criticsm on my set up and advice please

ok i already know about the thermometer i am getting a digital on tuesday but anything else i should do also how much is astroturf because i really doubt it is 1 and change for any size. thnx(this is a 29 gal tank how long will this tank size last)

https://ball-pythons.net/modules/cop...l_Aug21039.JPG
day vision

https://ball-pythons.net/modules/cop...l_Aug21040.JPG night vision

looks good, maybe a little crowded, but still good.Its not like they need TONS of room to move around, i have that same water bowl in my 39 gal,how big/long is your snake ?

29gal...hmm... 30 is the minimal for an adult BP so i imagine you could be set for life but you should still upgrade, just to like a 40gal or something, but not until your BP gets full grown. astroturf for me at home depot, the cheap stuff, is $7.50 for a 6x3 piece

Remember to have a hot/cool hide; I keep my dishes in the middle of the tank so that the heatlamp can hit them and increase humidity in the tank. It does look a little crowded, but it's not a huge deal; what's the blue box in the middle of the tank?
I like that background, btw. :)

I personally would go to Walmart and buy an Acurite Digital Thermometer.
The air and ground temperatures are different in the tank.
Also digital seems to be more accurate in my opinion.

Looks fine to me, with 3 hides in the tank he can certainly choose what temp he wants. :)

Do you have a human heating pad under that big booger? If not, get yourself to WalMart. If so, good job. Also, you might want to invest in some smaller, more secure hides. If the BP you're getting is a baby, it will definately not feel secure in such big hides. While you're at WalMart, you can also pick up some clay pot BOTTOMS or the plastic pot bottoms. Babies love those since they are small and low to the ground. You can set the bigger hides aside until he/she gets bigger.

And since you have a tank, you will have humidity problems. Cover the screen top with some contact paper and you should be set with that. And to help with temperature fluctuations, also invest in a thermostat so it can control the temps in your tank so they don't get too hot/too cold.

And definately have one hide on the warm end, and one hide on the cool end, so they don't have to compete with thermoregulating and being secure. Also, if you're planning on using that light at night, it's not too good of an idea. It will definately stress the snake out since it's not a night bulb. Try a red bulb, not a red party bulb, but a bulb made with red glass. Local pet store should have them.

Another thing about the bulb, is that log tall enough to where, if he climbs on it, he can reach the screen? If so, he can possibly burn himself, and anyone should know burns aren't fun. Maybe try cutting a piece of it off so it's not so tall, ot laying it on its side?

Other than all of that, I think it's a nice sized tank and should last you a little while. Just be sure it's set up correctly and getting the right temps and holding humidity before you put your little guy in there. It will be for the better so you won't have to keep tweaking the tank while he's in there and risk stressing him out. Good luck getting it all set up and ready for him. Just make sure you get that digital thermo/hygro in there BEFORE you put the snake in there. It will save you lots of trouble. :)

ohh and i see that you have your light in the middle of the tank rather than on one end, i would move it to one side to create a warm side and let the other one be the cool side.

thnx u guys. for those who mis understood the post i have had my bp for almost 2 weeks now also he is 2 months old and for those that wanted a size here is a pic

https://ball-pythons.net/modules/cop...l_Aug22042.JPG

and don't mind the church clothes lol. also some one said 7.25$ for 6X4 is that feet or inches(plz let that be feet) oh yeah and uh i read in the do it ur self u could use a cereal box and that big blue box( his hide) is the same size as a standard cereal box but i will change it if i must. anything else? oh yeah and i getting the digital thermometer this tuesday or wednsday so i am monitoring his actions until then.

Unfotunately, I'd say to ditch that enclosure altogether and get something that is not as tall. That would be good for a semi-arboreal species, but ball pythons are terrestrial, meaning that they need more ground space that air space. Not to mention, I doubt that heat lamp is giving you any temperature gradient at all, meaning it should be warm on one side and cool on the other. Here's what I'm talking about:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...f/f8ee007f.jpg

i am seriously sorry but i can't afford to just ditch that tank. secondly i have put the lamp on the hot side alreday but it off tonight snce i turn the light off every night at 7:30 and also i have already put the bowl in the middle of the tank and if u look right their is already a hide on the hot side all i need is to get the astroturf the digital thermometer and most likely a clay pot for a hide. please i am not very rich and also he seems to like this ytank alot since he pretty much just roams around all night and about the tree i might end up just taking it out until he gets bigger and replece it with a humid hide. and i said i might because that tree cost me 30$. thnx for the advice but try to keep in mind that i have spent all my b day money on this including the snake and i am spending the last of it right now on the rest of the stuff i am purchasing for him.

i think that tank will do just fine for now. you don't have to get the astroturf if you don't want too-newspaper or paper towels work just as well and are cheap and easy to replace. the blue box is fine for a hide. you might want to stuff some newspaper in it to make it smaller and more secure inside for your snake. they like small, tight places to hide in. someone mentioned laying the piece of wood on its side--i think that would be a good solution for you, and then he could still climb on it without getting too close to the light. so all you really need right now is the accurite and a (human) heating pad. both of those total should run you about $25 from walmart.

ok big problem. no walmart around here the only other option is online and i don't really have that kinda dow. also i think my mom has a human heating pad. i didn't actually see the thermometer on their website so this really sux any suggestions.

What do the temps drop down to at night? They can safely tolerate a nighttime drop to about 70 degrees, but any colder than they could bring on a respitory infection. It sucks that you don't have a red heat bulb, because you can't leave the light you have on now because it will stress you snake out if kept on 24/7. I don't know what to say, did you read up on husbandry before you went out and bought everything? So in a nutshell, I'd say heres what you need to do:

A 20 Long is like 30 bucks from petsmart. I bet you could sell that 29 gallon for about 20 on ebay after you make the switch.

Get a heat pad under 1/3 of the tank.
or
Get a "nighttime" bulb for 24/7 heat. Available at most pet stores. These are usually red or bluish.

You have no humidity in that tank. Heres a quick, free fix. Cover the top with plastic wrap and duct tape like in the picture I posted above. This will help you retain heat and humidity.

ok no mattet what ya say the tank stays because that is a pretty long tank. and i have taken ur advice about the humidity and heat and ptu on the saran wrap already. i will probably get that night time bulb later this week i juta got hold to 32 dollars lol. b day money from the church, i told them i would put it to good use so the best way to do that is on my bp. so my mom has decided to buyt the digital thermometer and i am buying a new and smaller hide,the astroturf,and the night bulb i will show u the nice new setup in about a week tops. oh yeah and today it seemed like he was gonna poop on me but i think he was just getting more relaxed with me. it was cool.

make sure to get a red infrared bulb when you buy it. also make sure that the heating pad your mom has doesn't have an auto shut off on it or it will only run for about 30 minutes before shutting off. you can also find reptile heating pads at the petstore. if you want to save money you can just stuff the hides you have with newspaper until he grows bigger. i would say it is more important to spend money on the accurite and the heating pad and/or infrared bulb right now than anything else if you have to make a choice. i'm glad he is getting used to you handling him. :D

There's no Walmart near you?? Seems like there's one on every corner these days....strange.

I don't think you need to ditch the tank either but I highly recommend purchasing the Accurite (or similar brand) digital thermometer/hygrometer and the human heating pad (making sure of course that it does not have auto-shut off). Also, as mlededee mentioned, newspaper or papertowels work great as a substrate and are inexpensive and easy to clean (just toss and replace!)....

If you are able to get the heating pad and digital therm/hygro and have any questions about how to set them up don't hesitate to ask. Keep us posted!

psshhh...rex is in the same type of tank and he does fine. you dont need to change the tank