Best set up when keeping a single ball

Hey guys!

So it's been about 4 years since I've kept ball pythons, and I'm finally buying one and getting back into the game.

I live in Northwestern Ontario, so I'm in a colder climate, and my main concern is always with keeping ambient high enough. In the past I had a rack in a closet, and I used a space heater on a thermostat for ambient and heat tape on another thermostat for the hot spot.

Now, I'm only getting one ball, and planning on keeping it at that, so no rack this time around. I don't have a dedicated room/closet that I can heat to ambient temperatures in my apartment, so I'm thinking my best bet for keeping up ambient temps is a che.

I know everyone hates tanks for balls, and tubs are way better, I'm just not sure about a che with a tub. I could possibly cut a window in the lid, cover it with wire screen (on the outside obviously so no sharp edges inside) but then my concern is that the screen would get hot and the snake could potentially burn himself.

Other option is a tank. Not my first choice, but I'm not sure if it would be the better way to heat or not.

My other question is, do you think you could set the che on the hot side to the 88-90F, and have that be enough ambient air heat to keep the cool side at the desired 80F?

Or are there better options than either of these? Let me know :)

Thanks in advance for any advice or input! It's been ages, and I'm totally open to suggestions. The hatching I'm getting still has a few meals to go before he's ready to be shipped, so I still have time to decide on a set up, order it and have it set up in advance.

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My tub setup is on a CHE. I can't post pictures, but I can link you to the thread for my BP that does have pictures of my setup. If the tub is conservatively ventilated, I think it'd be easy to use the CHE to have that nice 80-88 gradient.

Here's the link: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...=1#post2561508

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Originally Posted by Starscream

My tub setup is on a CHE. I can't post pictures, but I can link you to the thread for my BP that does have pictures of my setup. If the tub is conservatively ventilated, I think it'd be easy to use the CHE to have that nice 80-88 gradient.

Here's the link: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...=1#post2561508

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I really like your setup!

I had in mind a much shorter bin, more like what's used in racks. I like what you have there though. What wattage of che do you use?

I'm a fan of your coming pipes and plants :) I wouldn't mind trying something similar. Super excited to get set up and get my little guy!

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Originally Posted by Ashleigh91

I really like your setup!

I had in mind a much shorter bin, more like what's used in racks. I like what you have there though. What wattage of che do you use?

I'm a fan of your coming pipes and plants :) I wouldn't mind trying something similar. Super excited to get set up and get my little guy!

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My lamp only supports as high as a 100w, so that's what I'm using. That way I can throttle it down as low as I want, and still have the option to set it higher if need be. If you're going with a shorter bin, that will also help keep the air hotter across the tub itself, since the CHE is having to heat less air.

And thanks! I had a lot of fun coming up with enrichment and hiding ideas. I want to try some texture-based stuff with different rocks around the enclosure and substrates in bowls and see how she takes to it.

Can't wait to see your noodle when you get them! :3

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Originally Posted by Starscream

My lamp only supports as high as a 100w, so that's what I'm using. That way I can throttle it down as low as I want, and still have the option to set it higher if need be. If you're going with a shorter bin, that will also help keep the air hotter across the tub itself, since the CHE is having to heat less air.

And thanks! I had a lot of fun coming up with enrichment and hiding ideas. I want to try some texture-based stuff with different rocks around the enclosure and substrates in bowls and see how she takes to it.

Can't wait to see your noodle when you get them! :3

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Fair point. I'll have to go take a look at the storage bins my Wal-Mart has. I'm really very tempted to have something tall and do some fun stuff like what you've done! Hopefully I could still maintain temperatures with just one heat source that way. Perhaps I'll look into a lamp that supports a 150w.
Hmm so many things to consider now!

Once I get 100% confirmation that the breeder can ship to where I live, and I pay my deposit, I'll start a progression thread and post the breeder picture. He's a lovely little clown.

Thanks for your advice!

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Personally I'd get one level of an ARS-7010. You can get one for $99 plus shipping, comes with the tub with cup holder and heat strip, you just need a thermostat. If you want to buy another snake you could buy another level and stack it on top.

http://arscaging.com/ars7010_hybrid.html

Not everybody hates glass. There are PLENTY of keepers who successfully keep their snakes in glass, myself included. They take a little more work, but for small collections it really is easy if you're willing to put in a little extra effort at the beginning.

Have you considered a pvc cage? I love my Animal Plastics PVC cages...I use them for boas, a carpet, and a BRB right now. I know many people use an RHP with them.. I believe you order the RHP from another source and AP coordinates with them to install it for you (might be pro products?, not sure).

