How You Doin Bp Community. Update on Ariana and Fabio. (Beginner Setup)

So for those of you that read my previous posts I adopted 2 Ball pythons. I've finished the Tubs and just wanted to post up some pictures for beginners like myself and to get some opinions from most of you that have way more knowledge than i do.

I went down to my local 99 cent store. ( In Brooklyn NY they are everywhere) Purchased 2 41 qt tubs for about 14$ each.
The Thermostats i bought from amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Also bought the heat mats off amazon too https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_130534.jpg


Using a Soldering iron i made holes down the sides of the tub about an inch apart and they are about an 1/8'' big.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_134330.jpg

Also i used the Soldering iron to make a small hole for the Thermostat sensor to be put inside right on top of where the heat pad is. I Used a zip tie to attach it to the tub.
You all might think its a possible scratch point but it being cover in paper towel i don't think it will ever be an issue. (Watched a video from Olympic reptiles and this is how they did it.)

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_134128.jpg

Now for the inside I just put down Paper towels for substrate for easy clean up. I Have simple hides so they can feel secure and i bought Plastic dog dish from my local pet store that cost 5 bucks.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_130543.jpg https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_130549.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_130617.jpg https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_130602.jpg

For Thermometer/Hygrometer was recommended to me from you guys here which was great for the price and works really nicely. I got it from Amazon for 8 bucks.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_133023.jpg https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_133038.jpg

To Check the spot where your heat pad is I use a infrared heat gun i bought from amazon for 14$ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(Only issue i have with my heat pad is the plastic itself is the temp i have the thermostat to but above the paper towel it drops almost 6-10 degrees. I don't want to crank up the heat to much just in case it might be to much for the snakes.)

My next steps are to build a rack and install flex watt but for now i think this is great until i get everything else together.
I would love to hear what ya'll think so i can make any improvements if i need too.

PS The humidity stays a lot longer than it did when i had a larger tub with larger holes but i still need to mist at least once a day. i dont mind misting it but im afraid of mold can that happen the way i have things setup?

I think i covered just about everything and how i did it. It really is simple enough. This is Combined from all of you great people here and all of the care sheets ive read through.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MegaSteve778

So for those of you that read my previous posts I adopted 2 Ball pythons. I've finished the Tubs and just wanted to post up some pictures for beginners like myself and to get some opinions from most of you that have way more knowledge than i do.

I went down to my local 99 cent store. ( In Brooklyn NY they are everywhere) Purchased 2 41 qt tubs for about 14$ each.
The Thermostats i bought from amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Also bought the heat mats off amazon too https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_130534.jpg


Using a Soldering iron i made holes down the sides of the tub about an inch apart and they are about an 1/8'' big.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_134330.jpg

Also i used the Soldering iron to make a small hole for the Thermostat sensor to be put inside right on top of where the heat pad is. I Used a zip tie to attach it to the tub.
You all might think its a possible scratch point but it being cover in paper towel i don't think it will ever be an issue. (Watched a video from Olympic reptiles and this is how they did it.)

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_134128.jpg

Now for the inside I just put down Paper towels for substrate for easy clean up. I Have simple hides so they can feel secure and i bought Plastic dog dish from my local pet store that cost 5 bucks.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_130543.jpg https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_130549.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_130617.jpg https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_130602.jpg

For Thermometer/Hygrometer was recommended to me from you guys here which was great for the price and works really nicely. I got it from Amazon for 8 bucks.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_133023.jpg https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...321_133038.jpg

To Check the spot where your heat pad is I use a infrared heat gun i bought from amazon for 14$ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(Only issue i have with my heat pad is the plastic itself is the temp i have the thermostat to but above the paper towel it drops almost 6-10 degrees. I don't want to crank up the heat to much just in case it might be to much for the snakes.)

My next steps are to build a rack and install flex watt but for now i think this is great until i get everything else together.
I would love to hear what ya'll think so i can make any improvements if i need too.

PS The humidity stays a lot longer than it did when i had a larger tub with larger holes but i still need to mist at least once a day. i dont mind misting it but im afraid of mold can that happen the way i have things setup?

I think i covered just about everything and how i did it. It really is simple enough. This is Combined from all of you great people here and all of the care sheets ive read through.

---

Hi,

Looks pretty good. The thermo probe for the heat pad should be on the outside. I use newspaper in my tub and she finds a way under it. So sometimes she's right on the plastic. My heat pad sits on the table the probe in the middle and I place my tub on that. Always take your temp readings from the plastic. Again because they will find a way under things. Just some food for thought.

thanks for the reply. so i just get this right the probe should be between the tub and the mat?

If you haven't already, you'll probably want to get some binder clips (or strapping), put a few down the long sides as a snake can sometimes push and flex up the sides in order to escape.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MegaSteve778

thanks for the reply. so i just get this right the probe should be between the tub and the mat?

