the thermostat instead. Thank you. :D

yeah i thought about those drawer tubs too but was quickly advised not to do that for the escape reason as well.
i'm using a repti-temp 500r thermostat to control my heat pad and so far so good...
my only worry about your set up is the paper you have between the heat pad and tub surface...if that uncontrolled heat pad gets too hot i'd imagine that paper would catch fire.
also ive learned here that bp's like to feel completely enclosed by whatever they're hiding in.
i have hide boxes from reptilebasics.com and they fit VERY snug around my little girl's body. those logs have exposed openings, not good for the long term thing.
how are you providing/maintaining humidity in that drawer tub? bp's need 50-60% and up to 70% during shed.
i'm currently struggling with my humidity at the moment but i'm working hard to bring it up and keep it as stable as i can given mother nature is not working with me here.
well, you've got alot of things to do but i wish you the best of luck.

For humidity I'm spraying the tub as needed but I also have a hmidifier I can hook up in my room to keep the ambient air very humid as well. It actually helps my lungs too. I wanted to get a dimmer switch for that possibly so maybe at some times i could turn it down lower to avoid RI's.
Oh, crap. I'm out right now (posing from phone) and I was going to buy twisty ties to hold the drawer shut. I'm freaking out---will she escape??? NOOOOO!!!
I guess I'll have Max turn around and I'll stay home and keep an eye on her. No escapees! :( It didn't look like she could escape to me--honestly I thought it wluld be easier for her to get out of her tank than the tub, and she never got out of her tank. (We had a log in her tank that she climbed on, and she could just push the lid up, but never did).
Ok so I'm going home to check on her. Thanks
Also the heat pad does not get that warm. It's not even hot, just warm, even on the bare side touching the heat pad directly, not even through the plastic tub.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shelliebear

parents don't get rid of their children because they can't afford it. :oops: People would be angry, I think, if they did that.

---

What world do you live in.... Seriously... Kids go up for adoption ALL the time because parents cant afford them.

Which a lot of the time it is truly best for the kid.

Mom's house = Mom's rules.

Your Mom is your best friend. Be honest with her. If she is unwilling to allow your snake to stay in it's current enclosure, then perhaps you should respect her decision.

I don't know much about snakes, but my understanding is that properly cared-for BP's are quite content to share space, and are not cannibalistic by nature. So maybe you can also work on that fear of yours?;)

I live in a world where most of the people I know get help from the state to pay for their children that their McDonald's job can't afford.....:confuzd:
What world do you live in? :confused:

Forget it. This is too short notice. I need to plan it out more next time.
I found a good Craigslist deal today (finally!) on a tank. Max and I are going to pick it up now.
Thanks guys, I'll prepare better next time. For now it's tanks, and my mom will be happy too. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shelliebear

....does the Zoo Med Repti-Temp Rheostat work to control the temp well?
I could pick that up today. Have been looking at it for a while....

---

I called one of my friends, who is the manager of one of my local pet shops, and asked him about the Repti-Temp Rheostats. He said they retail for about $28.00. If you are going to spend that much on a rheostat, I would suggest looking at the Repti-temp 500r or the Hydrofarm thermostats. They are roughly the same price, maybe $5-$6 more. I'll see if I can find some links for you...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vypyrz

I called one of my friends, who is the manager of one of my local pet shops, and asked him about the Repti-Temp Rheostats. He said they retail for about $28.00. If you are going to spend that much on a rheostat, I would suggest looking at the Repti-temp 500r or the Hydrofarm thermostats. They are roughly the same price, maybe $5-$6 more. I'll see if I can find some links for you...

---

Here are links where you can get either one of the above listed thermostats for under $25. Hope this helps...

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

http://www.bigalsonline.com/productD...LAID=388701836

Thank you so much everyone. :) We ended up going to the pet store and found a nice used 29 gallon tank for 40$. So Madison is chilling in there and she looks pretty happy. :)
I'll post pics later today or tomorrow. It looks really nice in there! And I feel more confident in my tank husbandry than tub husbandry. :) :gj:

Looks good, I did something like that for my leoshttp://184.72.239.143/mu/6c7dec91-e5dc-f6e6.jpg

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shelliebear

....does the Zoo Med Repti-Temp Rheostat work to control the temp well?
I could pick that up today. Have been looking at it for a while....

---

Hey there.. I suggest looking on ebay first for thermostats, then comparing ebay's prices against amazon.com's prices for thermostats... That's where I found mine and with shipping and handling it cost me $21.. Definitely stay away from the rheostat.. And craigslist can totally be your best friend.. Plus, run to walmart or kmart or meijer and pick up a rubbermaid tub, they don't cost more than $10 but are extremely practical (just drill in some air holes in the sides).. Best of luck hun!! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shelliebear

Thank you so much everyone. :) We ended up going to the pet store and found a nice used 29 gallon tank for 40$. So Madison is chilling in there and she looks pretty happy. :)
I'll post pics later today or tomorrow. It looks really nice in there! And I feel more confident in my tank husbandry than tub husbandry. :) :gj:

---

I actually found it 3 times easier in a tub than tank! Hated my exoterra glass tank!