Initial setup questions...

I've been reading the debates between tanks and tubs, and although the tubs seem easiest, I'd really like a tank so my son can enjoy watching our new snake once we bring him home. The snake, as of yet unnamed, is about a year and a half old, and it seems like a 20gal would be too small. The owner of the shop where I got him said a 20gal would be fine, if I held him a lot and didn't just plunk him in there and leave him, but it makes me think I want a bigger tank. I can't seem to find a tank that size that's not very tall and too thin. A tub would be easier to find in a bigger size for cheaper, but I'm not clear on the heating and ventilation procedures. If anyone could shed (hehe, shed) some light on these problems for me, I'd be much obliged. :)

Also, on a completely different note, why do people list the snakes the own like "1.2" ? Does it denote male/female?

Thank you so much in advance.

~n00b

Lots of people get big glass tanks for bp's then realize that they hide most of the time. They are wonderful snakes and I love them, but you won't see them much. Tubs make it easier to have multiple snakes...and you will;) and also humidity levels are pretty much perfect without no effort. As for the other question....... 1.0 is for male 0.1 is one female and 0.0.1 is one unsexed. Good luck with your new guy:)

I have experience with both enclosures and a tank CAN be easy to maintain. A 30 gallon would be sufficient for a full grown ball or a 41qt tub. To ventilate tubs, you can use a hot soldering iron to poke holes. You'll find lots of tub setup posts if you search a bit. After that, and under tank heater and thermometer with some hides and a water bowl and you're set. They keep humidity much more easily. If you go with the tank, I find the best thing to do is get 2 UTHs and cover the top with aluminum foil with a few holes in it. Hook up the heaters to a thermostat and you'll have consistent temperatures on the substrate and the foil will help keep ambient temps up as well. I hope this helps. Let us know which you choose so we can help a little more in depth. Good luck!

To be perfectly honest, the choice is going to come down to if I'm able to find the proper shape of 30gal tank for something affordable. I'm going to take a lot of time tomorrow to go hunting for bits and pieces I'm going to need.

Hi,

Make sure you pick up a good digital thermometer with an probe and in built humidity (most peeps recomend the acu-rite from walmart for $12). Knowing your temps and humidity is one of the most important things you need to achieve.:gj:

Avoid those little round stick on things most pet shops sell as they tend to be very innacurate.

Also think about how you are going to regulate the heating and what types of heating you might need (depends on your rooms temps and how stable they are). There is no need to drop the temps at night unless you are trying to breed so avoid buying a heating source that gives out visible (to the snake) light as using it 24/7 will throw off their day/ night cycle and turning it off at night will obviously mess up the heat.

You are doing exactly the right thing getting it all setup, calibrated and tested before he arrives as well. :)


dr del

Since you like the look of a tank, and want the ease of a tub, why not check out this reptile cage: http://www.reptilebasics.com/2x3-Cag...h-p-16286.html The snake will never outgrow this cage, you can choose to have the belly heat, get the thermostat and temp gun, you can even get 2 of his small hides! You'll be ready to go and only need to add a water bowl!! Lots of people might not know, or forget, that there are many vendors of reptile cages that are built for ease of husbandry and nice viewing! Hope this helps!!

I -think- I'm going with a tub... I bought a nice one thats pretty clear so he can be seen in it. My husband has agreed to help me solder in the holes for the price of a new soldering bit, and I picked up about everything else I need, but the water dish I got might be too easy to tip.

My biggest problem now is trying to find a place to put him. I can't put him by my desk, since I'm right next to an outside door. Our bedroom usually stays warm, so I was thinking finding a spot up there, but that defeats the purpose of having him available for my son to watch.

Also, starmom, that is a very nice enclosure but rather out of my price range for the moment. :)

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Originally Posted by Indigo

I -think- I'm going with a tub... I bought a nice one thats pretty clear so he can be seen in it. My husband has agreed to help me solder in the holes for the price of a new soldering bit, and I picked up about everything else I need, but the water dish I got might be too easy to tip.

My biggest problem now is trying to find a place to put him. I can't put him by my desk, since I'm right next to an outside door. Our bedroom usually stays warm, so I was thinking finding a spot up there, but that defeats the purpose of having him available for my son to watch.

Also, starmom, that is a very nice enclosure but rather out of my price range for the moment. :)

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For our tubs I used my son's old wood burning thing for the holes! What will you use to heat the tub?