---

Yes it should. I second the clips. I have 12 clips on mine. Also do you have 2 identical hides in each tub? One for the cold side one for the hot?

The bigger guys hide takes up alot of the space in there itd be hard to squeeze in a second one.

What size heat mat did you use for the 41q tubs? I will be setting up two of these soon :D Also what did you spend altogether? Just curious.

i linked the one i got from amazon up top. i paid all together about 70$ all together.
just wandering if the double hide is to much in most videos i see of people putting snakes in tubs they dont even have one.

i actually got the one thats 18x8 for 26$

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MegaSteve778

thanks for the reply. so i just get this right the probe should be between the tub and the mat?

---

yes, thermostat probe stays on the outside, sandwiched between the tub and heatmat. it's the thermometer probe that stays on the inside:

~~~~~~~~~~ <-- substrate
---------o------- <-- thermometer probe
========== <-- enclosure bottom
---------o-------- <-- thermostat probe
------------------ <-- heatpad or heattape

or checkout this supercool/supercute/superhelpful diagram: https://ball-pythons.net/gallery//sh...mageuser=19365

also here's a quick guide on tub setup: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...e-Basics-*DUW*

stuff like pee or spilled water than throw off the thermostat's probe reading of the temp u set it at.


Edit: clips or luggage straps can help u secure the tubs.

Edit2: a second hide is not necessary but pay attention to your BP, but most of those BP's are in racks where it's dark. if it seems stressed and out of it's warm hide, move to a smaller water bowl and put in a cool side hide. Or move the tubs to a rack, shelf or something that covers it's sides.

My therm/hygro didnt come with a temp probe just the thermostat has one. That guide is pretty amazing thanks much for linking it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MegaSteve778

My therm/hygro didnt come with a temp probe just the thermostat has one. That guide is pretty amazing thanks much for linking it.

---

ok then your thermometer/hygrometer is great for measuring ambient temps and humidity; just not the hotspot temp. it would be a good idea to add probe thermometer or use another instrument (i.e. laser temp gun - https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Repti...qid=1521673019) to take hot spot temps now and then.


Edit: again move the thermostat probe outside per the charts and guide. u can use something like non-toxic hot glue to re-seal the tub if u want.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MegaSteve778

The bigger guys hide takes up alot of the space in there itd be hard to squeeze in a second one.

---

One of the reasons I think 41 quart tubs are too small for adults. It is difficult to cram 2 hides into a 41 quart tub.
Another member mentioned that some tubs are in enclosed dark racks, so the keepers dont even use hides.
My rack is enclosed on all sides, and very dark, yet I provide at least two hides, and the snakes spend 90% of their time in the hides, even in their dark tubs. The other times they like to roam around a bit.

41 quart tubs can work with 2 hides, you will just have to get the smallest hides possible that the snakes can cram themselves into. Beeps love to sleep crammed in tight caves anyway!
Put one on the cool end, and one on the warm end over the UTH.
It looks like you did your homework, and you are off to a great start.

I use 56 quart, which are very similar, but gives more room to move around.

Im not saying 41 quart tubs are bad, just that they are not ideal for adult ball pythons, and just because 41 quart CB70 plastic storage tubs are convenient and developed into “the standard”, and hundreds of breeders have kept thousands of snakes crammed in 41 quart tubs (and EVEN SMALLER) over the years, doesn’t make it a great idea.
*End rant*
*give the beeps some space!*
Lol

Below are pictures and a video of my 56 quart tubs.

Below: a 2700 gram adult female in a larger 56 quart tub. The people I got her from kept her in the “standard” 41 quart sterilite tub, (that I don’t have photos of),and even with no hides, with just her water bowl and her, she could barely move, and it looked so tight on her! even the 56 quart tub pictures below seems barely adequate to fit her!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d172dadd65.jpg

Below:
1200 gram subadult female hanging out in a 56 quart tub.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5e1d0a2d5b.jpg


Below:
A 280 gram male juvenile even enjoys all of his THREE HIDES in his big 56 quart tub.
https://youtu.be/sVHyiunWHzI

Once your snakes get above 2000 grams, I would suggest getting giant storage tubs, or even large PVC cages like forum member Sauzo and others here use.

Alright then i do have a heatgun that i test the heat on the plastic and then on top of the paper towel which is a huge differnce almost 10 degrees sometimes so im wondering if i should use aspen instead of paper towels. for resealing the holes im waiting on a hot glue gun that ill be getting soon.

All your info is much appreciated. I got both of these snakes from people that didn't want them no more so for the age that they told me there definitely not up to size of a regular sub adult so for now i think they might be alright until i finish a rack for them. but i will definitely try to put them into larger qt containers when im finished with it.

I moved them to be between the matt and the container now. Going to keep an eye on it with the heat gun.