Advise on reptile supplies

So i've getting a female morph sometime soon and i'm looking into getting some reptile supplies. I need a tank to keep her in, a heat bulb for ambient air temperatures already have the light fixture, soft style coco bark unless you have suggestions on something better, a heating pad for the hotspot, I have a water dish, a thermometer, and one of those half log hides. Also thought about getting some decor to put in all three of my tanks for extra cover. What's the difference between a red bulb and an infrared bulb? Because red is $6 and infrared is $9. Also would a medium habba hut be big enough for a ball python over 400 grams or should I get a large? Also what do you think of the Creative Habitat 15BT? http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...bt-glass-cage/ My total with everything I need including shipping from LLL Reptile is $101 and they have the lowest prices i've been able to find including local and Critter Barn is great. If they had free shipping on orders of $100 or more I would add a thermostat. Suggestions?

Why don't you just go with a tub setup? So much easier and cheaper: I can guarentee that a tub setup will be well under $101 (not counting in a good thermostat, but counting in at least a dimmer).

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Originally Posted by Daybreaker

Why don't you just go with a tub setup? So much easier and cheaper: I can guarentee that a tub setup will be well under $101 (not counting in a good thermostat, but counting in at least a dimmer).

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What all would I need for a tub setup?

A tub, an under tank heating device...I prefer flexwatt since it's cheaper than store bought UTHs, a water dish, newspaper (substrate...or whatever you want to use), a thermotstat and some hides...lol

Edit: I use binder clips to secure the tub lids...you can buy boxes for like $2.00 at Staples or something.

What size tub should I use? What size and watt flexwatt should I buy? Does it come with instructions on how to wire it? I would like to get all of my snakes in tubs it seems like it would take up less space and I could probably stack them. How would I set up a tub? Is LLL the most convenient place to get all of this? The Vision python tubs are $159 each...

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Originally Posted by evan385

What size tub should I use? What size and watt flexwatt should I buy? Does it come with instructions on how to wire it? I would like to get all of my snakes in tubs it seems like it would take up less space and I could probably stack them. How would I set up a tub? Is LLL the most convenient place to get all of this? The Vision python tubs are $159 each...

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I don't personally use LLL and probably never will...

Depends on how big the snake is, small snake = small tub. I'd start a hatchling in a 6-12 qt and work your way up as it grows up. I have most of mine in 34qt with no issue. Flexwatt is VERY easy to wire yourself, you can buy it prewired which is good but costs slightly more. If you want instructions when the time comes I can walk you through it through PM if you like...even take pics of mine and how I wired them....

I just bought a multipurpose rack from Walmart for like $50 and put wooden boards on each shelf, then taped the flexwatt to each shelf...this way I can remove the tubs as I please without having to detach the flexwatt from the tub.

Tubs at Walmart are anywhere from $10-$25 :D with lids ;)

Tubs are just confusing to me I mean with racks I get it and it makes complete sense but a tub by itself or even on a rack with a lid is just confusing to me. Would I be right to assume there's a hole cut in the lid with some type of screen over it?

There doesn't need to be, you can solder or drill holes in the sides for ventilation...

Here's an idea of mine, it's slightly different now...those are 34qt tubs from Walmart.
http://i41.tinypic.com/5xv04l.jpg

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Originally Posted by LGray23

There doesn't need to be, you can solder or drill holes in the sides for ventilation...

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Ah okay that makes sense. So if I do this I could just stack two or three tubs the heat tape on the bottom of the tub won't affect or melt the one below it? Also a thermostat is required for heat tape right? And I can have three tubs on the same thermostat?

If the tubs are all the same, and the flexwatt is all the same, you can use one thermostat for all of them. I don't suggest just stacking them on top of each other without anything in between only because the tubs in the middle would get much hotter due to the heat coming from above and below...you need a thermostat for any under tank heat source...

So I could put a piece of wood between them and it would be alright?

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Originally Posted by evan385

So I could put a piece of wood between them and it would be alright?

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I still suggest getting some sort of shelving or rack in between them...the heat will still build up from both ends causing different temps in each tub...

Or I could just not stack the two I will have and by the time I get my female i'll have a rack built.

