best and cheap setups for ball pythons i need help.

i am on a tight budget to get a snake due to my car repair needs but really want a snake to so i need to know the cheapest most reliable BP setup so if any of ya know any good setups for a reasonable price please list and name them and total price estimate thank you.

Plastic Tub - $15 (+/-)
Ultratherm Under Tank Heater (UTH) - $19.99
Plastic water bowl x2 (hides) from Dollar Tree - $1 each
Packing Paper (substrate) - 70 sheets $4.95 Home Depot
Plastic water bowl - I had one at the house already
Hydrofarm thermostat - $30 Amazon
Accurite thermometer x2 - $12 each at Walmart
f/t rats - price varies per frequency of feeding, size of rats
Tape - ?
Feeding tongs - $5 Repticon
Digital gram scale - $15

Almost everything is a one time purchase except things like rats. The tub and hides grow with the BP and then of course things getting replaced as they get older and wearout.

RetiredJedi, what size bin do you start out with for your hatchlings? I see that you said $15 for a bin, but the 15q I see are only about $6... Do you use a bigger size?
Keeping an eye on this thread since I'm interested in cheap but great setups as well. :3

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Originally Posted by fluffpuffgerbil

RetiredJedi, what size bin do you start out with for your hatchlings? I see that you said $15 for a bin, but the 15q I see are only about $6... Do you use a bigger size?
Keeping an eye on this thread since I'm interested in cheap but great setups as well. :3

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You know I was taking a guess because I used a tub I had at home already but I think 15q is about the size I have right now. What I did was look at the Wal-mart site and took a guess. That's why I put +/- and I'm not a good judge of it just by looking. I just made sure that with two hides and a water bowl my 145g BP has enough room to move a little but not too much room to make it look like it's too wide open. Let me put it this way when I put THIS PACKING PAPER down on the bottom of the tub I have to fold the sides in about an inch or so on each side for it to fit.

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

You know I was taking a guess because I used a tub I had at home already but I think 15q is about the size I have right now. What I did was look at the Wal-mart site and took a guess. That's why I put +/- and I'm not a good judge of it just by looking. I just made sure that with two hides and a water bowl my 145g BP has enough room to move a little but not too much room to make it look like it's too wide open. Let me put it this way when I put THIS PACKING PAPER down on the bottom of the tub I have to fold the sides in about an inch or so on each side for it to fit.

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I see. :3 I'm gonna be using a 15q tub I found at home, but only yesterday I realised it was a 15q. I checked at walmart and they were only $6.

That's the type of UTH I plan on getting. :3 I'm just gonna order it online though since Reptilebasics has them for like 14.99.(not sure on the shipping though)
Thanks for the reply though! I was just curious what bin you used. :3

Must haves before you get snake:

$2.97 15qt sterlite tub w/ locking lid
$3.00 Hides & water dish
$10.00 piece of wired flexwatt
$8.00 rheostat-will have to be checked often, if room temps are unstable
$12.00 accurite x 1
$free Sunday paper for substrate


These are items that you may want to get after getting your snake

Digital gram scale
Tongs

Obi Wan there pretty much nailed it.

However, the substrate could just be newspaper or paper towls which you should already have anyways. And just one Accurite will do.

And a scale isn't really needed unless you plan on breeding. You should be able to tell if a snake is underweight just by looking at it.

You're welcome...if you keep checking back I'm sure I missed something and someone will add something... that UTH is really nice. It's kinda like heat tape that is already cut and setup for you. Even though it is low wattage you should still use something to monitor it.

15 qt is perfect for a hatchling (you can pick up small bowls to turn into hides from the dollar store) once they get bigger, you can move them to a larger, more permanant tub.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

Obi Wan there pretty much nailed it...

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Hahahaha...more like Obi-Wan's ghost that couldn't do anything. Remember I'm a Retired Jedi...80)

Yeah, I won't be caught without a T-stat. I'll be getting the hydrofarm one.

