Getting Started

We're in the process now of setting up a plastic habitat for our baby to be. Most of it I think I have together plan wise, except I'm a little confused about the UTH. Cobra heat mats say on the description "Designed to be used in or out of terrariums" Um... Is it really safe to try using a cobra UTH inside an enclosure? I wouldn't imagine so, but I just wanted to check on that.

Which UTH do you guys most recommend for plastic? I know everyone talks up flexwatt tape, but I'd rather go with something more familiar at the moment just for my sanity's sake with all the excitement going on.

Going tub hunting on Sat during usual erranding time and got pretty much everything else we don't already have off MG's site just now, including a thermostat. Who could pass up those holiday deals?? :D

Otherwise we'll probably very soon be all set except for the snake himself... which Jo has very possibly hooked us up with *crosses fingers* it all just seems too perfect! We're very excited. This forum is too much, talk about a huge help. Thanks guys! :hug:

~Sheree

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

Which UTH do you guys most recommend for plastic? I know everyone talks up flexwatt tape, but I'd rather go with something more familiar at the moment just for my sanity's sake with all the excitement going on.

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Not only is flexwatt very cheap, but very "familiar" in the herping field. You can get some pre-wired from Matt that will just plug right into that nifty thermostat you bought from Matt too. It really is, in my opinion, the best and safest way to go.

Good luck making your decision!

well there is such a thing as a mat stat for heatmats, they should be fine under plastic. i do think its generally accepted that any uth goes under the cage and not inside it, with wooden enclosures you can put a mat inside as long as it is statted and monitored carefully, but if you dont need to then dont bother lol, with glass and plastic the mats work just as well underneath so theres no need to put them in with the snakes, its just safer.

You might want to reconsider your stance on flexwatt. I understand being in your comfort zone but flexwatt is cheap, easy and safe. Awesome product.

Well, the main reason I hesitate on the flexwatt is that I don't understand it. Every time I try to read up on it, it's like Esperanto to me. I'm not especially electronically inclined beyond rebooting the computer and I just can't seem to wrap my mind around what exactly I do with it or what to expect. I have this horrible paranoid fantasy of not knowing what I'm doing and setting the building on fire.

UTH is just kind of more in my comfort zone, and I figure when we upgrade Gomez's home I'll have more time to figure it out and fuss around with something new and alien like flexwatt. Does that make sense? Or am I just nuts?

If you get flexwatt pre-wired, it's the exact same thing as any other UTH. You're going to need a thermostat or a dimmer, no matter what UTH you choose, too.

Check out mgreptiles.com. He sells pre-wired flexwatt, as well as Exo-terra UTHs, and dimmers and thermostats. Everything you need in one site. :)

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Originally Posted by ladywhipple02

If you get flexwatt pre-wired, it's the exact same thing as any other UTH. You're going to need a thermostat or a dimmer, no matter what UTH you choose, too.

Check out mgreptiles.com. He sells pre-wired flexwatt, as well as Exo-terra UTHs, and dimmers and thermostats. Everything you need in one site. :)

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Plus if you email Matt, he will answer any question you may have. He was very patient with my stupid noobish questions.

I ordered from Matt exactly what ladywhipple is describing. A pre-wired piece of 11" flexwatt one foot long. All I had to do was plug it into my thermostat. It really is that simple

Trust me, if I can do it anyone can! Plus if you have any questions, ask them here and someone can help.:D

Hmm, okay. What really scared me off it was this line from the caresheet;

"Use of this technology requires you have a comfortable enough working knowledge of wiring and electricity to get it set up safely and a thermostat is critical in regulating temperatures properly."

So I fled in fear, lol. Dang, now I wish I had ordered the stuff all at once! I just ordered the other stuff I needed. But if it's the same as any other UTH and I'm not going to electricute myself and our snake, then okay.. I want to use the best thing in the best way, so I'm just being extra careful. :) Lemme re-look at the site there.

That comment is directed at people that like to wire things themselves. I actually know how to wire stuff proper but still pay to get it wired for me.....these guys do this for a living and they are the EXPERTS. Alot of people on this site have delt with Matt (justcage) and he is always willing to help....send him an email explaining your setup and worries and he will let you know what you need ;)

Okies, cool. /(^v^)\ Especially as we now officially have a BP, and the sooner the enclosure is together the sooner he can be shipped to us!

*squees in delight!* Thanks so much, Jo! We've fallen in love with him already! Our little Gomez is the fella at the top of the page, BP1. :love:

I'll get on pestering somebody about flexwatt just as soon as I get some sleep... I stayed up to get my cat to the vet only to find that her early morning appointment isn't till *next* friday. :doh: So I sleep now.

Yeah! What they said!

No really, Flexwatt wired properly is perfectly safe and fairly inexpensive. Matt does it better than most (the Flexwatt that is). :)

It definitely needs a Rheostat or preferably a Thermostat as Flexwatt can hit 115 degrees or more and cause thermal burns on the poor little guy/girl.

Good luck!

Jamie

Oh heck, no thanks needed Sheree! I'm just pleased as all get out that you got with Jamie and have decided on that lovely male. I just know you'll be very pleased with him and I know Jamie has him well started for you (that's always a major plus with purchasing young royals).


Have a word with Matt from mgreptiles as everyone has suggested. For a really reasonable sum he can wire your flexwatt up and fix everything up for you so it's basically plug and play with the pre-wired flexwatt and the tstat to control it. Matt's a super guy and doesn't mind all us "electrically challenged" people LOL. Heck I recently emailed him rack plans and a TON of questions and Matt actually still likes me LOL!

