how to setup a plastic tub for a ball python

how do you do it and whats needed? :confused:

The snake is going to have the same needs in a tub as in a tank. The only thing is mabey not as many hides because a tub can act as a hide. Itll need a substrate, hide, water, controlled heat, everything. Try the caresheets that bp.net offers.

I use newspaper as a substrate, a hidebox in the rear, and a water bowl up front.

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Originally Posted by Tainted Glory

I use newspaper as a substrate, a hidebox in the rear, and a water bowl up front.

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Do you have to use a heat lamp?

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Originally Posted by Bright202

Do you have to use a heat lamp?

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You want to use an undertub heater. A heat lamp wil heat entire enclosure. Also you need to use a thermostat to control temps

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Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

You want to use an undertub heater. A heat lamp wil heat entire enclosure. Also you need to use a thermostat to control temps

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yeah I need to find one of those, I don't know where I can get one though, I don't want to order online though..

I still use 2 hides on cool and warm side and a water bowl. You are gonna want to make some holes in the tub for air circulation(use a solder iron, a drill can crack plastic if you are nor careful). If you live in a humid place you want more holes. I live in a very dry place so i don't use many holes 4-5 so I can control humidity. I use racks so I don't need lids but if you are just using a tub alone you will want some clips to lock lid on.

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Originally Posted by Bright202

yeah I need to find one of those, I don't know where I can get one though, I don't want to order online though..

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Any large pet store should carry the stick on heat pads. I would buy the thermostat online though, most pet stores carry cheap junk that fails or is very inaccurite. Also you want to get a hi/lo thermometer($8 at Walmart) with a probe and place the probe on the warm side and the unit on the cool side so you can monitor temps.

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Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

I still use 2 hides on cool and warm side and a water bowl. You are gonna want to make some holes in the tub for air circulation(use a solder iron, a drill can crack plastic if you are nor careful). If you live in a humid place you want more holes. I live in a very dry place so i don't use many holes 4-5 so I can control humidity. I use racks so I don't need lids but if you are just using a tub alone you will want some clips to lock lid on.

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I have clips on 2 sides but the other 2 sides don't, should I get some sort of lock? And I don't think its too humid in my house, maybe I should find out...

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Originally Posted by Bright202

I have clips on 2 sides but the other 2 sides don't, should I get some sort of lock? And I don't think its too humid in my house, maybe I should find out...

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Start with less holes, you can always add more.

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Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

Any large pet store should carry the stick on heat pads. I would buy the thermostat online though, most pet stores carry cheap junk that fails or is very inaccurite. Also you want to get a hi/lo thermometer($8 at Walmart) with a probe and place the probe on the warm side and the unit on the cool side so you can monitor temps.

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Do you think you can post some pics for what I need to do, because I want a healthy snake that likes its environment.

Why don't you post some pics of what you got so we can get a better idea :cool:

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Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

Why don't you post some pics of what you got so we can get a better idea :cool:

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look at my gallery, I'm sorry i don't know how to post pics.

I have racks so my tub pics won't be as helpful as this link. Note the clips used, inexpensive from Office Depot or any office supply
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=tub+clips

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Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

I have racks so my tub pics won't be as helpful as this link. Note the clips used, inexpensive from Office Depot or any office supply
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ight=tub+clips

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Okay those look great, so all i need is flexwatt for one half of the tub? or the whole tub?

it only needs to be on 1/4 (not even) of one side of the tub for a warm side. Just enough for the snake to hang out over. Most racks have 3" flexwatt on a 41" tub to give you an idea.You can use a flex watt or a stick on pad. The important thing is to control it with a good thermostat. I have used Ranco's and many here recommend Johnson's. Now I use herpstat pro's but those are kinda pricey. Temps are VERY important. If they get too cold they won't eat and can get a respitory infection and the vet bills for that cost alot more than a thermostat not to mention you will have to give hom injections(not fun). If you have a baby you don't want too big of a tub, he will feel insecure and may stop eating. A 32 quart tub will last you for 1+ years or more, if it looks too big put several hides or crumple up newspaper so he has lots of cover/hiding spots.. If you ever need help or advice email or PM me. I am always willing to help. :rockon:

