New Ball Python Coming!

After a good long while of persevering, I have finally convinced my parents to allow me the pleasure of caring for a Ball Python. It won't be my first snake, nor will it be my last. I've done plenty of research concerning Ball Pythons, and I'm confident that I can provide a suitable, loving home for the little guy. But, I do have a couple of questions.

I think it would be best to use an under tank heating element, but I don't know if I should get a heat pad from a pet store, or order Flexwatt heat tape. I've heard that the Heat Tape is dangerous, and can cause fires, and this worries me. Also, what kind of device should I use to control the heat from these UTH's?

Next, I've decided I'm going to house the Python in a glass tank, and I think I'll need a 30 gallon long tank. I've read that it is difficult to maintain temperature and humidity inside of a glass tank, and that those things can escape through the screen top. What's the simplest way to keep the heat and humidity from escaping the glass tank?

Just wanted to say congrats on your new pet! When are you getting it? Have you already been looking at some that you like?
I'm not experienced enough to answer "whats best" questions, I'm learning a lot about caring for my first ball python... For the humidity and heat, I covered half the screen lid with saran wrap- on the outside- and used tape to keep it in place, but make sure to only use tape on the outside! Otherwise your little bud might get stuck to it and possibly be seriously injured.
You picked a great online community here, everyone is very helpful and knowledgeable and friendly; and more importantly you can tell they genuinely care about snakes. :D

I almost forgot! Def get a thermostat. I think that was my best purchase, well worth the money. That will help you with your heating as well!

Thanks. :D And no, I don't know when exactly I'll be getting him/her, or where I'm going to get it from. I think it would be better to get it from a breeder as opposed to the pet store, but I don't know if I want to get involved in the process of communicating with the breeder and either picking the snake up or having it delivered. The next Reptile Show in my area is in November, so I may have to wait for a while. :l

Flexwatt is safe if properly wired and routinely inspected. It is often used in racks and the wiring is many times too light and the sliding a plastic over it causes it to were out and short.

UTHs are fine too, no wiring and in many ways less hassle. If it is stuck on a tank it can be removed but plan on replacing it in case.

Heat cable is the last one it is also easy to use and although a bit of a pain to apply can be re-used easily as well. For a single enclosure personally I'd lean this way, simplicity and ease of use.

Every heat source needs to be regulated!!! What is best for you is hard to say they all work but under some conditions one maybe better than others.

Rheostats work by altering the power to the heat source they are completely manual and fail very very rarely. They work best in totally stable room temps, ones that do not change.

On/off thermostats (hydrofarm, ranco, johnson) don't fail often and they work on averages, They deliver full power and then no power. The average temp of this cycle should be the set point temp. They work well in semi stable room temps and best used with things than are not super fast to heat up and cool off. loosely things that are heavy like glass this takes the edge off the temp spikes.

Proportional Thermostats (herpstat, VE, helix) they have more parts and have a higher failure rate. (it is still a very small percentage) They are the most flexible and will work well an basically any conditions within reason. They also have much greater accuracy or setting if you set it at 90 you stand a better chance of getting exactly 90. They also are the most costly.

If asked I'd say that a proportional is the best choice as it will be useful for basically anything you need in the future.

Temps are critical snakes kept too warm or too cold cannot digest food and often will not eat at all. This will cause death eventually. That is not accounting burns from really hot heat sources. An appropriate regulator is a responsible for health of the snake. not to say a correct set up a snake will never get sick but a snake in an incorrect set up will almost always get sick.

Very nice heat writeup, Kitedemon! :gj:

hey congrats on your snake!!

1. We use a UTH for our orange ghost who's in a 30 gallon and it works fine. just make sure you have a thermostat otherwise the temp on the glass can reach an access of 110 F. and if the burrow don (which they will) they can burn themselves on the glass. I recommend Herpstat (we have two and they work great) but I hear good things about vivarium electronics and Helix Controls.

2. Humidity is easy to keep up. what we find works great is we use a wet towel and keep it over half of the screen top. we rarely have to mist but if you find it drops too low just give the enclosure a little spray with warm water and it'll climb back up.You can also try a few tips that we didn't have to use but are useful. Keep the water dish near the heat source. Some People get a piece of plexi glass cut to cover 80% of the the mesh top trapping the humidity inside.