That works too, I mean as long as there is enough space between them for heat to be released instead of trapped on both ends it would be fine.

Do I need to have a probe for each tub? Can I run more than one probe from one thermostat? What size and watt heat tape should I get for two 32 qt tubs?

I use 1 foot of the 12" flexwatt. One probe from the thermostat will be fine is the flexwatt and tubs are all the same, the temps will be the same for all the flexwatt. I've gotten my flexwatt from reptilebasics.com, and local reptile shops should carry it too, I think Rich wires it for free for you from reptilebasics...

Shows on reptile basics that the largest size is 11'' and that it is 20 watts per foot, so one foot each for both tubs would work? Also it says the wire/clip/insulator set is no included and must be ordered separately if needed. This is what is used to wire the heat tape right?

I meant the 11", my typo mistake. I use 1 foot of that for each tub. All you really need are the metal "clamps", electrical wire, an extension cord, and some pliers....

Ugh, sorry for the double post...my computer sucks :rolleyes:

Okay thanks. That would be nice if they had the soft coco and tubs too but oh well. Still gonna be about $100 but I can sell the tanks and heat pads etc later.

Looking at that tank you are considering, I noticed that it is only 9 inches tall. That is only 3 inches taller than most tubs, which average about 6 inches. I would think that by covering most of the screen top, and insulating 3 sides with something like foam core board, you should be able to maintain fairly stable temps and humidity. It is also possible that because it is so short, you might be able to get away with using only one heat source, such as, an Under Tank Heater tha covers half, or a little less of the floor space, combined with a thin layer of substrate, or a lamp/ceramic heat emitter that will be sitting just a few inches above the hide should provide plenty of heat for the warm end. Either way, you are going to need a way to control the heat sources. You can get a basic thermostat for anywhere from about $25-$35. I would suggest the Hydrofarm digital thermostat. Amazon.com has them for $29, and if you order it before Christmas, shipping is free. :D If you can't afford one right now, then you could always go with a dimmer/rheostat.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...1529683&sr=1-7

I may have overlooked it, but I don't recall seeing a hygrometer on your list.

If you want to look into stand alone tubs, they have their advantages and disadvantages as well. They aren't very pretty to look at, but they hold humidity very well. Depending on how warm or cool the room is that you are keeping them in, they may or may not need supplemental heat for the ambient temps, just like a tank. With a tank, you can set the heat lamp right on the screen. With a tub, you have to mount it so that it will not come into contact with the plastic.
I like tubs, because they give me more options. When a snake outgrows a tank, about the only thing that you can do with it it is to put another small animal in it, or sell it. Once a tub is outgrown, I keep them and use them for other things. I use them as holding tubs while I clean the other ones. I can still use them as soaking tubs for the occassional stuck shed. They are easy to set back up in case you come home from a show or store with an unplanned addition and need a hasty quarantine set-up. Some of my outgrown tubs now live in my garage, holding tools and assorted hardware. And some of the others are full of spare/extra reptile supplies and emergency heat kits.
Since tubs come in a variety of sizes, I use them as "grow out" enclosures for my boas and carpet python. They provide me with a fairly inexpensive way to house my snakes while they grow, which lets me save and plan more for the large permanent enclosures that they will need as adults.
Setting up a stand alone tub is done the same way that you would set up a tank. Here is the link to a thread that I made on how I set my tubs up:

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

In the end, it's all going to come down to what you prefer, tank or tub...

Thank you Vypryz, that was very helpful and answered all of the questions that I had. I was going to get a rheostat but i'll just spend the extra $11 and get the better thermostat. How much is that thermometer/hygrometer?

Can you have two heat sources from the hydrofarm? Because it looks like it only has one outlet. The rheostat has two outlets and would work since it's up to 150 watts combined and my heat tape for two feet is 40 watts combined

I was going to say Tub set up but Daybreaker\LGray beat me to it. Kudos to you to.

Can I just use regular temperature and humidity gauges instead of buying a new digital one with a probe? Because I already have those. I think i'll just get one for better accuracy on both sides and since the heat tape with be in the same spot and running on the same rheostat i'll just use the digital dual temp/hygrometer in one tub and use the temp/hygro gauge style in the other tub.