RetiredJedi- do you have anything else with your T-stat to regulate it or something? I was told to like, put a piece of glass or something underneath one so it would heat up slower and cool down slower with the on/off t-stat. But I don't think I'd need to with an ultratherm that doesn't get too hot.
(I feel like I'm hijacking the thread... I'll stop now. xD This thread is very helpful though)

Basics...

1. a tub, 15qt work great for hatchlings ~ $4.50 @ malwarts
2. hide if you use them ~
3. water bowl ~ $2ish
4. paper towel/newspaper
5. Pre-wired 11x12 inch piece of flexwatt(reptilebasics), I would cut it down to 6 inches long* so it fits nicely under the 15qt tub with just over 1/3 of the tub sitting on the flexwatt. ~ $10 delivered
6. thermostat to regulate ~ $30
7. thermometer with probe to keep a close eye on your hot spot and the ambient temperature. ~ $10 - $15

Around $60 bucks and your completely set up to add :snake:

*@ 6 inches long you have another piece for your next baby :P

No, I cut a piece of cardboard the size of the UTH, put a piece of tinfoil on top of that (to direct the heat upward), and then taped the UTH to the cardboard. That was just to keep it flat and in place. So from bottom to top I have, cardboard, tinfoil, UTH. The tinfoil might not even be needed but it keeps the heat going towards the tub.

I see, thank you, Jedi! That sounds like a good, cheap and easy thing to do. (We have an excess of cardboard. XD)

I'll keep that in mind so I can steal your setup idea for when I get a BP.
And what tape do you use? Not just plain old regular tape do you?(I don't see that working well with they UTH...)

I think a scale is one of the most important peices of any reptile husbandry equipment. And it IS 100% necessary. Picture this you have 1 very loved beloved pet snake. He goes on a fast. But its in the summer. Why would he do this? How do you tell whether this is an illness or completely normal? A SCALE. To have a ball not eating is extremely stressful. And in every reptiles life time they will have and issue or two no matter what. Balls are prone to fast. All reptiles no matter what it is do not show their weaknesses until it's too late. So by the time your eye has noticed your beloved pet had lost weight and looks really skinny he is ALREADY at deaths door. That is the nature of a reptile. The only way to have a complete history in case a vet appt is needed is to have weights. I always no matter what recommend a new owner have a scale, and a notebook. You should be recording defecations, feeding, regurge, shed, weight and odd behavior everytime . That way a vet will have a complete an accurate background on your pet. And not just guess work.
Weights should be taken on a monthly bases if he eating normally. If he's fasting 2x monthly. That way you will catch an illness with time to do something about it. I promise you if there's one thing you want to get its a scale. It will save your pets/ breeding animals life in the end if theres a problem. And if it's just a fast it will save you countless worrisome nights, and questions wondering what's going on with your pet. Sick reptiles lose weight. Heathy happy ones don't.

Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

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Originally Posted by fluffpuffgerbil

...And what tape do you use? Not just plain old regular tape do you?(I don't see that working well with they UTH...)

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No I use some duct tape and have it on the edges of the UTH that doesn't touch the heated area and it has yet to come off.

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Originally Posted by Homegrownscales

...I always no matter what recommend a new owner have a scale, and a notebook. You should be recording defecations, feeding, regurge, shed, weight and odd behavior everytime...

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That is one thing I forgot to mention. I document everything; weight, tub cleaning, start/finish shedding, feeding and how long it took to grab the rat, every once in a while I record temps and humidity, handling, etc.

A reptile rescue in my area often gets donated set ups with the reptiles. Since they already have caging and so many people who adopt want to buy new, they often sell the used setups for money to run the rescue. They get tanks, cages, thermostats, heating--the works. There might be something similar where you live.

I also once belonged to a herp club. People often sold off their no longer needed set ups at reasonable prices. I know that it's not always available, but I've seen really good stuff (and bought really good stuff) from my old herp club newsletter. Since you are trying to get things together on a budget you might want to look into these things. I cleaned the cages out good with bleach water and let them dry in the sun and there were no issues.

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

You're welcome...if you keep checking back I'm sure I missed something and someone will add something... that UTH is really nice. It's kinda like heat tape that is already cut and setup for you. Even though it is low wattage you should still use something to monitor it.