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Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

it only needs to be on 1/4 (not even) of one side of the tub for a warm side. Just enough for the snake to hang out over. Most racks have 3" flexwatt on a 41" tub to give you an idea.You can use a flex watt or a stick on pad. The important thing is to control it with a good thermostat. I have used Ranco's and many here recommend Johnson's. Now I use herpstat pro's but those are kinda pricey. Temps are VERY important. If they get too cold they won't eat and can get a respitory infection and the vet bills for that cost alot more than a thermostat not to mention you will have to give hom injections(not fun). If you have a baby you don't want too big of a tub, he will feel insecure and may stop eating. A 32 quart tub will last you for 1+ years or more, if it looks too big put several hides or crumple up newspaper so he has lots of cover/hiding spots.. If you ever need help or advice email or PM me. I am always willing to help. :rockon:

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Ok great! ill have to go shopping for all my supplies soon! thank you so much =)

I'm buying a baby BP soon and am aware that the little one needs a smaller space then he/she will when larger. I'm hearing all the good reasons to go w/ a plastic tub--but I want it to look nice on a stand (clearly a selfish motive). Is there any reason that someone can think of NOT to buy one of the fancier enclosures (e.g., Animal Plastics, etc.) that come with a divider? I'm thinking that I can set up the enclosure only using half of the space available--then can open it up once he/she is big enough to be comfy in the larger space. Has anyone done this?

Can anyone comment on this and, if it's a decent idea, recommend one of the dependable enclosure sites? Thanks in advance.

Just to be clear, this is for a single snake that will be our pet. At most, I see us getting a corn snake at some point in the future (I can almost hear you addicts snickering at my 1-2 snake only posture ;) ). So...I'm interested in buying a great enclosure that insures the BPs health and snakey-happiness plus be aesthetically appealing to me and the other humans that inhabit our home.

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Originally Posted by Jamie

I'm buying a baby BP soon and am aware that the little one needs a smaller space then he/she will when larger. I'm hearing all the good reasons to go w/ a plastic tub--but I want it to look nice on a stand (clearly a selfish motive). Is there any reason that someone can think of NOT to buy one of the fancier enclosures (e.g., Animal Plastics, etc.) that come with a divider? I'm thinking that I can set up the enclosure only using half of the space available--then can open it up once he/she is big enough to be comfy in the larger space. Has anyone done this?

Can anyone comment on this and, if it's a decent idea, recommend one of the dependable enclosure sites? Thanks in advance.

Just to be clear, this is for a single snake that will be our pet. At most, I see us getting a corn snake at some point in the future (I can almost hear you addicts snickering at my 1-2 snake only posture ;) ). So...I'm interested in buying a great enclosure that insures the BPs health and snakey-happiness plus be aesthetically appealing to me and the other humans that inhabit our home.

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That's a great idea. Animal Plastics has nice display cages as does Reptile Basics http://www.reptilebasics.com/home.php?cat=257 I'm sure there are others. You probably won't be able to see as much of your snake in one of these display cages but the ball python will absolutely love the dark corners. Some add lights (or have them installed when they buy them) so they can see their snake better. I personally wouldn't go that route, especially for a small ball python. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

I would use the smaller tub(15qt to 28qt) until the snake reaches a good size, then you can move it into the larger, PVC, reptile-specific enclosure w/divider. When the snake reaches adult size, you can remove the divider.

I definitely wouldn't put a baby directly into a 4ft x 2ft enclosure. Like us being plopped on the moon without a house to hide in, and the aliens are coming for you, LoL.

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Originally Posted by Chase13

The snake is going to have the same needs in a tub as in a tank. The only thing is mabey not as many hides because a tub can act as a hide. Itll need a substrate, hide, water, controlled heat, everything. Try the caresheets that bp.net offers.