Anything I might have added has been said, but you made a great choice going with a tub. The only time you're going to see him is when he's eating, or you're handling it, so the only benefit to a fancy glass setup is that it looks prettier :)

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Originally Posted by ChrisBowsman

Anything I might have added has been said, but you made a great choice going with a tub. The only time you're going to see him is when he's eating, or you're handling it, so the only benefit to a fancy glass setup is that it looks prettier :)

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Perhaps, unless you're creatures of the night like myself and my kids.... We have a blast watching them cruise at night!!

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Originally Posted by starmom

Perhaps, unless you're creatures of the night like myself and my kids.... We have a blast watching them cruise at night!!

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Good point :)

I have a lamp with an infrared bulb, and an undertank heater, but I'm not sure how those are going to work with a tub. My husband offered to figure out a way to put a mesh window in the tub's top, so the heat lamp could be used. Any suggestions?

Return the heat lamp and get a refund. Spend that money on a rheostat or dimmer to control the UTH. The snake doesn't need light, and all it's going to do is to suck the humidity out of the enclosure.

If he's in a warm room - then a UTH on the warm side controlled by a rheostat or dimmer should be all you need to maintain proper temps and humidity. Make sure to pick up a digital thermometer/hygrometer from Walmart in the hardware department - it's about $12 and is with the indoor/outdoor thermometers.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Return the heat lamp and get a refund. Spend that money on a rheostat or dimmer to control the UTH. The snake doesn't need light, and all it's going to do is to suck the humidity out of the enclosure.

If he's in a warm room - then a UTH on the warm side controlled by a rheostat or dimmer should be all you need to maintain proper temps and humidity. Make sure to pick up a digital thermometer/hygrometer from Walmart in the hardware department - it's about $12 and is with the indoor/outdoor thermometers.

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Good advice, as always. However, I don't have a temp regulated snake room and so my temps dip at night as we try to save on electric and gas bills! If your ambient temps are not consistently high in the day and nighttimes, you'll need a thermostat to regulate the UTH! :D

I only bought the bulb... there was an extra lamp hanging around.

When placing the UTH, does it need a layer of something between it and the bottom? I'm very worried about the plastic being way too hot and melting.

Well, either way it will need to be hooked up to a thermostat. Plastic will not melt at 95 degrees, so you shouldn't have to worry about that. Just place the UTH on the bottom of the tub. If you don't want to peel the sticker off it and permanently adhere it to the tub, you can tape it on with aluminum tape. I'd put the thermometer and thermostat probes under the substrate directly about the UTH. That way, you can get a good idea of what the temps are through the tub and closer to your ball.

My husband and roommate are insisting that we hook up a fan (like one that goes in a computer case) to blow air through the tub. I keep telling them that it won't be necessary. Who's right?

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Avoid those little round stick on things most pet shops sell as they tend to be very innacurate.

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I can vouch for this. I had the stick on ones on the front of my tank, (the type that change colors) and I thought my temps were too low. I had a UTH attached as well. I went to walmart and purchased the acurite thermometer and found out my temps where 106.

I ordered a t-stat right away!

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Originally Posted by Indigo

My husband and roommate are insisting that we hook up a fan (like one that goes in a computer case) to blow air through the tub. I keep telling them that it won't be necessary. Who's right?

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Putting some holes in the side using the soldering iron will be more than adequate for airflow. In fact the fans will probably scare the poor thing half to death. Imagine that you are as sensitive to vibrations as a snake is and then stick a fan some place running all the time. Fan is not a good idea.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Indigo

My husband and roommate are insisting that we hook up a fan (like one that goes in a computer case) to blow air through the tub. I keep telling them that it won't be necessary. Who's right?

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You are right!! Yeah, girl power!!!! :rofl:

I'm glad they believe you guys. XD

I've got things cleaned, and everything ready to go but a thermostat... I don't suppose Walmart or Meijer carries them? I'm insomniatic and impatient to test things out. :D

I was looking at the ZooMed ReptiTemp one on Petsmart, but it says online only. That makes me sad, I don't want to wait that long. :( Anywhere else carry them or better ones?

(God I am such a newb. I'm so sorry.)

find your local pet store they might have a thermostat, not too hard to find, once in a blue moon the big box stores have decent thermos gl :) also scout around to where your going to get feeders, it's good to know ahead of time, you don't want to get the snake and have nowhere within 50 miles to get food

The thermostats sold at the pet store get mixed reviews. I personally prefer a Ranco or Johnson's thermostat for just one ball python. You can order it at: http://www.reptilebasics.com and it should be to you before the week is out if you order it today.