Ball Python Checklist

Hello all,
i want to get a female ball python (because they get bigger than males) in the future, and i want to make sure i have all the equipment and knowledge before i purchase her.

T8 from AnimalPlastics.com
Vivarium Electronics VE-300 thermostat from ReptileBasics.com
3 hide boxes from ReptileBasics.com (a hide box on each side of the enclosure and the middle)
Ultratherm 11"x23" from ReptileBasics.com (which end should i put this?)
corner water bowl
ecoearth or cypress
humidity gauge (suggestions on with one?)
stand
misting bottle
forceps (for f/t jerboas, rats)

Am I missing anything?

I would not recommend using an ultratherm UTH on an AP T8. Ultratherms simply do not get hot enough to heat through the floor for the cage. I would either get the flexwatt sold by AP or 24" of 12" flexwatt from reptile basics.

Make sure that you keep the substrate layer (cypress or ecoearth) to only 1/2" thick or less. Otherwise the snake won't get enough heat. Od the 2 I would recommend ecoearth.

You will need a probed thermometer or temp gun to measure the temperature inside the cage (the thermostat probe will be on the outside of the cage in a special slot (shown below)

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0441.jpg

The flexwatt will go in the outlined area on the right side of the bottom of the cage.

I like these probed thermometers sold at walmart. they cost $12 and measure 2 temperatures (the probe goes on the hot side and the unit goes on the cool side) as well as humidity.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...nt/photo-3.jpg

Checkout this thread I wrote on AP cages:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!

And if you don't like the idea of putting that thermometer unit inside the enclosure, this forum has some handy DIY instructions to modify it so you have three probes instead (2 temp and 1 humidity). I did that with mind. :)

thanks for the replies. I may go with a Herpstat 1. I thought i could put the ultratherm inside the enclosure?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by starman87

thanks for the replies. I may go with a Herpstat 1. I thought i could put the ultratherm inside the enclosure?

---

I highly recommend herpstats they are the best thermostats on the market currently.

No putting UTHs inside the cage is a very bad idea.

Flexwatt is cheap compared to that pad you want....it gets much more warm and is great. I use 12" flexwatt on my rack, it's so amazing!!!!

Also, the acurite is awesome, I have 2, and if I had a viv, I would put it inside of the tank, but I use tubs so I performed the mod. They work great, 1 is up in the middle of the wall sticking out to tell me the room temp (cool side temp) and 2 in for warm side and humidity!!


Ball Pythons
0.3 Normals (Coilette, Athena and Mary Jane)
1.0 Pastel (De Sol)
1.0 Spider (Zeus)
1.0 Mojave (Prometheus)

Boa Constrictors
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Stella)
0.1 BCI (Kiyoko)
0.1 Dumerils Boa (Gloria)

thanks again for the replies. What if i get a RHP. Everyone puts theirs on the roof, but i thought snakes require BELLY heat?? Could i put the rhp on the floor of the enclosure on one end?

i want to be notified via email whenever a post has been made to my threads. how do i change the setting?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hypnotixdmp

Flexwatt is cheap compared to that pad you want....it gets much more warm and is great. I use 12" flexwatt on my rack, it's so amazing!!!!

Also, the acurite is awesome, I have 2, and if I had a viv, I would put it inside of the tank, but I use tubs so I performed the mod. They work great, 1 is up in the middle of the wall sticking out to tell me the room temp (cool side temp) and 2 in for warm side and humidity!!

Ball Pythons
0.3 Normals (Coilette, Athena and Mary Jane)
1.0 Pastel (De Sol)
1.0 Spider (Zeus)
1.0 Mojave (Prometheus)

Boa Constrictors
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Stella)
0.1 BCI (Kiyoko)
0.1 Dumerils Boa (Gloria)

---

If you use flexwatt, do you put it underneath the entire bottom of the tank or just one side??? Thanks!!!

if i go with a rhp, should i get AP to install a fluorescent light on each side, or will the side with one light and the rhp give off too much heat?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by starman87

thanks again for the replies. What if i get a RHP. Everyone puts theirs on the roof, but i thought snakes require BELLY heat?? Could i put the rhp on the floor of the enclosure on one end?

---

RHP's emit heat down and warm everything under them (like the sun) putting a RHP on the floor of the cage (or any heat source really) isn't a good idea. What happens when snake pee gets on the electrical connections? What if your thermostat goes out and it spikes the heat?

I like RHP's, but the only reason to get one vs flexwatt is if you want to have a thick substrate layer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by starman87

i want to be notified via email whenever a post has been made to my threads. how do i change the setting?

---

You can either go into your settings (upper right corner of the screen by the log out button) and set it so that any thread that you post/post on is subscribed too (get emails) or at the top of this thread above your original post there is an option called "thread tools" click on this. A drop down menu will appear and one of the options is to subscribe.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ldag32

If you use flexwatt, do you put it underneath the entire bottom of the tank or just one side??? Thanks!!!

---

Only on part of the bottom like this:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0439.jpg

This cage is set up for use with a divider, so the flexwatt is in the middle so both sides get heat. normally the flexwatt would go on the right side of the bottom of the cage. (you can see the outline where it should go)

Here is a close up on the normal spot for flexwatt and the thermostat probe slot on a T8. it measures 24" x 11" (2 feet of 11 or 12 inch flexwatt)

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0441.jpg

Flexwatt provides the hot side (basking) temperature in the cage. If you covered the entire bottom of the cage there would be no place for the snake to cool off.

thanks again everyone. I'll go with ReptileBasic's RHP. should i get the 28 watt or the 40 watt?

For a T8 without a divider I would go with the 40.

actually im going to go with a proproducts RHP