How to correctly heat a plastic tub for ball python?

Hello,
I have been reading on how to best contain a ball python, and keeping them in a plastic tub has been a very popular choice, and is very well recommended from snake care takers. My only concern is the heating? I am worried that using the heating pad on the plastic would melt the plastic? (I use a heating pad and heating lamp now for my ball python now) but I would really like to try using the plastic tub, because I am having a very hard time keeping the humidity up in my snakes cage (he is in a 20 gallon tank right now) and it is starting to effect his shedding process. From what I have read the plastic tub keeps heat and humidity in very well. Any advice?
Thank you!

I think if you use a thermostat you should be fine....

But I'm not 100% sure...I use a tank right now lol

Gets some eco earth and repti bark substrate, mix it up.
Gets some moss and damp it up in a hide for the guy.

Grab a spray bottle and spray around.
Do get a thermostat, heat pads unregulated can/will jack your buddy up.

I dunno about using them on tubs but for a little bit of money you can pick up a rack with heat tape all set up.

Thermostat!! :):D

I use eco earth in my tank, it's done wonders for my humidity

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A tub sitting on flexwatt or a pre-made heat pad, plugged into a thermostat, works great and you can choose your bedding.
Tubs maintain excellent humidity.
I like paper towels myself, but aspen, cypress, newspaper and a few others are acceptable bedding.

As long as your heating pad is connected to a Thermostat, it is fine to use with a plastic tub.
Ball pythons need a hot spot between 88-92 ideally. So if you set your thermostat to regulate your heating pad to those temps, your tub won't melt. That's cooler than touching the tub with your bare hands. ;)

A thermostat is a must. You will only be setting the heat pad to 90-95 degrees, which is about as hot as your body (sorta). Your body is not hot enough to melt the tub or anything else.

All heat SHOULD be regulated with a thermostat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

A tub sitting on flexwatt or a pre-made heat pad, plugged into a thermostat, works great and you can choose your bedding.
Tubs maintain excellent humidity.
I like paper towels myself, but aspen, cypress, newspaper and a few others are acceptable bedding.

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X2, paper towels make really easy cleanup too

I would get a rack, but I just have one snake, and don't plan on making a collection of snakes, so I don't see a need to buy a whole rack. Thanks for the suggestions though!!:) :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr Oni

Gets some eco earth and repti bark substrate, mix it up.
Gets some moss and damp it up in a hide for the guy.

Grab a spray bottle and spray around.
Do get a thermostat, heat pads unregulated can/will jack your buddy up.

I dunno about using them on tubs but for a little bit of money you can pick up a rack with heat tape all set up.

Thermostat!! :):D

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You can keep the python in the tank and still keep the humidity high enough. My wife and I keep a sheet of clear vinyl over the top of the tank, covering about 65% of the screen mesh from the lid. With proper bedding and a large enough water source, you can regulate the humidity and keep the snake comfortable and happy. We have meters in the tank for humidity and temperature, and both are balanced and steady.

I use tubs for all my tropical/subtropicals (E.I. Ball Python, and BCI's). You CAN modify a tank, but it's kind of a hassle. all you need to do for a tub is make a few air holes. (I either do 8 - 1/4" holes, or 16 1/16" holes, dependent on the size of the snake). Not too much work. And for heating, human skin is generally around 98 degrees. Your snake will start to cook, before the plastic is hot enough to melt. So 88-95 ° will be 100% fine. I do keep my colubrids in a glass tank, unmodified, since they do not need as much humidity.

Tubs are good for humidity not heat, you would have to make sure that the room is at a constant 80 degrees in order to keep ambient temps up as you cannot use a lamp for added heat

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