Help me make my list for our tank set up

[bollingers4]

We are going Friday to get everything we need to set up our tank. Can you all give me a list of everything that I might need to have for a basic set up before we get the snake. I have a pretty good idea but I would love to get a list from you all also. TIA!!

[Jeanne]

Things you will need:

Poss. 2 human heating pads..1 for the warm side, the other to have under the cool side if it gets too cool

Heat emitter or bulb for warm side, I use a heat emitter and never have any problems

Water dish that your snake will be able to soak in

Some kind of substrate..reptibark, reptile carpet, whatever you choose to use

2 thermometers, 1 for warm side, one for cool side

1 hyrometer to measure the humidity level

2 hides, 1 for warm side, 1 for cool side

* something for your snake to climb on, can be highly decorative if you want, but must be functional


Here is a list of the things I could think of right at the moment, if any one sees anything I have missed, please post. Also, others may have other ideas they may want to post. There is not any one right way to do it, as long as you got the basics and can maintain your heat gradient and humidity. Hope this helps.

[bollingers4]

Thank you!! That's what we have on our list so far so it looks like we are headed in the right direction.

[BallKingdom]

Looks like Jeane covered it! Go read the caresheet on housing, has a lot of info. And I think buyer's guide has a list.

[RPlank]

If you are getting an aquarium with a screen top, make sure to buy some metal clips to lock the top on. Don't rely on stacking books or something on top.....it doesn't work! (Voice of Experience!)

[bollingers4]

Thanks Randy. Locking clips are second on my list, right behind the screen top. Also I have read here that with a 30 gallon aquarium I should cover a portion of the screen to help with temp and humidity. What is best to use to cover the screen? Just plastic or something else. I just want to make sure we do this right.

[RPlank]

I just used plastic. It wasn't the prettiest, but it worked. Just about anything that would act as a vapor barrier would work.

[Sassafrass]

plastic is the best option i think. i used a towel for a while, and realized that it was just absorbing the humidity instead of keeping it in.

[bollingers4]

Thanks everyone! We are going tonight to look at the 2 BPs we are interested in and decide which of them we will be taking home this weekend. I'll let you know how it all goes.