Switching to a Tub

I have only had my ball Mitch for a couple of months and I am already tired of spraying his 20gl screen topped tank down 4 or 5 times a day. I have decided to switch to a tub. I have already purchased everything I need, the only question I have is what should I do about air flow? If any of you have advice or pictures I would really appreciate it. I would like to add that these forums are a huge help, I wish I would have found this place before I got Mitch, it would have saved me a lot of time and money. Thanks a lot guys you are all a big help for a newbie like myself.

Use a soldering iron to punch about 6-8 small holes on the sides of the tub, that should be enough ventilation but not so much that you'll lose a lot of heat/humidity.

you'll probably need more holes than that to keep the humidity under 60%. at least i did with mine. lol the back of it looks like swiss cheese. just start out with what elevatethis suggested and add more holes if necessary. you can always add more but you don't want to have too many.

Get a soldering iron to make the holes. I tried a drill and the drill cracked the side of the tub.

You can get a soldering gun for about $6 at a walmart or radio shack. Start out with what Brad suggested and just add more holes until you get it right. Alos, when you do use a soldering gun, make sure you do it in a ventalated area. Outside would be best if its nice out or a garage. I do it in my bathroom with the fan on and leave it on for about 20 min after making the holes so I get all the burnt plastic smell out. By the way, do you mind me asking what you mean when you say "i have everything i need". Just curious...

I have flexwatt for the bottom of the tub and a heat pad if I need it. I just need to get some rheostats and I should be set. I also have a taylor inside/outside thermometer so I can get the temps correct before I put him in the tub. One more quick question. Would a light dimmer work with a foot of 4" flexwatt or do you guys suggest a rheostat designed for reptiles. Thanks. Oh and I am just moving the 2 identical hides, water dish, half log, and climbing logs into his tub so he should adjust quickly.

Id suggest a t-stat of some kind but dimmer switches do work. I mean if you get a dimmer switch that does what you want, i dont see why not. Maybe you could use a dimmer switch temporarilly until you get a rheo or t-stat.

If I may hijack the thread for just one question... ;)


Husbandry being considered equal, would a BP be more happy in a tank, or a tub? I like the tank for looking at him, but my wife won't let me keep him in view anyway so he's in the back room of our finished basement. Therefore, he doesn't get seen much by anybody but me anyway. If he'd be happier and more secure in a tub, I'll gladly set one up for him.

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Originally Posted by racerjay

If I may hijack the thread for just one question... ;)


Husbandry being considered equal, would a BP be more happy in a tank, or a tub? I like the tank for looking at him, but my wife won't let me keep him in view anyway so he's in the back room of our finished basement. Therefore, he doesn't get seen much by anybody but me anyway. If he'd be happier and more secure in a tub, I'll gladly set one up for him.

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Tub for sure! There are more reasons people house them in tubs besides it being space economical.

Easier to control temps, and by far easier to control humidity IMO. Plus its easier to clean :D

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Originally Posted by Chase13

Easier to control temps, and by far easier to control humidity IMO. Plus its easier to clean :D

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Thanks, and I get those things. Those are all reasons that tubs are better for *us* but my question was more about what the snake would prefer, if all husbandry things are equal (whether or not it takes more effort with a tank). BP more relaxed and or secure in a tub, or tank, or doesn't it matter?

They like tight confined spaces so a tub is ideal for them. A tub in itself is a bit like a hide to snakes.

From what I have been reading on here, and I could be way off, but as long as they have their hides and their temps and humidity are right, the snake will be happy. I know a tub will make me happy. Easy to clean, easy to keep humid. NO MORE SPRAYING 5 TIMES A DAY!!!

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Originally Posted by UWStoutNinja

From what I have been reading on here, and I could be way off, but as long as they have their hides and their temps and humidity are right, the snake will be happy. I know a tub will make me happy. Easy to clean, easy to keep humid. NO MORE SPRAYING 5 TIMES A DAY!!!

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It just adds more security.

I believe that tubs provide more security than tanks, although tanks set up like our Cassandra has (see sticky in the husbandry forum) also work well.


In my own personal experience, I had my first ball python set up in a tank, and he fasted for eight months, and once switched to a tub, resumed eating and hasn't fasted this winter. It's a lower ceiling, that more closely mimics a burrow effect, and it's more opaque than clear, which also provides a little more security.

My second example is an adult female that was surrendered to my local pet store because the owner was frustrated that she was such a picky eater, and he kept her in a glass viv.

I set her up in a tub, let her acclimate for three weeks (she had plenty of body mass) and then offered her a small rat and she pounded rats for me every week, with no feeding issues. She now resides in another person's collection who uses tubs and continues to thrive in that type of set-up.