Can't wait to hear that Gomez is home with you two and enjoying his new digs. Pics though, we all love pics! LOL


~~Jo~~

Oh, there will be pics... of that you can be certain. ;) Poor Gomez will have to endure much camera love just like the rest of the babies. That's the price they pay for our spoiling them rotten, lol! Jaime said he's giving him an extra big meal tonight in celebration :giggle:

I just e-mailed Matt about the flexwatt, so we'll get that all figured out, tomorrow when I go erranding I'll be getting a good sized rubbermaid or similar and set to work on poking/burning holes in it. The thermostat for the flexwatt is already paid for. :)

We don't have an electric drill or anything, but when I set up Falkor's eating space we used a small plastic tub and put holes in it with the hot end of our glue gun sans glue. If you're careful, you get real nice little holes with no rough edges, so I figure we'll do that again. That tub is definantly too small for Gomez to live in, but till he gets too big that'll probably be his feeding space too. I like the idea of ritual so they get used to it and know what to expect when it comes to feeding time.

Amusingly enough, since Falkor's feed day is Sunday and we'd like for them to be on different feeding schedules so that they aren't digesting/unhandleable at the same time... Gomez's feed day will probably be Wednesday. Completely undeliberate joke there, heh. :nerd: As an explaination to our name choice, we were contemplating one night as to what would be cute BP names. I mentioned Gomez because what better name for a little charmer that coils up your arm giving it butterfly kisses? Karen died, we both loved it and are Addams Family fans anywho, so it stuck. /(^v^)\ He almost got named Picard. I told my sister about that and after I explained the difference between BPs and giant pythons and she calmed down she chided me for naming him before we got him. But I reminded her she has names picked out for when she has children, what's the difference? "Oh... good point." lol.

So... we got a water dish, substrate, heating supplies coming, tub tomorrow... even already have a little decor for him...

Ah! Here's a question! Is it true that if the tub is semi-transparent, he doesn't need a hide? I read that somewhere, but I know they're shy fellas and don't want to stress him. Hides are pretty easy to come by, and I can probably even just make him one, but I was curious to know if that was true about using a plastic enclosure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

Oh, there will be pics... of that you can be certain. ;) Poor Gomez will have to endure much camera love just like the rest of the babies. That's the price they pay for our spoiling them rotten, lol! Jaime said he's giving him an extra big meal tonight in celebration :giggle:

I just e-mailed Matt about the flexwatt, so we'll get that all figured out, tomorrow when I go erranding I'll be getting a good sized rubbermaid or similar and set to work on poking/burning holes in it. The thermostat for the flexwatt is already paid for. :)

We don't have an electric drill or anything, but when I set up Falkor's eating space we used a small plastic tub and put holes in it with the hot end of our glue gun sans glue. If you're careful, you get real nice little holes with no rough edges, so I figure we'll do that again. That tub is definantly too small for Gomez to live in, but till he gets too big that'll probably be his feeding space too. I like the idea of ritual so they get used to it and know what to expect when it comes to feeding time.

Amusingly enough, since Falkor's feed day is Sunday and we'd like for them to be on different feeding schedules so that they aren't digesting/unhandleable at the same time... Gomez's feed day will probably be Wednesday. Completely undeliberate joke there, heh. :nerd: As an explaination to our name choice, we were contemplating one night as to what would be cute BP names. I mentioned Gomez because what better name for a little charmer that coils up your arm giving it butterfly kisses? Karen died, we both loved it and are Addams Family fans anywho, so it stuck. /(^v^)\ He almost got named Picard. I told my sister about that and after I explained the difference between BPs and giant pythons and she calmed down she chided me for naming him before we got him. But I reminded her she has names picked out for when she has children, what's the difference? "Oh... good point." lol.

So... we got a water dish, substrate, heating supplies coming, tub tomorrow... even already have a little decor for him...

Ah! Here's a question! Is it true that if the tub is semi-transparent, he doesn't need a hide? I read that somewhere, but I know they're shy fellas and don't want to stress him. Hides are pretty easy to come by, and I can probably even just make him one, but I was curious to know if that was true about using a plastic enclosure.

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Hey there! You should go ahead and get him a couple of hides. One for the warm side and one for the cool. Even though the tub is semi transparent, it still lets in light. Ball Pythons like to feel secure and a small hide that they can touch all sides of when curled up will be best. You dont have to get elaborate. Cereal boxes or the like will be just fine!

Will do, thanks Jamie, we're on cloud 9 over here! :D

I think we've got everything we need either here or on it's way here in the mail now except for the Flexwatt and fuzzy rats. We're pullin it together!

As far as the fuzzies, that is what they were eating a couple months ago when the I added them to the page. I lost a bunch of frozen rats during the last hurricane and have had trouble finding suitable sized ones around here so they have been eating mice for the past few feedings. Adult mice to be exact. They seem to be having no problems with them.

Okay, cool! Those shall be easier to find locally I think till we can do an order from Big Cheese or somebody. :)

Sounds good. I have heard great things about Big Cheese. I have been ordering from Rodent Pro but haven't been thrilled with the quality recently.

They're who Don at SMR recommended to us with our first snake, so all Falkor's first mini-pinkies were from there. :) Good stuff.

I've hear they are. I am psyched to give them a try. I will probably place a big order once i get all the snakes moved back to NY.

When we were feeding f/t we used The Mouse Factory (Edna) www.themousefactory.com and were very pleased with their customer service and their product (we were ordering small and wean rats at the time). I've heard Big Cheese is also quite good.


~~Jo~~