New BP owner, hows it look?

Hello everyone!

I am new to these forums, and I was refered here to someone from another forum as I was inquirying about getting a BP.I currently own over 40+ geckos and other types of lizards, and I have never really liked snakes due to fear(watched "anaconda" too many times as a boy) but I love herps and decided to try out getting a BP. So far this forum is loaded with information, and I plan to use ALL of it :P so props for creating such a great community and I hope eventually one day I can add and help newbs like me.

Before getting my first BP, I went out today and got everything I thought I would need for its enclosure. So, I purchased a 36"x18"x12" tank(to which I think might be too big now after reading some posts), I got two identical hides and I stuffed them both with Sphagnum Moss. I also got a big water dish(to which I also learned they don't NEED, but it can't hurt), for heat I am using a lamp with a basking light bulb in it, and a medium under tank heater. On both sides of the tank I have a thermo and hygro(digital) to monitor temps, And I also got a timer for my spot light to go off at night so it turns on automatically from 8am-8pm.

I think my tank might be missing something, fake pants? rocks?

I've added some pictures to show you what I have so far...

**note there is another hydro/ thermo on the opposite side of the one shown**(old pics).

Let me know if this enclosure looks alright! or if I should add something else, money issnt really an issue so throw at me w/e ideas. I haven't got my BP yet, I am still looking at some, for my tank size what size would you recomend I get? I was told a sub-adult would be best for me as I am a first time owner and they are easier to handle etc...

thanks, any responce is appreciated as I want to make my BP as comfortable as can be when I get him.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/3...tank033.th.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by regd87

I think my tank might be missing something, fake pants? rocks?



http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/3...tank033.th.jpg

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You are definitely missing some fake pants...I say you get a fake shirt as well...


Sorry had to bust on ya


Welcome!


The pictures need to show up bigger unless its my comp

EDIT: Unless you click on it, which i did not realize...DOH!


:welcome:

Hows the humidity? You might need to cover some of the screen top.

I would also cover/black out 2 or 3 of the sides, BPs like the security.

Otherwise, you seem to have done your research!

I use fake plants in my terrarium, you don't need 'em, but I like them for personal tastes, actually, my snake knocked one over and is using it with the side of one of his hides as a makeshift den.

Looks great so far!

BTW, what size/age snake are you getting?

The hides look huge...
If your snake is smaller consider downsizing hides. Cover up the top as well to retain heat and humidity better.
But more importantly, your UTH (and lights for better control) need to be on either a thermostat or a dimmer. Seeing as you said money is no problem I would suggest looking at Herpstat :)

I am not sure on how big of a BP I will get yet. I was considering one that is a sub-adult because as I've read they are better to get as a first time snake vs a hatchling. So I am not sure on how big they are when they are that age in grams, if someone knows please do post.

The hideouts are stuffed with the moss so there won't be alot of extra space if it goes in(not sure if it matters?), however I do have smaller hide outs that I could use.

I will check out the Herpstat. What do you guys use to cover the screen top for humidity?

welcome! I am fairly new as well, been here about a week now. Picked up my first baby bp last thursday. 3 days ago. I definitely recommend, no, I am telling you to get the thermostat or dimmer for your UTH. I tried without one and my medium pad got up to 120 the first night! I have mine on a dimmer for now but will be making the herpstat in a few weeks when funds recooperate. have fun, I enjoy my guy so much!

Also I dont know where you live, but here in nor cal I dont cover my screen, just the two lamps on top for day/night and my humidity is fine at 50-55% and sometimes drops to 47% the worst ive seen, a few squirts of water its fine again.

I've heard styrofoam works well for holding in humidity

I am running a slightly larger tank, with no over head light. My little guy appears to be in the first stages of a shed , So I have draped a wet wash cloth over the hide on the hot side, to up the humidity. Other then that since i do not run an over head light my humidity seems to stay fine on it's own. I have heard that the over head lights will suck the moisture right out of the air.

I just have the top covered with Styrofoam, works really well especially with Sphagnum moss. Humidity gets low spray it and it jumps up really fast and if it gets to high just remove Styrofoam and it will go down quick :)

You can also cover the lid with aluminum and duct tape, there is a thread out here on how how to do it, I just can't seem to find it...I'm sure others know what I'm talking about, and hopefully they will repost the thread for you...

