1st Post and I'm setting up a 10 gal. tank

I'm new and just can't get myself to keep my future Baby Ball Python in a tub. I realize that temps and humidity levels are more of a challenge with a tank, but I want to try a tank first, as this snake will be a pet for me and my daughter. She really wants to see the snake( even though I hear they hide a lot)
Here is what we have for a set-up so far:
10 gal. tank with a sliding screen top ( I have a piece of plexiglass that I can cut and drill holes into for ventilation if the humidity and heat start getting out of hand)
Small Fluker's Under Tank Heat Pad.. it measures just over half of the bottom measurements of the 10 gal tank
2 of the Reptile green carpets
2 small hides one for each side, cool and warm
1 water dish about an inch deep
Hydrofarm heat mat thermostat for the UTH
Acurite thermometer and humidity gauge from Walmart
Pet Exotic 2 temp gun

Just was wondering what I should use for lighting since BP's do not need the UV light bulbs? I had another person say that she believed that a UVA will help a BP to shed?

I also have a timer for the lights when we decide what to do about lighting and a regular 8 1/2 inch clamp light from Walmart..

Just looking for recommendations on lights and opinions of anything else we need to make our 1st set-up complete..
Thanks! Bill

You don't need any lights. If you want one just to illuminate the tank then get a basic fluorescent fixture that puts out little to no heat. This is assuming your ambient temps are where you need them. Otherwise you might think about a low wattage heat lamp.

I can see you did your homework :)

Welcome to the forum!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

We're trying for a really awesome happy pet.. I've been reading up and slowly putting our set-up together. I think we are almost ready. I think I'm going to set it all up and monitor it for a few days.. See how the temps and humidity changes etc.. See if we can keep it regulated in a glass tank.
One more question I do have is about the 12/12-day/night cycles. Does the tank need to be cooler at night? Or can it been basically the same temp as daylight and just dark? Hope that makes sense ?

You do not need to drop temps at night. Keep in mind your heat pad/mat won't do anything for ambient temps. They heat the surface not the air. I use infared heat lamps for my tank. With a piece of plexi over the top. Holds heat and humidy perfect.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

And a note that the reptile carpet is going to be a PAIN in the butt to thoroughly clean (having used it myself) so I would switch to aspen or my favorable paper towels for ease of cleaning. Just a suggestion.

Welcome to the forums, and thanks for doing your homework ahead of time!

As far as the lighting is concerned, I'd try to find a hood that fits your tank. I use an Exo Terra that happens to sit nicely on the sides of my tank. I have a 1/4in thick piece of tempered glass that covers about half of the tank top, and my hood sits on top of that. Underneath the glass, I have a folded paper towel that I keep moist. My temps and humidity stay very stable with this setup.

BP's don't require a night drop in temps, just make sure you have the proper temp gradient inside the tank. If you bring home a baby rather than an older animal, keep in mind that they sometimes prefer slightly lower temps. One thing I would suggest is that you hold off for a month or so before putting the repti carpet in. For now, I'd recommend just using plain white paper towels as a substrate. That way you'll be more likely to spot if your snake has a mite problem. It's also a lot easier to clean if you have a messy eater.

Welcome to BP.net!

I understand where you are in your development as a BP owner. We all started with tanks, and 95% of us moved on to tubs, then racks. We made that move for a reason. It's a natural progression. Enjoy the journey, and please feel free to keep asking questions as you go. No one's going to say, "I told you so", when you decide to switch over to a tub.

If you truly want an awesome happy pet, you'll eventually move toward housing that takes care of the animal's needs vice your wants. Again, enjoy the journey, and before you know it, you own three more ;)

If you need a light, go with the red heating light, it won't bother them to keep it on 24/7.

I also agree about the reptile carpet. It will be fine for a little while but eventually you will want to throw it out completely. Snake poo is serious business.

If you get a clear tub, your daughter will still be able to watch your bp move around.

If you put a piece of plexiglass over the top of a tank I don't see that it is any different from a tub..

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Originally Posted by BillinIndiana

If you put a piece of plexiglass over the top of a tank I don't see that it is any different from a tub..

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I guess I should add that the back and both sides will be covered, so this will help with the feeling of being insecure.. Although I'm not real sure how the snake tells you all that he is scared? Seems many people have healthy BP's in glass tanks that feed and shed properly...?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BillinIndiana

I guess I should add that the back and both sides will be covered, so this will help with the feeling of being insecure.. Although I'm not real sure how the snake tells you all that he is scared? Seems many people have healthy BP's in glass tanks that feed and shed properly...?

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No doubt. You don't need to switch to a tub. Many people keep ball pythons in glass tanks, it just takes a little extra effort. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BillinIndiana

I guess I should add that the back and both sides will be covered, so this will help with the feeling of being insecure.. Although I'm not real sure how the snake tells you all that he is scared? Seems many people have healthy BP's in glass tanks that feed and shed properly...?

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Aquarium background if you aesthetically prefer that.

When scared they get stressed and don't eat or shed or whatever. Acute rapid breathing also.

Yea we'll do a aquarium BG for the 10 gal, but when it grows out of it to say a 20-30 I plan on doing my own, like one of these...
http://www.lizard-landscapes.com/

I really like the finished look on these

I'm shocked no one has mentioned this yet, and surprised I didn't either.

Have you considered a PVC enclosure?

This is mine:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d15b6bb1-507f-e9c1.jpg

I did the tank as well. I hated it.
This new enclosure is amazing! I don't even mist and the humidity stays at 51%

I plan on getting one of those when our snake is an adult, but I really can't see spending the money for something it will outgrow. I thought about just buying a adult sized PVC and being done with it, but people told me it would to big for a baby BP and stress it out

If you order the t8 from animal plastics, you have an option of getting divider.

You could use the divider to make the cage into two sides so it wont be as large. Then when he's an adult, you can remove it.

I thought about that also.. But at that time I was looking at the radiant heat panels as a source of heat. With dividing it I would had to have bought a smaller RHP then another when I opened up the cage to full size. So I scrapped that idea.. I even had a bunch of Melamine shelving I was going to build an enclosure out of.. That's why I was looking at RHP, due to the thickness of the shelving..

I've been round and round with this trying to listen to all the Opinions.. I finally got pissed and bought a cheap 10 gal. tank that already had the sliding screen top.. Just like others have used for years and years. I'm not absolutely clueless that using one is a little more work, that doesn't bother me at all. I'm disabled with a bad hip and am on Disability, so I have lots of time on my hands.

You don't absolutely need an RHP for pvc enclosure. I use flexwatt with mine just fine. The stuff is cheap and easy to wire yourself.

I think that upgrading to a PVC enclosure when the snake is big enough is a good idea :gj:

Yea, I was thinking RHP when I was going to build a Melamine enclosure.. That stuff is 3/4" thick and heavy

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Originally Posted by BillinIndiana

Yea, I was thinking RHP when I was going to build a Melamine enclosure.. That stuff is 3/4" thick and heavy

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Yeah that stuff is thick. Good for a rack, not so good for an enclosure. I would go with something lighter, easier to move.

I found an how-to on building one out of that stuff.. It looked like it would have been really nice, sliding tempered glass doors, litter dam and vents. I had all the material to make it and just the top and bottom pieces (2' x 4') alone were kinda heavy. SO I took it all back.. I did have everything I needed besides the tempered glass and the glass track bought though for just over $65 bucks.. But it was just going to be so heavy and then also Too big for a baby starting out in.

If you are into the DIY stuff I would look into making a cage out of PVC. I know you can buy the stuff by the sheet, but you'd have to look into whether or not they sell it in your area and are willing to cut it for you. You could totally make the same thing like the melamine enclosure but with the lighter PVC instead. Just a thought :)