3. Substrate: Cocohusk helps to keep the humidity up as well. A lot of breeders use it for two main reasons. It helps hold humidity, and its safer to use when the snake is breeding because Aspen and Cyprus can damage the sexual organs or get pulled inside their body. I also found that the sake is less likely to injestt cocohusk accidentally when they're feeding because it won't get stuck to the feeder animal's body.


Also if your going to buy a hatchling or a juvenile make sure that you give him lots of decorations and cover to make him feel more enclosed and safer. We give him two hides 5 plants and driftwood.

Hope this helps.
Chris.

Some great advice about heating as for where to purchase I got mine from a very nice local pet store. They had the breeders info I was able to contact the breeder and get the info on my snake easily. I also found a nice little bit of info the breeder has no normal snakes so he is het for something. So do a little shopping ask your local Herp club where is a good place to shop. And keep asking for advice here there is a lot of great people on the websight and lots of great advice. Good luck with you snake mine is doing great and growing like a weed.
Robie :)

So far one of the best UTHs I've used on my glass tank is the Ultratherm from reptile basics and I stuck it on with the foil tape they sell. I use a hydrofarm brand thermostat I got on Amazon and everything works great so far and we are going on 6 months with it.

the only additional thing I can mention is get the enclosure set up with the heat on thermostat substrate and hides basically everything including water in the water bowl at least ten days before the snake arrives so you can tune everything with out endangering your snake. A little patience will save tons of worry and grief later.

Okay, thanks for the tips.

I've found a possible Ball Python. It lives in the Petsmart, and I was sure to inspect it, and it looks okay. There's tongue flicking going on. It sat curled up in a ball in my hand, and seemed mellow. I may be getting this one. D:

Can I start it in a 20 Gallon Long?

You can start it in a 10 gallon if you want (and might be preferred). From what I understand, they get spooked when they have such a big area.

If you go with a 20 long though, just keep it busy for him/her. Lots of plants, and at least 2 hides (1 warm, 1 cool).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

the only additional thing I can mention is get the enclosure set up with the heat on thermostat substrate and hides basically everything including water in the water bowl at least ten days before the snake arrives so you can tune everything with out endangering your snake. A little patience will save tons of worry and grief later.

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^^what he said^^

Haven't seen this mentioned....get an accurite digital thermometer (like $10 at Wal-mart)...will be big help.

get your setup tuned (50-60 humidity etc,,) before getting a snake (as said before). Also, how much are they charging you and is the snake in its own cage in the store?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brion99

Haven't seen this mentioned....get an accurite digital thermometer (like $10 at Wal-mart)...will be big help.

get your setup tuned (50-60 humidity etc,,) before getting a snake (as said before). Also, how much are they charging you and is the snake in its own cage in the store?

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They normally charge 80$, I believe (bloodsuckers). But, they're on "sale", so it would cost 50$ right now. And yes, it is housed in it's own cage.

Is there any reason not to just buy from a breeder? Either local or one of the online classified sites? Buying a animal from petsmart is just a really bad thing. I am not saying this is the norm but for me everytime I purchase any kind of animal from them it dies or is sick days later. You can probably get a normal from a breeder even shipped for less than $80. I know most pastel males are in the $75-$125 range. Just saying that if you are serious about keeping one you should probably look into getting one from a breeder that will have a great start on life vs petsmart. It will be healthy, eating, not costing you time & money for vet visits and mite treatments.

Just food for thought. I am not saying you will have the same bad luck as many do with them but is it worth the risk to get attached then it die from just being sick?

Personally I also would suggest a breeder. Generally speaking you will get a healthier animal and better advise and usually more support after the sale than you can get from most stores. Breeders need a good reputation to stay in business stores generally need a good location to stay in business.

I don't know any local breeders in my area, and my parents don't really want to. They seem to think the pet store is the "right" place. While I know that getting a Python from a professional breeder is probably better, I don't know if they want to deal with them. I'm really clueless on how to deal with breeders anyhow.

The employees at the store claim that the Python is eating without problems, and I got my Corn Snake from the same store, and it seems to be perfectly content.

Not all stores are equile some are really good some very poor. You have been in this one you have to judge it. Breeders are very easy to deal with generally you just call or send an email and tell them what you are looking for and they will often pick out a few animals they feel are appropriate and meet you somewhere and you can pick out the right one. Very easy.