I just need some friendly advice for the situation I'm in.

Hey everybody, I believe this is just my eagerness getting the best of me :P this is nothing serious at all but I would just like some feedback from some other Ball Python owners, any input would be grateful :D A side note, I have already bought hides, water bowl, thermometer, and light timer.

so here it goes.

Alright, I do not have my BP just yet, and it will be my first ever (she will be a baby when I get her) but I was originally planning on getting the Animal Plastics T8 with divider which is an INCREDIBLE set up and I know will last the snake's entire life, and I have done all research necessary for it, BUT I am kinda on a budget right now and I am VERY VERY eager to get my snake. (This is where I just need a little friendly advice) SO, Should I either...

A) Wait a while to save up the money for a T8 and all of the fittings for it, no telling how long it will be. (Which will run total WITHOUT the price of the snake, around 420$)

OR

B) Buy something soon like a 20 gallon long tank with UTH, lamp, and all of the fittings for it WITH the price of the snake totaling around 170$? (I know this enclosure will only last for around 2 years, but by the time she is getting too big for it I would get the T8) I know glass tanks are terrible at keeping humidity , so if you think I should go with this choice, what are some tips for helping the glass tank with humidity/temperature?

I know this is probably just my eagerness getting to me but this just crossed my mind. lol Any input would be greatly appreciated from this noob :rolleye2:

Thanks a TON guys!!!

Would you be opposed to putting your snake in a plastic tub set up? It's not visually pleasing, but it works great. It's a cheap set up thats good for humidity.

Hatchling tub(6qt) - $1-$2 at Walmart/Target
Yearling tub (16 qt) - $5 (you can probably just start out w/ this one if you don't want the hatchling tub)
Strip of heat tape - $3-5
Thermostat - $25-$200 depending on the brand and type. (since you're on a budget, Hydrofarm thermostats on Amazon are $25-30.)

But if you wish to continue with a tank here are some humidity recommendations:
1) Basking lamps will suck all the humidity out of the tank. So unless you live in a cold house and your UTH won't get to those perfect hot spot temps, I would leave out the lamp.
2) Larger water bowls will add humidity compared to smaller ones
3) you can cover 80-90% of the lid with a plexiglass, tin foil, or damp towel to retain humidity.
4) you can mist the tank ad libed daily.

MY OPINION i think you should go with the 20 long one is a simple but nice setup doesn't cost that much to keep it going an it may last for more then 2 years depending on the snake. i got it an I've had my bp in a 20 gall for a while they don't grow as quick as u think they will. so it would last for a long time an work great an as for humidity the light over the water bowl should help alot if u still have that problem u can buy little things for the humidity. but on the other hand if your getting a female
id go with the bigger one if u don't wanna have to buy another cage because they're way bigger adults then males but its still your choice

Coming from someone who first used glass tanks, then tubs, and then finally settling on my T8's, I would say wait. I spent a lot more money than necessary trying to get that stupid glass tank to work for me.

If you really are itching to get a snake I would go the tub route until you can get a T8. This thread will tell you exactly what to do to set up a tub.

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

If I had to make a decision, it would be to wait. You'll be happier with the good stuff. If you just HAVE to get the snake sooner, just throw it in a tub for a few weeks until you can get the final setup running.

Hmm, I have not considered a tub yet but I have heard they are very good at holding humidity and temperature. (cheap too, always a plus for a college student)

So what I'm leaning towards is maybe getting a tub for a little bit until I get the T8, no matter what, I'm getting that T8! Like I said I'm a broken college kid, so I'm a baller on a budget lol. Thanks for all the input guys, it really did help.

Aaron, once again, you're the man.

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

Hmm, I have not considered a tub yet but I have heard they are very good at holding humidity and temperature. (cheap too, always a plus for a college student)

So what I'm leaning towards is maybe getting a tub for a little bit until I get the T8, no matter what, I'm getting that T8! Like I said I'm a broken college kid, so I'm a baller on a budget lol. Thanks for all the input guys, it really did help.

Aaron, once again, you're the man.

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As a fellow broke college student I completely understand where you are coming from. As I said before changing multiple set ups is a huge waste of money. If you go the tub route at first you will be able to reuse most of the items like the thermostat and thermometer once you get the T8. The tub itself costs like $10 so it's no big deal. The headache of glass tanks isn't worth it... You couldn't pay me to use them.

LOL hey guys doesn't it sound like Aaron LOVES glass tanks?:D haha I can see where they would be a hassle though. The tub route sounds really good, and that's gonna be the only thing I have until I get my T8, which sounds good to me!
So what size flexwatt would I get? 3"?

Aaron, I'll pay you 20K to use tanks for a week! JK JK

3" should do it, but get a second opinion on it as I'm not the tub expert.

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

LOL hey guys doesn't it sound like Aaron LOVES glass tanks?:D haha I can see where they would be a hassle though. The tub route sounds really good, and that's gonna be the only thing I have until I get my T8, which sounds good to me!
So what size flexwatt would I get? 3"?

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With a single tub not in a rack flexwatt isn't the best route to go. A zoomed UTH regulated by a thermostat works better in this application. You want to cover 1/3-1/2 of the bottom of the tub with the UTH.

20K and I'll EAT the tank!

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Originally Posted by apple2

Aaron, I'll pay you 20K to use tanks for a week! JK JK

3" should do it, but get a second opinion on it as I'm not the tub expert.

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Ok, maybe for $20k, but that $20k is just going to buy me more snakes and T8's to put them in lol

I use 4'', but 3 is ok too.
And going the tub route will save space as well. It's not as hulking as a tank.

As another fellow poor college student, I can't emphasize how much I hate tanks. I had one before tubs and it was a pain. Heating it was horrible. Cleaning it was terrible. Overall, not worth it. It was bad for me and the animal, so I was happy to ditch it. Tubs are much more easy to clean too.

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

20K and I'll EAT the tank!

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Well if you do that then I'll get to keep my money! You'd die from the glass cutting your intestinal lining :P

Just follow this step by step guide and you will have a good tub set up.

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

I think we've come to a conclusion! Tubs-1 Tanks-0

Tub it is then!!!! :D :D :D

Guys I just can't thank y'all enough, really.

I just added up how much money I'm saving.. :O


Queue the dancing banana :banana:

Very smart choice going with the tub set up! When I started out I did the progression from tank, to PVC cage to rack system. I don't even want to know how much $$ I put into the economy learning my lessons.

The tub will be awesome until you secure your T-8.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

I just added up how much money I'm saving.. :O


Queue the dancing banana :banana:

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Exactly lol

I learned this lesson also. I had one snake in a glass aquarium, then moved her to a RBI PVC cage. Then I started getting more snakes, and more cages. Before I knew it I had 4 RBI cages and was running out of room so I switched to an RBI rack - sold the cages on craigslist for a fraction of what I paid for them and now strictly use racks.

The funny thing (well not so funny) is now I got my first Boa and would love to have one of those cages I sold back now.

Live and learn I guess.

Well that just sucks. I always hang on to my old snake stuff because I know I'll be getting some new babies soon :)

Dont waste your money on a tank! I did and it set me back at least $100 lost. Go with a tub til til you can afford a T8.

I keep my room cool. So I wrapped 3 sideds with insulation. tried using 2 UTH's 1 for warm and one for cool. But then my ambients were still to low so I had added a CHE. Then I couldn't get the humidity to stay above 30% for more than an hour.

But in the end and thanks to Aaron I went ahead with the T8! Man do I love this cage, every time I check on it everything is perfect. It doesnt matter what temp it is in my room or what its perfect inside his cage. If you truely plan on going with the T8 at any point in the future wait!