When you guys spray the enclosure for humidity, do you spray the substrate directly? or do you spray the walls? I have some geckos that need a daily misting to keep humidity up so I spray the whole enclosure, however they use a coconut fiber for substrate, The Aspen I am told that it molds easily, if I have to spray directly into the tank, should I switch substrates? Also inside the hides am I suposed to spray the moss directly on both hot and cold sides?

Thanks

Looks like you're off to a good start. Some suggestions:

Get digital temp gauges with a probe, they are more accurate.
Put the under tank heater on a thermostat (as others mentioned.)
Make sure that cork bark is stable, it looks like it's just laying across the two hides and could easily fall into the water bowl.
Depending on the ambient humidity in your home, you may not need to mist daily. I only mist mine when they are in shed, and I use aspen for all of my snakes. If you're having trouble keeping humidity up, you can switch to cypress, if you can find it.
Regarding the moss in both hides, I don't see why that's really necessary.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by regd87

When you guys spray the enclosure for humidity, do you spray the substrate directly? or do you spray the walls? I have some geckos that need a daily misting to keep humidity up so I spray the whole enclosure, however they use a coconut fiber for substrate, The Aspen I am told that it molds easily, if I have to spray directly into the tank, should I switch substrates? Also inside the hides am I suposed to spray the moss directly on both hot and cold sides?

Thanks

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If your using aspen spray the walls, not the substrate.

IMO, since you are using a glass tank as an enclosure you will probably run into humidity issues. If I were you I would switch substrate to something like eco earth, which is essentially coco fiber shredded up, or I would use a cypress mulch mix. As an addition I would go ahead and use foil treatment for your screen top. By following through with these steps you should end up maintaining pretty good humidity. What I do with my eco earth substrate every once in a while (mainly when my carpet is in shed) is, I take out all cage accessories and spray down the eco-earth substrate while mixing it up. I spray it till its moist not damp to keep humidity. When I do this then put the hides back in the hides will stay humid for a good while. A ball python needing humidity will really benefit from that because that's where it spends most of its time

Thanks for the link to the thread with the tin foil top. I did it and now my humidity and heat are staying very consistant :P time to get my BP tomorrow :P anyone know any reputable breeders in Ontario?

Thanks everyone for your help, I posted a new thread with the completed tank.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=93492

I didn't read every other post everyone else put... but def get some sort of thermostat or whatever it's called. my snake ended up burrowing in his hide.. so his body was glass up against the UTH that wasn't monitored. He got burns on his belly, wouldn't eat.. it got infected... a week ago i took him to the vet and had to give him shots everyday for it, soak him everyday for 20 minutes, it was so time consuming and a hastle. it was bad. luckily.. he just shed and the scabs and burns are gone, along with the infection. But it's not something you'd want to have to go through or put your BP through especially. Watch the humidity, it has to be at a perfect temp or the BP could get sick and other problems. I always kept my humidity high because the snake was always dehydrated so his eyes would be all caved in.. having more humidity didn't help much. I end up soaking him once every 2 weeks for 30 minutes and he hydrates back up. But i didn't think to try the moss.. that might help actually. Good luck!

I didn't read every other post everyone else put... but def get some sort of thermostat or whatever it's called. my snake ended up burrowing in his hide.. so his body was glass up against the UTH that wasn't monitored. He got burns on his belly, wouldn't eat.. it got infected... a week ago i took him to the vet and had to give him shots everyday for it, soak him everyday for 20 minutes, it was so time consuming and a hastle. it was bad. luckily.. he just shed and the scabs and burns are gone, along with the infection. But it's not something you'd want to have to go through or put your BP through especially. Watch the humidity, it has to be at a perfect temp or the BP could get sick and other problems. I always kept my humidity high because the snake was always dehydrated so his eyes would be all caved in.. having more humidity didn't help much. I end up soaking him once every 2 weeks for 30 minutes and he hydrates back up. But i didn't think to try the moss.. that might help actually. Good luck! Also if you find him burrowing in his hide and he's up on the UTH... you could either just use the lamp, or put a couple layers of paper towels under the substrate. I have my snake on pure paper towels.. but thats because i don't have too much money to spend on cosmetic appearance.. the tank is in another room and no one sees the tank anyway.. i always take the snake out to show people.. but it looks like you want to go for appearance too... so it was just an idea... saves you from keep having to check in there constantly fore they burn easily.

xxstellavega, this thread is nearly a year old.

Why is it you like to post in ancient threads? :giggle: