My first setup

Hey Guys,

So some of you may have seen my caramel glow girl I purchased yesterday. I want to pick everyones brain as this is my first ball and I want to make sure I give her the best home possible. I have done a ton of research, but I just want to make sure I am dotting all my I's and crossing my T's. I am having the breeder hold her until I get all of my husbandry in order before I take her home. I just wanted to outline everything I have bought so far and see if there was anything you all recommend or think I am missing.

-Animal Plastics t8 black with glass sliding doors, lock, leds, and divider.
I will be using the divider until she gets larger.
-Pro Products pro heater ( installed by animal plastics)
-Herpstat 1
-2 hides on each side of the cage
-1 water bowl
-unprinted newspaper as a substrate
-Fake leaves to drape over the hides and such
-A low climbing tree in the middle of the 2 hides
- 2 digital therm./humidity gauges for each side of the cage.

-I will be shooting for 55-60% humidity and 88 to 92 on the warm side and 80 to 84 on the cooler side.

Anything I am missing?!

sounds like u got all the basics down.

u could also post a pix of your set-up, sometimes a visual is helpful for getting the right feedback.

i would also add a infrared temp gun, so that u could measure surface temps as needed.

I will be able to get a pix of my setup by the end of the week. Animal Plastics assured me that my cage will be to my house by this week. Infrared temp gun is a great idea, never thought of that. Is there any particular brand/model you recommend?

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Originally Posted by Mstuppiello921

I will be able to get a pix of my setup by the end of the week. Animal Plastics assured me that my cage will be to my house by this week. Infrared temp gun is a great idea, never thought of that. Is there any particular brand/model you recommend?

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ReptileBasics has a few from $25 to $50 but i got a Nubee from Amazon for like $15. i don't know the difference but they all work pretty much the same way. :gj:

Ok awesome! Thanks for the help. I have to tell you coming from the aquarium world (formerly had a 90 gallon lionfish reef tank) I love how affordable everything is in comparison.

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How exciting for you..........

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Originally Posted by Lady mkrj58

How exciting for you..........

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Not sure if this was sarcastic or not but thank you non the less

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Originally Posted by Mstuppiello921

Not sure if this was sarcastic or not but thank you non the less

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Not Sarcastic at all I was just thinking back on that first Snake we all bought and The joy and Happiness these Critters bring into our lives. I hope you will share all your pictures of your set up and your new Baby.:)

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Originally Posted by Lady mkrj58

Not Sarcastic at all I was just thinking back on that first Snake we all bought and The joy and Happiness these Critters bring into our lives. I hope you will share all your pictures of your set up and your new Baby.:)

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Its honestly awesome....for the past 3 weeks as i buy things for the cage and get everything setup....I'm like a 5 year old on christmas morning. Its truly a amazing experience and I can't wait to finally get her home. Ill definitely be keeping you guys updated with pics of course![emoji1]

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Sounds good. I have a similar setup for my two snakes. Only thing I might recommend is getting a HerpStat 2 in case you end up adding a UTH (like I did) or you get a second snake (also like I did :P).

Here's mine for reference:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...2015.37.07.jpg

Haha that's a good point. I keep hearing that balls r like pringles you can never just have one. May i ask why you decided to put a uth as well?

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I use the UTH to keep a thermal gradient. With the RHPs centered on each compartment, there would be no gradient. I use the RHPs to maintain a minimum ambient temp of 82 during the day and 75 at night, with the UTH side being a constant 90. My room temps can fluctuate from 60s to mid 80s so I need the RHPs for when it gets cold.

I am already trying to resist getting a 6 tub rack and filling it with balls. It's a tough battle...

Got yea! Ill have to see how the cage sets up in order to see if I need the uth or not. But I will definitely keep it in the back of my mind. Would you divide the cage in half for now while she is young or would you use the whole thing and clutter the space to make it seem smaller?

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Originally Posted by Mstuppiello921

...Would you divide the cage in half for now while she is young or would you use the whole thing and clutter the space to make it seem smaller?

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I would do both, even half a T8 is very large for a hatchling/yearling (I'm making an assumption on the snake's age based on pics from a different thread). you'll need to clutter up half a T8. I keep large adults BPs in T3.

I see your getting things in total order I think your thread is great Im really paying attention to the Rack systems and wow all the tips and tricks from the Veterans using this equipment. . Im so excited to see your Finished Product and Baby Python......

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Originally Posted by treaux

I use the UTH to keep a thermal gradient. With the RHPs centered on each compartment, there would be no gradient. I use the RHPs to maintain a minimum ambient temp of 82 during the day and 75 at night, with the UTH side being a constant 90. My room temps can fluctuate from 60s to mid 80s so I need the RHPs for when it gets cold.

I am already trying to resist getting a 6 tub rack and filling it with balls. It's a tough battle...

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I get what your saying I like your system.[emoji106]

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Originally Posted by DennisM

I would do both, even half a T8 is very large for a hatchling/yearling (I'm making an assumption on the snake's age based on pics from a different thread). you'll need to clutter up half a T8. I keep large adults BPs in T3.

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Thanks for the great info DennisM! Yes Cleo is less then one year old. Last night I reached out to Ali from ap and added the divider to my order. Ill place two medium hides from reptile basics in there with a water bowl, low climbing branch, two fake plants and hanging fake leaves to fill in the gaps.

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Originally Posted by Lady mkrj58

I see your getting things in total order I think your thread is great Im really paying attention to the Rack systems and wow all the tips and tricks from the Veterans using this equipment. . Im so excited to see your Finished Product and Baby Python......

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I couldn't agree with you more about the veterans and everyone in general here. I've learned so much already!

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One thing that you will quickly learn from this site is that people on here are genuine and ready and willing to help. I have not seen very much (even in my short time on here) sarcasm or nasty comments although some people get a little testy if you ignore their great advice. The people on here know their stuff and I don't question any of it. I do learn a lot from them but also each snake is different in many ways so you have to watch and learn from your animal as well. I don't, as a general, rule, believe everything that I read and so I've had to learn certain things about my pets by trying and making mistakes (never taking any harmful risks to my pets). I watch over them carefully and use this site as a guideline. Also what works for husbandry in California, Texas, and Arizona does not work here in Nova Scotia (it is now 7 degrees, celsius or 45 degrees, fahrenheit with humidity at 80%) so we out in this part of the continent have other weather conditions to contend with.

Couldn't agree with you more. The people here have been great to me! I understand what you mean by the region. I live in Mass and currently it is 65 degrees but in 2 months it will be in single digits. The good news is that this display is going in my bedroom so the temperature in the room is thermostat controlled as well. I take the same approach as you, I always observe my animals as they are all different. I take my animals and their well being very seriously to the point of intense spoiling. My 4 year old pit/boxer mix sleep on an actual temperedic mattress and has her own coach in the living room hahaha. I just love that Im getting such an awesome foundation as a starting point. This way when my little baby does arrive I can focus on her individual needs and tweak things from there. Thanks a lot for your advice and input :)

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Originally Posted by treaux

Sounds good. I have a similar setup for my two snakes. Only thing I might recommend is getting a HerpStat 2 in case you end up adding a UTH (like I did) or you get a second snake (also like I did :P).

Here's mine for reference:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...2015.37.07.jpg

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This setup is awesome! If I got something compact and easy like this I could get more snakes..... Whats it called?

Just dropping by to see were progress is headed today, Im waiting for the Fed Ex to show up meanwhile Im do silly house chores, Vape break over and back to those chores. I check back later.

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Hey thanks for checking in!

I contacted animal plastics my enclosure got delayed so I won't be receiving it until Nov. 28th :( thats ok though it gives me more time to get my ducks in a row
Contacted the breeder of my girl and got the temps she is currently living in to mimic in her new cage. 90 high spot 82 low spot.
Tonight I am going to be moving around some stuff in my room to make room for the stand I am getting/building.

I do have a question though? Based on the pic of my girl what size reptile basic hides should I be getting- small or medium??

Correct me if Im wrong Treaux but maskedburito I believe that is an animal plastics t8 with sliding glass doors, a lock, and divided in the middle. It also looks like blue led lights??

Yep, mine is a T8 with divider. LED lights are actually multicolor modular strips that you can find on Amazon and are glued onto the top. They came with an adhesive strip, but my little dude kept pulling them down, so I used loctite powergrab to really glue them in place..

I'm not sure on the reptile basic hides, but I have the Exo Terra Reptile Cave in mediums that are also on Amazon for $4 a piece and they work great. Cozy enough for the snakes to be happy, but with some room for them to grow into.

If you don't want to wait for your snake, just get a sterilite tub and a heat pad (an 11x6 strip of flexwatt from my local reptile shop costs like $5) and you can make a nice tub setup while you wait for your T8. That's what I did and it cost me under $20.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...2001.19.34.jpg

My makeshift setup while waiting to find a T8. I finally replaced the camera box with an Exo Terra hide.

You know I did not even think of this for some reason! What a great idea, Im traveling all over the place until the weekend, but it looks like I got some shopping to do and possibly a pick up over the weekend!!! :D:D:D

Another question for you guys. I have been battling with what substrate to use between cypress mulch and unprinted newspaper. I really love the natural look (as it is going to be display tank), but Im worried about the possibility of mites. Even though I do love the look, I care more about the well being of my baby then the looks. Are mites a really common problem with mulch or is there a way I can make sure I never have them in there or should I just go with unprinted news paper. Thanks in advance!!