These two examples in my personal collection were enough to convince me to use tanks for geckos and tubs for my ball pythons! :D

That's the kind of info I'm looking for. Thanks to you all for the help. I'm going to set up a tub, and use my 40G tank for oh, I don't know. Any ideas? :D

I have another question. What is the best way to apply the flexwatt? Where should I put it and how should I put it on? Thanks!

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Originally Posted by racerjay

That's the kind of info I'm looking for. Thanks to you all for the help. I'm going to set up a tub, and use my 40G tank for oh, I don't know. Any ideas? :D

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Crested geckos! You know you want some! :D

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Originally Posted by UWStoutNinja

I have another question. What is the best way to apply the flexwatt? Where should I put it and how should I put it on? Thanks!

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Have you already purchased your flexwatt? I know that Rich at Reptile Basics sells aluminum tape that you can use to attach it to the tub. Or, you can purchase some at Home Depot in the plumbing department - it's aluminum plumbing tape, and it's preferred, because the glue doesn't get "tacky" with the heat. I first tape the probe of my thermostat (I use Ranco with my free tubs, and Helix with my rack) to the bottom of the tub. Then I tape the flexwatt over that. Hope that helps!

Are you talking about the inside bottom of the tub or the outside. Sorry, I don't want to do something stupid here. I already bought some 4" flexwatt from reptilebasics. It should be here tomorrow, and then I am almost ready to give Mitch his new home!!

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Originally Posted by UWStoutNinja

Are you talking about the inside bottom of the tub or the outside. Sorry, I don't want to do something stupid here. I already bought some 4" flexwatt from reptilebasics. It should be here tomorrow, and then I am almost ready to give Mitch his new home!!

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Sorry - I wasn't clear. On the outside. Did you also purchase a thermostat from Rich to keep the flexwatt to getting to it's maximum heat (which is hot enough to burn your snake)?

I am just going to use a dimmer for the flexwatt. The flexwatt wont cover more than 1/3rd of the tub so if something WAS to go wrong, the snake can get away from it. The tub will also be in my room so I can constantly keep an eye on the temps.

A good, reliable dimmer I use is the Lutron Credenza(plug N Play) and you can find it at Home Depot for around $10. I'd really recommend a thermostat, a Johnson Controls or Ranco at the least. Ball Pythons don't appreciate fluctuating temps and if that dimmer fails, that flexwatt can get hot enough to melt the tub and the flexwatt itself.

So I said before that I was just going to use the dimmer, but after worrying about temps for only a day on the dimmer, I decided to get a thermostat. I went with a herpstat that should arive in a couple of days. Because I am a poor college student, I will keep the cool side temps controlled by a dimmer, and just save up for now so that eventually I will have 2 proportional thermostats controlling my tub. Who knows, I really like my ball and I have been looking into the different morphs. I could start a rack system and then the thermostats would be more then worth what you pay for them. Who knew a snake could be so addicting?

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Originally Posted by UWStoutNinja

So I said before that I was just going to use the dimmer, but after worrying about temps for only a day on the dimmer, I decided to get a thermostat. I went with a herpstat that should arive in a couple of days. Because I am a poor college student, I will keep the cool side temps controlled by a dimmer, and just save up for now so that eventually I will have 2 proportional thermostats controlling my tub. Who knows, I really like my ball and I have been looking into the different morphs. I could start a rack system and then the thermostats would be more then worth what you pay for them. Who knew a snake could be so addicting?

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Go look at the credit card and tell me what addicting is. True addiction is putting a heater in your room to get it to 80* so your herps can be happy as you toss in bed all night sweating off the pounds.

lol... I had a space heater on in my room, but I sleep at my girlfriends so I guess I don't qualify as a true addict.....yet. Give me time, I would say I am well on my way. Can I qualify as an addict if I just spent my tuition money on my snake? lol

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Originally Posted by UWStoutNinja

lol... I had a space heater on in my room, but I sleep at my girlfriends so I guess I don't qualify as a true addict.....yet. Give me time, I would say I am well on my way. Can I qualify as an addict if I just spent my tuition money on my snake? lol

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I'd say lol

I got the flexwatt in the mail today! Would plugging the cool side flexwatt into the dimmer and the thermostat (which is set at 90), and then set the dimmer so the flexwatt is actually 80 be a good failsafe? I know I should have two thermostats but I am broke and just want to know if this will work. THANKS!

Yep, that works fine. I use that method on my baby/juvie rack and the temps are very stable with the tstat set to 94, the cool side stays at 84. Once I get everything dialed in properly, I like to tape the dimmer switch so it can't be moved.