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thats great but how is the snake supposed to breath through a tub

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Originally Posted by piebald95

thats great but how is the snake supposed to breath through a tub

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Well number one a tub isn't air tight and number two you will have to put a few holes in it to get your humidity right. However, plastic tubs from Walmart aren't sealed air tight.

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

Well number one a tub isn't air tight and number two you will have to put a few holes in it to get your humidity right. However, plastic tubs from Walmart aren't sealed air tight.

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what do i use to make the holes

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Originally Posted by piebald95

what do i use to make the holes

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With one of these.

http://www.harborfreight.com/30-watt...ron-47887.html

Here is the link to a thread that I made on the basics of setting up a tub, as well as, some modifications that I made to mine. Hope it helps.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Basics...*DUW*

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

Here is the link to a thread that I made on the basics of setting up a tub, as well as, some modifications that I made to mine. Hope it helps.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Basics...*DUW*

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dude this is awesome i was so confused but your guide helped allot thanks!

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

No, I cut a piece of cardboard the size of the UTH, put a piece of tinfoil on top of that (to direct the heat upward), and then taped the UTH to the cardboard. That was just to keep it flat and in place. So from bottom to top I have, cardboard, tinfoil, UTH. The tinfoil might not even be needed but it keeps the heat going towards the tub.

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Just to clarify - this is on the OUTSIDE of the tub, right? Just want to make sure that no one uses any type of tape INSIDE the enclosure, because it will work its way loose and it will get stuck on the snake.

nvm.......:P

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Originally Posted by piebald95

dude this is awesome i was so confused but your guide helped allot thanks!

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:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::gj::gj::gj::gj::gj:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Just to clarify - this is on the OUTSIDE of the tub, right? Just want to make sure that no one uses any type of tape INSIDE the enclosure, because it will work its way loose and it will get stuck on the snake.

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Roger that sir.

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

Roger that sir.

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Correction: Roger that, ma'am... :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

Correction: Roger that, ma'am... :rofl:

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hahahahaha...sorry...hahahaha:dead::redface::laughing:

Don't pick on me... 80/

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

Accurite thermometer x2 - $12 each at Walmart

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Why 2? It has a probe. At least the ones at home depot do, for $10. Unit on the cool side probe on the hot side.

Also, someone suggested flexwatt heat tape at 11" size. Not a good idea, it will be fine with the 3" size.

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Originally Posted by Jessica Loesch

Why 2? It has a probe. At least the ones at home depot do, for $10. Unit on the cool side probe on the hot side.

Also, someone suggested flexwatt heat tape at 11" size. Not a good idea, it will be fine with the 3" size.

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Yea, I had one of the older ones from Walmart that only had one readout. I just recently got the newer type that has the ability to read both at the same time.

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Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

Yea, I had one of the older ones from Walmart that only had one readout. I just recently got the newer type that has the ability to read both at the same time.

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I guess not really older ones but they are the cheaper ones I had at the house that we bought when our AC unit was going bad and that was he first thing that came to my head. I forgot about the double readout ones.

Oh okay, yeah they are $10 at lowes :D

You want cheap let me show you cheap...:P

Pick up a melamine book shelf and some extra shelving, garage sale, goodwill, walmart etc.
Instead of using the pre-existing holes for the shelves place the tubs up against the top shelf and nail the shelf under the tub so then the tub slides nicely onto the shelf and the shelf above keeps the lid from being opened and the snake from escaping.

Tape down flexwatt onto the shelves and wire them inline so there is one plug-in to plug into your t-stat.

Nine 40qt tubs can fit into one 5 shelf book shelf in this fashion just by adding shelves.

I bred 11 females in these 40qt sterilites and every single female is gravid or has laid eggs :)
http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/a...amineshelf.jpg

It also works well for hatchling racks.

I took an old china hutch and laid down flexwatt on each shelf after making each shelf the perfect height so each tub barely slides under the shelf.
It will hold 35 tubs and cost under $75 in materials since I already had the old china hutch.
I've seen old china hutches at goodwill for $20.
http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/PICT7478.jpg