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We only use tubs outside of racks during quarantine. However, when we use them, we do not put in hides. Instead, we have used plastic spary paint to paint the outside of 3 sides of these tubs with dark color (black or green is what we use). Of course, we clean these real well after we paint them and let them dry/air out. This has worked very well for us. It makes the tub more like a rack and we find less stress when we do move the snakes to a rack. I do want to emphasize that we use a tub size that "fits" the size of ball python we are housing - too large of tubs create problems, IMHO.

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Originally Posted by Alice

We only use tubs outside of racks during quarantine. However, when we use them, we do not put in hides. Instead, we have used plastic spary paint to paint the outside of 3 sides of these tubs with dark color (black or green is what we use). Of course, we clean these real well after we paint them and let them dry/air out. This has worked very well for us. It makes the tub more like a rack and we find less stress when we do move the snakes to a rack. I do want to emphasize that we use a tub size that "fits" the size of ball python we are housing - too large of tubs create problems, IMHO.

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So what should I do? Get a smaller tub, or get a 10 gal until it gets old enough?
And also I am having so much confusion with heating.. I would need a UTH and a lamp on one side so the temps are about 90? and on the cool side, have nothing so the temps are about 80? and connect this to a thermostat? I'm sorry I'm new to all of this ball python stuff, I have been doing research I just dot know how to set it all up.

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Originally Posted by Bright202

So what should I do? Get a smaller tub, or get a 10 gal until it gets old enough?
And also I am having so much confusion with heating.. I would need a UTH and a lamp on one side so the temps are about 90? and on the cool side, have nothing so the temps are about 80? and connect this to a thermostat? I'm sorry I'm new to all of this ball python stuff, I have been doing research I just dot know how to set it all up.

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I would get a smaller tub - we use shoe box size for hatchlings. They can live in this size for 3-4 months at least. Remember, ball pythons need small enclosures to feel safe. If you get a ten gallon, make sure you fill it with things (crumbled up newspaper, etc.) so it can hide.

IMHO, you don't need a light, just an UTH that is controlled by a thermostat. Whether you need another UTH for the cool side (set at a cooler temp) is dependent on the room and ambient temps. Only you can figure that out by testing the cool side with the probe from your thermostat. We keep our house at 82 degrees so we seldom need anything for the cool side of our quarantine tubs.

Good luck! Let us know how you end up setting it up. Don't hesitate to ask more questions if you don't understand . . . .

Cool, another home at 82...now I don't feel like a sadist. :)

Anyway, The kind of enclosure you get depends heavily on your cleaning and looking preferences. I have a 3 month old in a 20L tank with three sides covered, two same hides, and plenty of foliage to hide in and she loves it. Tanks are harder to clean and take up a bit more space, but I love the way it looks and that I can watch her as she cruises at night. Many people here advocate tubs, and I in fact use one as her feeding/holding enclosure as I clean her tank, but in the end it's up to what you want to work with.

Always remember, tho, that no matter what you choose, make sure the enclosure is the right size for the snake!! If you aren't sure that what you got/have is too big, then have a smaller back up in case the snake doesn't like it. I personally had a 10gal ready to go if Nagini was too stressed in the 20L, but she likes it, so I used the 10 to get a corn snake :D

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Originally Posted by Argentra

Cool, another home at 82...now I don't feel like a sadist. :)

Anyway, The kind of enclosure you get depends heavily on your cleaning and looking preferences. I have a 3 month old in a 20L tank with three sides covered, two same hides, and plenty of foliage to hide in and she loves it. Tanks are harder to clean and take up a bit more space, but I love the way it looks and that I can watch her as she cruises at night. Many people here advocate tubs, and I in fact use one as her feeding/holding enclosure as I clean her tank, but in the end it's up to what you want to work with.

Always remember, tho, that no matter what you choose, make sure the enclosure is the right size for the snake!! If you aren't sure that what you got/have is too big, then have a smaller back up in case the snake doesn't like it. I personally had a 10gal ready to go if Nagini was too stressed in the 20L, but she likes it, so I used the 10 to get a corn snake :D

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I guess a 10 gal will work, and i can use the tub for feeding?
but how much is a 10 gallon worth these days, mind you i live in Canada.