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Originally Posted by Mstuppiello921

Another question for you guys. I have been battling with what substrate to use between cypress mulch and unprinted newspaper. I really love the natural look (as it is going to be display tank), but Im worried about the possibility of mites. Even though I do love the look, I care more about the well being of my baby then the looks. Are mites a really common problem with mulch or is there a way I can make sure I never have them in there or should I just go with unprinted news paper. Thanks in advance!!

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wood mites happen. it's kinda like your dog getting fleas. but they don't materialize out of nowhere. they come from other reptiles. for example, a store that has an infestation and it got into the bags of substrate they sell. or it came from your handling of another snake or reptile and you transfer it to your own BP or collection. that's why quarantine for a new animal is important.

as for minimizing the risk of mites in substrate, some folks freeze it before use. some bake it on low temps in the oven. some do both to help kill mites that might be hiding in the substrate. and if u really want, u could use Provent-A-Mite now and then in your BP enclosure for extra measure.

I see what your saying, thanks for the knowledge. May I ask what you use personally Ax01??

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Originally Posted by Mstuppiello921

I see what your saying, thanks for the knowledge. May I ask what you use personally Ax01??

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i put down a layer of chipped/shaved Aspen and then put some shredded aspen on top. i place moss in here and there. the snakes will do their own mixing as they scoot about the enclosure.

this combo works well for me and my snakes. i got some that like to burrow so it adds a little to their comfort i hope. i don't have a huge collection and mist almost daily. it holds moisture and gives me a chance to peep my snakes.

alot of folks prefer cypress mulch for holding better moisture but i don't like the size of their individual chunks of wood. the same can be said for Eco-Earth on holding moisture but i find the pieces to be too small. and then some folks use paper (paper towels, newspaper, etc.) for it's ease of cleaning.

anyway that's what i use, do and think. your mileage may vary.

-- Ax

Ax

I can't thank you enough for all the evidence and help you have given me! Its greatly appreciated. What I have noticed after a couple of days cruising around the forum is that a lot of the husbandry comes down to personal preference. There is a guideline set of basic rules, but then after that it seems that everyone figures out what they enjoy best for their needs/snakes.


Stupp

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Originally Posted by Mstuppiello921

Ax

I can't thank you enough for all the evidence and help you have given me! Its greatly appreciated. What I have noticed after a couple of days cruising around the forum is that a lot of the husbandry comes down to personal preference. There is a guideline set of basic rules, but then after that it seems that everyone figures out what they enjoy best for their needs/snakes.


Stupp

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husbandry boils down to proper temps and humidity (and enclosure). we tend to use proven best practice, but how u get the proper temps and humidity is a matter of preference. get husbandry right and u will have a happy snake that eats, sheds and grows.

Just an update everyone.....I decided on the substrate I am going to use. I decided against a loose substrate altogether because of the possibility of mites and swallowing concerns. The only thing I had against unprinted newspaper was that it was white and looked unnatural. After some searching I found Kraft paper! All the easy of unprinted news paper but brown so it looks more realistic!

OP, I can't wait to see your setup, as I am looking at getting a T8 myself real soon. Did you get any vent hole cut outs? I wasn't sure if I should or not so would like to see what you are doing. Second question I have is, what LEDs did you go with? I wanted to do LEDs for my T8 because I like the nice crisp blue/white look for day, but wanted a low moonlight affect at night (I also do SW tanks and my light systems have the built in moonlights and I love the low moonlight it gives off). I always see people use just blue LEDs for the moonlight but it's kinda bright and this is a tank in a bedroom so I wanted it not to bright. Any input I appreciate!

Ewc88

All of the AP t8 enclosures come with vents in the back and sides. I did not get any addition vents as Ali from ap said it wasn't necessary. BTW Ali from AP is one of the best customer service people I have EVER encountered, EVER! I had the same questions about the led lights as well. I went with the white lights. They are a brighter pure white. If your looking for that blue/white light, you should go with the blue leds from AP. If your looking for the moonlight affect that you would say find on a biocube, you would have to retro fix them as AP does not sell or install those color lights. Thank alot for dropping by my thread!!

-Stupp

These are the LEDs I have (essentially): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01461MJYS

They are multi-color and attach with adhesive, though I used Loctite Power Grab to really secure them because my snake kept pulling them down.

As for substrate, I am using paper towels for now, but plan on ordering dimpled kraft paper as well. The dimpled is nice because it adds some texture. You can get a huge roll that's 2' wide, making it easy to just use one strip of it in a T8. I also found it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LN9MS6 and this to hold the roll: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MDLZK0

Absolutely agree with your on the dimple kraft paper. The texture was another reason I was sold on it. Thanks for the link....gotta love amazon right!