My AP cages seem to hold ambient temps well and have sliding glass doors so you get good viewing also. I also love the fact that you can get a lock for the glass doors to protect your snake.
I would think a single RHP would be enough to maintain ambient and a hot spot, but you could call AP and ask them. Their customer service is great.

That said, the wait time is about 3-4 months, so be prepared for that.

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Originally Posted by artgecko

Have you considered a pvc cage? I love my Animal Plastics PVC cages...I use them for boas, a carpet, and a BRB right now. I know many people use an RHP with them.. I believe you order the RHP from another source and AP coordinates with them to install it for you (might be pro products?, not sure).

My AP cages seem to hold ambient temps well and have sliding glass doors so you get good viewing also. I also love the fact that you can get a lock for the glass doors to protect your snake.
I would think a single RHP would be enough to maintain ambient and a hot spot, but you could call AP and ask them. Their customer service is great.

That said, the wait time is about 3-4 months, so be prepared for that.

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Hello form Ontario. You can check these guys out in Mississauga. http://www.pvccages.ca/

I'm sure they will ship to you.

I built my own PVC cage and have been very pleased with it. Even though it's 24" high and my living room gets down to 55 degrees, I have no trouble heating it. I use a 80 watt rhp mounted under a platform instead of on the ceiling, which let's the heat make it all the way to the floor, results in less loss out the top, and turns the platform into a nice basking area. There's insulation between the platform and the panel so the platform surface never gets dangerously hot. The platform is large enough to have substrate and hides on it, and it gets used quite a lot. I also have quilted panels covering the whole viv except the front, and I use acrylic doors instead of glass because they retain heat a bit better.
If you're only keeping one snake, you might as well give it a nice big enriched viv. Heating doesn't have to be an impediment.

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Originally Posted by Coluber42

I built my own PVC cage and have been very pleased with it. Even though it's 24" high and my living room gets down to 55 degrees, I have no trouble heating it. I use a 80 watt rhp mounted under a platform instead of on the ceiling, which let's the heat make it all the way to the floor, results in less loss out the top, and turns the platform into a nice basking area. There's insulation between the platform and the panel so the platform surface never gets dangerously hot. The platform is large enough to have substrate and hides on it, and it gets used quite a lot. I also have quilted panels covering the whole viv except the front, and I use acrylic doors instead of glass because they retain heat a bit better.
If you're only keeping one snake, you might as well give it a nice big enriched viv. Heating doesn't have to be an impediment.

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Do you know off hand what the prices for rhps are/where they're ordered from?

A pvc enclosure would be great, and I would love to have one in the future, but price is a bit of a factor right now. I'm a college student, so not a huge ton of disposable income lol. I'm of course going to spend the necessary money to give him a set up that meets his needs, but I don't have a huge amount extra.

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The best way is the one that work for you and your animal keeping in mind that you want to provide adequate security, proper temps gradients and proper humidity.

PVC and plastic in general will be better when it comes to heat and humidity, it's just a fact that glass is not an ideal material.

I don't recommend light with tubs if that is the route you want to go, with tubs you use a UTH or 2 depending on your ambient temp.

With a PVC cage you can use a UTH or heat panel.

I don't recommend CHE in general as they suck out humidity.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

The best way is the one that work for you and your animal keeping in mind that you want to provide adequate security, proper temps gradients and proper humidity.

PVC and plastic in general will be better when it comes to heat and humidity, it's just a fact that glass is not an ideal material.

I don't recommend light with tubs if that is the route you want to go, with tubs you use a UTH or 2 depending on your ambient temp.

With a PVC cage you can use a UTH or heat panel.

I don't recommend CHE in general as they suck out humidity.

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As much as I would like a pvc cage I don't really have the extra cash for a pvc enclosure and rhp right now.

A tub does look like the way I'll be going, but my ambients are far too low for only using UTHs so I think I'll be trying something like starscream's setup :)

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I appreciate all the advice!

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I got a reptile basics rhp. I used it on a glass tank before I built the viv, and I think you could use it on a tub too with a little work - basically, put a piece of wood over the lid so the screws have something to go into. You'll need a taller tub than you otherwise might because the panel will take up some head room. I think RHP's are a great way to heat anytime, but especially when you have low ambient temperature in the room. The reason is that for the same wattage, they spread the heat over a larger area and therefore nothing needs to get to as high a temperature in one place. And since the panel is entirely inside the enclosure, it loses less heat to the room than a lamp from above, whether it's a che or incandescent. It's initially more expensive, but once you have it you're good for a long time.