Finally Getting A Baby BP! Need Clarification On 5L RUB Hole Drilling

Hey, so I'm finally getting a Ball Python who will be a hatchling, and I will be keeping him in a 5L RUB to start, and gradually increase in size as the snake gets bigger. However I am unsure on how many holes I should drill ( I do not own a soldering iron ) and where I should drill them. I was thinking of following this guys' advice on holes, having three at the top on the long ends. Is this okay? https://youtu.be/g0UGjMamP-I?t=2m43s

Also, what size drillbit is recommended?

If you don't have an iron to melt the holes, you can use a hot screwdriver. Gas burner on your stove works great. If that is not an option, back the plastic with a piece of wood. That will minimize the risk of cracking the tub as you drill.

Dave

Oh, shoot, so it's too risky to use a drill, dang... I'll have to ask my Uncle for help, thanks~

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Seviper

Oh, shoot, so it's too risky to use a drill, dang... I'll have to ask my Uncle for help, thanks~

---

You can do it. Just drill down into a piece of wood, going through the plastic. Or the screwdriver method.

Dave

I used a drill successfully without backing the plastic for support and without any cracks :) I also sanded the holes after to smooth out any rough edges. As for the amount of holes, it was trial and error- started with a few and let the humidity stabilize then added a few more on so on until the humidity was sitting steady at 60%. I had to drill quite a few holes (26L tub), about 8 on the long sides, 4 on the short sides, and 8 on the lid. I'm not sure what size the bit was though. Hope this helps!

Thanks everybody. I've forwarded this information to my uncle who will help me anywhere between now and next Monday. Appreciated. ^^

I drilled literally a 150 holes in one tub with a drill just fine. It's possible it was the bit I was using was very highly rated and could be used for steel as well .

Sent from my Z987 using Tapatalk

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...psqgud3qez.jpg

About 50 on this side and probably another 50 on every other side so maybe 200 holes and there small holes too. It's a 5/32 bit http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...psyckso3oh.jpg

Sent from my Z987 using Tapatalk

Too many holes WILL give humidity problems.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Too many holes WILL give humidity problems.

---

Yes this ^^^

My tubs have lids and I only put 8 1/4in holes per tub.

I have reverse humidity problems . My apt sits around 50-60 humidity so inside my racks with a water bowl I was getting 70-80 average humidity so I needed the holes to let more humid air out. My problem is rather specific though.

Sent from my Z987 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alexio

I have reverse humidity problems . My apt sits around 50-60 humidity so inside my racks with a water bowl I was getting 70-80 average humidity so I needed the holes to let more humid air out. My problem is rather specific though.

---

Have you tried placing a fan in the room?

What's a RUB? I've seen this term used several times recently. I need help with the translation...

I think it's a UK like of plstic boxes

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slim

What's a RUB? I've seen this term used several times recently. I need help with the translation...

---

Really useful box

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Have you tried placing a fan in the room?

---

I haven't, would you point it at the rack? Or just in the general area?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alexio

I haven't, would you point it at the rack? Or just in the general area?

---

just to circulate air in the room.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chilliscale

I think it's a UK like of plstic boxes

- - - Updated - - -


Really useful box

---

Ahhhhhhhh. Yes! I use those to store blankets in.

Never seen em in the states personally

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

So my uncle and I placed a total of eight holes on the long side of my 5L RUB, using a soldering iron, and it was absolutely horrible. The smell of burning plastic made me feel ill, but nevertheless, it is over now. I haven't yet placed the heat mat under it yet, but I decided to slip my thermometer&hydrometer hybrid probe inside the tub and switched it on, and with the water it was reading about 55-56% humidity, without water in the little dish it is at 54%. I assume that is going to be okay, when I put my heat mat under it and hook it up to my thermostat, I'd imagine the humidity would jump to about 62% or so. ( Temperature was reading about 23.4C/74F without the heat mat ). Would humidity in the 60s be good for a BP? Regardless of age.

( Just like to point out that I don't have the snake... YET! )

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AKA Dave

If you don't have an iron to melt the holes, you can use a hot screwdriver. Gas burner on your stove works great.

Dave

---

yup, i did it this way as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Seviper

So my uncle and I placed a total of eight holes on the long side of my 5L RUB, using a soldering iron, and it was absolutely horrible. The smell of burning plastic made me feel ill, but nevertheless, it is over now. I haven't yet placed the heat mat under it yet, but I decided to slip my thermometer&hydrometer hybrid probe inside the tub and switched it on, and with the water it was reading about 55-56% humidity, without water in the little dish it is at 54%. I assume that is going to be okay, when I put my heat mat under it and hook it up to my thermostat, I'd imagine the humidity would jump to about 62% or so. ( Temperature was reading about 23.4C/74F without the heat mat ). Would humidity in the 60s be good for a BP? Regardless of age.

( Just like to point out that I don't have the snake... YET! )

---

Everything should be fine. It is hard to have low humidity problems in a tub. If you feel the humidity is low, put the water over the heating pad. If you start to get a lot of condensation put the water on the cool side. The only humidity problems I generally have with my tubs is when one of my big girls decides she wants to turn her tub into a water park by flipping her bowl. If this happens it needs to be cleaned up asap. Others have devised methods to prevent this from happening but I prefer to let my breeding females move their water bowls. Once again, any visible condensation is usually a good indicator that the tub needs service. Either the animal has defecated or there is spilled water.

Alright. I thought maybe, when I hook up the heat mat & thermostat, the humidity would jump to the mid to high 60s and I thought that might be way too high, especially for a baby that's only about a week old currently ( though when I get him, he'll be a few weeks old I'd imagine ).

Just like when people have their first child they tend to overthink everything. It is normal. You are already ahead of the game because you have decided to keep your animal the easy way. Tubs are so much easier than tanks and lights. Tanks can turn into mini science projects with ball pythons. These animals are very easy to keep if you choose to do it the easy way. Be observant of your animal and its environment. Pretty soon you will just know when things are right and wrong. Always use a thermostat. In the beginning you will need to use gauges such as a heat gun religiously. As time goes on you will be able to many things by "feel" but this comes with experience. You can train yourself to know what the hot side feels like. You will begin to notice humidity changes. You will know when food is at the right temp. I even won a bet last week that I could weigh adults without a scale. Through the repetition of weighing snakes every week I can usually get within 10% without a scale when picking up a new animal. There is nothing special about any of it. Just repetition and experience. You are going to do fine.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

Just like when people have their first child they tend to overthink everything. It is normal. You are already ahead of the game because you have decided to keep your animal the easy way. Tubs are so much easier than tanks and lights. Tanks can turn into mini science projects with ball pythons. These animals are very easy to keep if you choose to do it the easy way. Be observant of your animal and its environment. Pretty soon you will just know when things are right and wrong. Always use a thermostat. In the beginning you will need to use gauges such as a heat gun religiously. As time goes on you will be able to many things by "feel" but this comes with experience. You can train yourself to know what the hot side feels like. You will begin to notice humidity changes. You will know when food is at the right temp. I even won a bet last week that I could weigh adults without a scale. Through the repetition of weighing snakes every week I can usually get within 10% without a scale when picking up a new animal. There is nothing special about any of it. Just repetition and experience. You are going to do fine.

---

I suppose I am guilty of overthinking. My sister did the same thing with her first child, except with me it's a baby snake and not a baby human. I just really want what's best for the little guy and for him to be one of the happiest snakes on the planet. The reason why I went with the RUB route is not only do I not have enough room for a big-ass vivarium ( I will next year when I move ), I was also recommended to just use a RUB and to get a baby by a breeder. I followed his advice. I admit I am still scared the humidity will be too high but I've heard that 50-70%, anything in that range, is okay.

humidity is fine. i always bump it up a little during shed cycle then let it go back down to normal levels after a shed. as to a big vivarium, spend a few moments and study how these animals choose to live in the wild. they do not like large places and will generally only move when they have to.