-Stupp

Does that light setup have a low color moonlight effect? I've seen people use them in FW tanks and they are pretty bright in some colors but never see all the colors options.

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Originally Posted by EWC88

Does that light setup have a low color moonlight effect? I've seen people use them in FW tanks and they are pretty bright in some colors but never see all the colors options.

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I'm not sure as my LED kit doesn't have as many colors as the one I linked. I'm not sure what color a "low moonlight effect" is, but it seems that with the range of colors shown there and being able to control the brightness, you should be able to achieve it.

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Originally Posted by EWC88

Does that light setup have a low color moonlight effect? I've seen people use them in FW tanks and they are pretty bright in some colors but never see all the colors options.

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Another thing you can do it apply a tint film over a blue led. Any major car company (lumix is the best in my opinion) that does tail light tint film will work. They have all different shades of darkest and you can find the best match for the color output you want.

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Hey guys!

Just an update. I got my two thermometers from walmart that everyone has suggested. I kept them in the room that the cage is going to be in for a couple hours and they haven't moved an inch....I'm pretty happy with the humidity percent in the room and feel like keeping it in the balls range in a t8 will be pretty easy.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11...4ed1293105.jpg

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You are setup and ready to receive your Baby, you have done an awsome job on this set up congrats.

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Thank you! I really appreciate that. I honestly could not have done it without everyones help. My t8 should be coming this friday!! All I have to do is build it, set it on the stand, hook everything up, place everything in, stabilize my temp, humidity, etc for 48 hours then picking up my girl. I know what Im going to be thankful for this year on thanksgiving!!! :D

OOO and since I am going to be picking her up about an hour and a half away, I am developing a plan to transport her home. I purchased a very small ster. tube and drilled holes in it. I plan on laying down kraft paper, putting a hide in it and transporting her home that way. Will she be alright if I crank the heat in the truck? Will she get to cold? Or should I put her in a snake bag first then the tub? Thanks

If it helps I have a power inverter installed in my truck and I can plug anything that would plug into a regular outlet. Maybe a heat mat for the ride??

-Stupp

Herpstat is here! and I just got a fed ex tracking number for the cage!!! Arriving Saturday!! SOOO PUMPEDD!:D:D

Cage came todayy!!! Built it and sealed it up, waiting for it to dry then ill add the glass and finish setting it up.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11...f8d0390a2e.jpg


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Looks awesome man. Did you go with the fluorescent lights, or the LED's? I'm thinking about getting one of these for my first BP... and I want to do it right the first time, but I'm getting anxious. I will be getting the divider and only using half of the tank to start with. I'd love to hear how you setup your heat once you're all done.

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Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

Looks awesome man. Did you go with the fluorescent lights, or the LED's? I'm thinking about getting one of these for my first BP... and I want to do it right the first time, but I'm getting anxious. I will be getting the divider and only using half of the tank to start with. I'd love to hear how you setup your heat once you're all done.

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I went with the leds. Leds compared to fluorescents are more energy efficient. I love them, the light is perfect, not to bright either. As for heat, I went with a rhp from pro products. Had it shipped straight to AP and they installed it for me. Im running a herpstat to maintain a 90 degree hot side and a 80 degree cool side. The cage itself is amazing, superb quality! Its on sale right now for 150 too! Id go this route the first time out. I was going to go the glass aquarium root but after being on this sight and getting advice from everyone, I decided to go all in the first time. So worth it.

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I hope I can get a set up like yours at some point. Excited you can get your snake soon :)
Can I ask how that's done, having the RHP shipped to them and having them install it? Do you just let them know ahead of time and it is sent with your name on it? Sorry if that's a silly question, have never heard of places doing something like that.

Don't be sorry at all! Animal Plastics recommended Pro Products as a heat source. I call Pro Products and they helped me pick out the right size panel. Once I picked it out, they shipped it to AP for me and AP installed it right into the top panel for me free of charge!!

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Originally Posted by treaux

Yep, mine is a T8 with divider. LED lights are actually multicolor modular strips that you can find on Amazon and are glued onto the top. They came with an adhesive strip, but my little dude kept pulling them down, so I used loctite powergrab to really glue them in place..

I'm not sure on the reptile basic hides, but I have the Exo Terra Reptile Cave in mediums that are also on Amazon for $4 a piece and they work great. Cozy enough for the snakes to be happy, but with some room for them to grow into.

If you don't want to wait for your snake, just get a sterilite tub and a heat pad (an 11x6 strip of flexwatt from my local reptile shop costs like $5) and you can make a nice tub setup while you wait for your T8. That's what I did and it cost me under $20.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...2001.19.34.jpg

My makeshift setup while waiting to find a T8. I finally replaced the camera box with an Exo Terra hide.

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Very nice [emoji4]

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