New to the world

hello everyone! I need some help in finding EXACTLY what i need to have for a BP. Ive been reading like crazy the past week and i read something different, or something that contridicts something else ive read. Money is not a problem in setting up a terraium. Do i need to have lights? Some told me yes and other say the light through the window is more than enough. How many UTH's do i need? im buying a 20gal long today to start out in. Move up from there. Do the UTHs keep the heat and humidity well, without the need for a CHE? Any help would be greatly appreciated. This was supposed to be a gift for my sister, but Im getting one myself in the process!

Thx a million!

You're going to get mixed opinions on what you need/don't need. You need to get an UTH(under tank heater) but make sure you get the appropriate size one, i'm not too familiar on the sizes and such so hopefully somebody else will give you insight on that. You can use aspen bedding, newspaper, paper towels, really your choice. You don't need light for your bp, however light never hurts anything, sorta gives them a cycle, but window light is fine, don't go wasting your money on a lamp and a uvb bulb and such. Next you need a thermostat to regulate the temperature, and you need 2 identical hides for cool side & warm side. I say get 2 thermometers to measure the temperature on both sides, just make sure the one on the warm side measures humidity also.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=55849
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=56846

Read those.

You may need a CHE. I used one until I just decided to heat the entire room I kept my pets at a higher temp.

You will likely have humidity issues since most of the US is drier than what is recommended for ball pythons, and glass cages with screen tops are notorious for not holding humidity. Read around for tips on how to fix the issue, but MANY of us here keep ball pythons in screen top glass cages with perfectly healthy snakes that consistently have good sheds.

make sure to have two good hides for the snake, nice and snug(not too big) completely enclosed(no half-logs), with one small hole for an opening just big enough for the snake to fit in. The post with pics shows a tree-stump looking hide which is NOT a good BP hide btw.

Well thanks for the input! So one UTH on the side is more than enough to heat the whole setup? Water should be away from the UTH side, correct?

I always put the water on the cooler side. UTH should be more then enough if you get the appropriate size, then again it all depends on the temperature of your room. I have a UTH on both of my tanks, probably not the best size and they don't heat the tank to the needed temperature so I use overhead fixtures also, but down here we don't have a problem with humidity, overhead fixtures suck up humidity. UTH are a must period for the humidity sake, but if for some reason you get the size you need and it doesn't heat the tank properly, then you can always resort to Heat tap on the lower sides to give additional heat.

Excellent. Sorry i didnt look more into the forums and find those myself. I live in a rather hot city, its 70 degrees inside my house. Outside today is 101 degrees. So its a very hot and dry climate where i live. Im sure heating wont be problem then, would it?

I keep my reptile room heated between 75-79 degrees just for reference I forgot to mention that.

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Originally Posted by Swank

Excellent. Sorry i didnt look more into the forums and find those myself. I live in a rather hot city, its 70 degrees inside my house. Outside today is 101 degrees. So its a very hot and dry climate where i live. Im sure heating wont be problem then, would it?

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My room is about 73, but like I said in the above post, I probably use a undersized UTH for the tank sizes I use. A proper size UTH for a 20 gal should do the trick most likely, if not just get some heat tape, also for humidity i'm glad main stated about the screen top issue, to fix that, you can goto lowe's or a hard ware store & have them cut the plexi glass to cover between 1/2 & 3/4 of the tank, or you can use ceran wrap and just cover over the screen. Either or is a great fix and both are cheap.

Well thx for all the help. im going to the store in about 30 mins to start building the new home. Ill have the setup running by tonight, and have it going for a few days to get it up to spec. Then once its all set, BP time!

I wouldn't use a light either. I have natural light in my room, and I have to go and get darker curtains. If any light is going through the hole in my bps hide, she twists her body and flips her hide around until the hole is facing the back of her cage so it's completely dark. Have fun picking out the new bp!!

Well i picked up a 20Gal long terrium. also a nice Hide, UHT, Aspen substrate, and a little piece of drift wood. I cant find a thermostat anywhere!!! radio shack, Petsco, Petsmart, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes. Kind of annoying. There is a store here in town i might have to check out. i didnt want to go in there cause its kinda sad to be in there. Lets just say, im not buying any of their Bpythons. I decided not to get a light, i have enough light in the room to work as a cycle. Any ideas?

Well ball pythons are nocturnal so you really don't need any light at all, as your bp may not like it, just don't worry about it. As far as a thermostat they have a few different places that sell them, I will try to find you a link to one. You got some thermometers right, and atleast one of the measures humidity? Also I seen you mention a hide, i'm hoping you got 2? You should have identical hides on each side of the tank so the snake can choose, and make sure they fit him snug, not too big or it won't help your bp feel secure. Drift wood is not really needed though.

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Originally Posted by Neal

Well ball pythons are nocturnal so you really don't need any light at all, as your bp may not like it, just don't worry about it. As far as a thermostat they have a few different places that sell them, I will try to find you a link to one. You got some thermometers right, and atleast one of the measures humidity? Also I seen you mention a hide, i'm hoping you got 2? You should have identical hides on each side of the tank so the snake can choose, and make sure they fit him snug, not too big or it won't help your bp feel secure. Drift wood is not really needed though.

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Then being nocturnal is the reason i didn't pick up a light. The store was trying to convince me to buy lights, so i ran away. I have not found a thermometer or a Hygrometer yet. i didn't want to buy the ones that stick to the side of the terr. Heard those kind are not accurate. I found one that's wireless, seems to me that's all people sell anymore. It does Temp and Humidity, and its made by weather channel. Its like one people put outside their house. Would that work? Ill go back to the store and pick up another hide since i only bought one. And the wood, i know it doesn't serve a purpose, it just looked cool as hell. Maybe the BP will think the same thing. lol. Do most people just stick the UHT on the tank? I saw somewhere to wrap it in foil, so i can reuse it. One more thing, The terrium is on my dresser, will the UHT be a fire hazard? Thanks in advance!

Well i'm not sure which UTH you have so i'm not sure. I have the zoo-med one which is reusable, it just peels off. A lot of pet stores will try to sell you things you don't need, so you have to know what you need prior to going. People stick the UTH on the bottom of the tank, I know the zoo-med ones come with some clear things to set on corners of the tanks to keep it lifted, or you can use nuts from a bigger bolt and put under the 4 corners. As long as it has a big enough gap and its on a controlled thermostat it will be fine, just I wouldn't keep any kind of cloth or anything underneath it.

Also make sure your hides are identical, and just a heads up, petsmart sells the thermometer/hydrometer and its like 29.99, probably a rip off but I like it and it has done me well, it's made by flukers.

http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/produ...761646t400.jpg

^^ That is the one I have, and then for the other side I have one of those stick on that go off touch or w/e you call it.

Great i saw the fluckers in there yesturday. Ill pick that up today. it was selling at 21$ ill pay that. Going to that nasty pet store today to find a thermostat. This is starting to add up! lol.

you can get a thermometer/hygrometer from wal-mart, look for the Acu-rite brand, probably in the hardware section with outdoor digital thermometers. Probably for less than $15.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

you can get a thermometer/hygrometer from wal-mart, look for the Acu-rite brand, probably in the hardware section with outdoor digital thermometers. Probably for less than $15.

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Thats the one ive been looking for. But everything seems to be wireless. But good NEWS!!! I found an Acurite with probe wire at lowes. 10 dollars. i cant argue with that price. Now if only i can find a Thermostat. I have been to every Pet store in town. Nothing. home depot, Lowes, walmart, target, You name it, ive probably been there. cant even find a rheostat! So im just going to order one online. Other than that, its all set. As of right now, NOT plugging in my UTH, terrium is at 81degrees, 37% humidity. God i hate this city. Thats with the AC on! ill set it up today, and see how the temps look without the Thermostat. probably way too hot.

Yeah no where near me sells thermostats either..

No rheostats though? They are tricky to find at home depot/lowes/menards/wal-mart but I think ALL those places do sell them.

Light dimmer.

Yea you can use a dimmer switch from lowes, only problem is your temperature in your room changes so you have to keep an eye on the temperature.

I use the R500 on/off therm by zoomed. Takes a bit to figure out exactly where you want it. I did not read the entire post, but not using lights hit my eye. Not sure if anyone pointed out light cycles. If there is no light the snake will always think it's dark and never rest. They can go bonkers without rest, just like us.

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Originally Posted by DavidG

I use the R500 on/off therm by zoomed. Takes a bit to figure out exactly where you want it. I did not read the entire post, but not using lights hit my eye. Not sure if anyone pointed out light cycles. If there is no light the snake will always think it's dark and never rest. They can go bonkers without rest, just like us.

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Not true. They get some light from windows and such unless they are in a room with no windows. Snakes have a good ability to sense day/night.

I found a thermostat online. i bought that zoo med 500r. Kinda pricey, but i dont care, i want my damn snake. lol. My room i have the snake to be kept at has plenty of light. one really HUGE window, so i put the cage away fro window so it wont cook in out hot city. it supposed to get up to 106 degrees today. I think its going to be hard to keep the cage just right for him.

I meant light in general, should have specified. My rack is near a window that the blind is cracked about 3 to 4 inches on and everyone seems fine. The R500 is about as cheap as them come. Look at proportional therms (the digital ones) a nice one with night drop is around 130.