Rate my enclosure!

i just got a baby male BP today at the reptile expo and couldnt be any happier!! im posting pics of my snake and his temporary housing... can you guys tell me what im doing wrong, what i should be doing or what i can change.... pleasseee i want make my snake feel as comfortable and as less stressed as possible!!! any advice or comments is welcome!! :D

okay how do i post pictures????? theyre not working!!! :confused: :confused: :confused:

I can't help you with the pics part but when you get them up I can do my best to give you advice on the setup. Also, congrats on convincing your parents to let you get a BP. If you have pics of the expo please post! (I couldn't make it :( :( )

thanks man... awww it sux u couldnt make it :( it was my first expo and it was went amazing except for the fact that it was PACKEDD!! it was like a 30 min wait in line in the freezing weather!! other than that it went well... got to see the different breeders, different kinds of snakes they had, learned a lot ..... ohh and i didnt get pictures :( didnt bring the camera with me... however i have pics of my snake and his enclosure that i want to post and get feedback but i need someone to help me b4 i can get them uploadedd

here is how you post a picture :D

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=28289

now get those snake pics up!!!!!!!! :)

The file that you have tried to attach is too big. The maximum size is 2.00 MB bytes
^^^ wtff i got that msg!! my picture cant possibly be 2 MB :confused: :confused: :confused: how can i make that picture fit??

I can think of two things you can try

1. If your photoshop can resize your pic size it down and save
-or-
2.I THINK photo hosting sites will resize pics for internet use but I have never used these myself, maybe someone who uses these would be able to tell you

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!! I FIANLLY GOT IT TO WORK... i jsut had to use a image hosting website :oops: :oops: ok here are the pics
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC00201.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC00200.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC00199.jpg
ill give a close up of my little guy later!! didnt want to handle him on his first day here!! please comment or give feedback!! :)

I upload all my photos to photobucket to post here. Have not had any problems

I'm kinda new here but these are the things I would suggest
1.smaller hide so your BP can feel really secure in there
2.add another hide on the other side of the tub so your snake can thermoregulate (might have to downsize your water dish for this)

I'd put a smaller water bowl in there, and put a "cool side" hide in, for sure...because the bowl takes up the whole cool side, the only way he could thermoregulate would be to soak in his bowl.

I'd also replace that cardboard hide with something you can wash when you clean the take--and while you're getting it, get 2, so they're identical :)

Also--if your UTH isn't regulated by a thermostat, I'd definitely look into getting one of those, too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phreak

I'm kinda new here but these are the things I would suggest
1.smaller hide so your BP can feel really secure in there
2.add another hide on the other side of the tub so your snake can thermoregulate (might have to downsize your water dish for this)

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yeah im heading to the pet store tomorrow to pick up some new hides and yea i think my water dish is pretty big :P

my only worry is that i have no thermometer in my enclosure so i bought a lamp dimmer to control how much heat the UTH gives off... i just leave it at 3/4 (thats what the guy told me to do)... however my little guy left the warm side and was chilling on top of the water dish... i thought he mite have felt a little TOO hot so i turned down the lamp dimmer to about 1/2...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AzureN1ght

I'd put a smaller water bowl in there, and put a "cool side" hide in, for sure...because the bowl takes up the whole cool side, the only way he could thermoregulate would be to soak in his bowl.

I'd also replace that cardboard hide with something you can wash when you clean the take--and while you're getting it, get 2, so they're identical :)

Also--if your UTH isn't regulated by a thermostat, I'd definitely look into getting one of those, too.

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any recommendations as to what kind of thermostat to get?? (btw thermomstat is a thermometer, no?

I don't see any thermometer in his cage so that is one thing you definitely need to have. Most of us hear use and swear by Accurite digital thermometers/hygrometers. They have a probe so you can measure the hot side and the cool side of the tank simultaneously. It also tells the percentage humidity which needs to stay around 50-60% unless the snake is in shed. You also need something to control the heat mat. A simple dimmer switch found at your local hardware store will do the trick, or you could buy a thermostat which will regulate the temps all by itself. Definitely downsize the water bowl, I use small plastic dog dishes for my snakes. As for hides you could go down to a dollar store and pick up some appropriately sized plastic bowls and cut holes in the sides of them for the snake to go in and out of.

No. Thermostats keep a steady temp in your tank much like one in someone"s house will keep a steady temp by turning on the heat and turning it off when needed. These can cost anywhere from 25 to 150+ dollars US and can be found on many reptile supply sites

i thot the accurite was a thermostat?... i have a lamp dimmer right now and i leave it at 3/4... do i plug in my heat pad into the thermostat inorder for it to control the heat??

Accurite is a thermometer and will only measure the temps. The heat pad should be plugged into the dimmer in order for it to control the temps (these should be read by your thermometer). Hope that helps! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phreak

Accurite is a thermometer and will only measure the temps. The heat pad should be plugged into the dimmer in order for it to control the temps (these should be read by your thermometer). Hope that helps! :D

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Accurites check humidity as well right? can i purchase them here in ontario? and would it be better if i get a thermostat rather than a lamp dimmer? and thanks for the help :D

A thermostat would def. be better than a lamp dimmer, yes. Accurites do measure humidity as well but where I am in Ontario I couldn't find one at the local wal-mart although it never hurts to check where you are. And no need to thank me for the help thats what this site is for! :D :D

The Accurites are thermometers and measure the temps on the cool side, hot side (using the probe on the unit) and the humidity all at once--and you can read all of them right off the digital screen. It's very convenient and accurate. I picked mine up at my local Wal-Mart.

A thermostat would definitely be a step up from a lamp dimmer--as thermostat's are -way- more accurate. Ranco, Johnsons, Helix and Herpstat are the four most reccomended (that I've noticed on BP.net), I personally use a Herpstat--and as a first-time BP owner and thermostat user, I can say that it is very new user friendly. :)

AzureN1ght,
How much did that Herpstat cost you? Just for future reference. Hopefully the not too distant future! :P

thanks for all ur help guys i appreciate it...ill be going shopping tomorrow for the little guy my list includes: accurite (if i can find it in canada), a thermostat, 2 hides and a smaller water dish. AND maybe if i can afford to buy some, i get some substrate, any suggestions? :)

everyone has their own preference for subtrate. I just switched from astro turf to repti bark. I am trying for a more natural set up since I have just the one snake. you can use aspen, repti carpet, newspaper. It just depends on the ease of cleaning that you prefer

Ranco and Johnsons thermostats run about $75
Herpstats you can get for around $100
Helix run about $130

You'll probably have to order one via the internet--I've never seen them in a pet store.

I know you might look at the price of the thermostats and balk--it seems like a lot. But over the 20-30 year lifespan of your snake--what's $75-$130 for peace of mind and the safety of your pet, right? Thermostats are definitely a good investment--and if you ever have a rack or more than one tub (as long as the tubs are set up the same with the same size heat pat), the one thermostat can run them up to a certain wattage.

www.reptilebasics.com carries Johnsons, Ranco and Helix
www.spyderrobotics.com is the manufacturer of Herpstats

As for substrate, I'm using indented KRAFT paper (it's a brown packing paper)--I had to order it online, but I like it. A lot of herpers seem to use newspaper--as it's readily available and economical. But really, the substrate is your preference.

Hope that helps :)

ahh everythings so expensive haha... ill just have to wait til i get a job to buy my snake all the best stuff :) thankss!!