new setup...some advice

[jben]

Hello everyone,
I'm going this weekend to get what i need to setup the 10g tank i have and just need some suggestions on "namebrands" that i should buy or really consider requarding the UTH, thermostat, thermometer/hygrometer and anything alse that i'm forgeting. I will be going to petco and petsmart and the reptile store that i've mentioned before. I'm setting up the 10g for a baby bp for now but in the future i'll be upgrading. thanx in advance.

[Covington]

OK, you may (will) get many differing opinions on this. You will need a thermostat controller (or a rheostat for lamps, $10, from Home Depot if your house temp is very constant...very). You need a warm side 90F and a cool side 80F. This is achieved by the use of an under the tank heater (UTH). You will need an infrared thermometer (baby types work too) to point at the substrate (news paper or painters drop paper is my fav) and make sure it does not exceed 92 on the warm side once stabilized (about an hour or two). The ambient temp of the cage needs to be 80. The easiest way to do this is put the snake in a small room with an oil filled heater (also available at HD or Lowes) and set the heater to keep the room at 80F. Once you have the room at 80 then set the UTH (by way of the rheostat to achieve 90 on the top of the paper or substrate of your choice (not any wood shaving poisonous to BP's). Small water bowl, two hides (one on the cool side and one on the warm side. A decent size rock (I think it helps in their shedding process) and a digital hygrometer/thermometer.

Others feel free to add what I forgot.

[Covington]

After you get all of this set up and stable then get yourself a nice Ball python. Make sure to get it from a breeder and not a store like Petsmart. The reason is that chains often sell wild caught and they most likely will be problem feeders, not to mention that there is no reason to be depleting the wild numbers anymore with all of the wonderful folks out there breeding these days.

[BOWSER11788]

i have to agree with my fellow hickory poster, if you want a normal bp, you can pick them up next to nothing at expos

[jben]

thanx for the advice. the pet shop that im planning on getting my bp actually breeds their own there and have a very large and nice selection but i'll definetly be looking for the next nearest expo. which are the better brands to buy requarding equipment? i dont want to buy crap basically. thanx

[BOWSER11788]

brands really don't matter unless your talking UTH or heating. for my baby, i personally use exaterra caves, for shrubs and clutter cover, hit up micheals-walmart- and the dollar tree( one were every thing is actually a dollar), i've also used hide from retptile basics, the black boxes they look like, i've also used flower pots. for substrate i use newespaper but my gf's house has high humidity, if humidity is problem use cypress mulch. on temp regualtion get the 12 buck acurite with probe and stick probe on UTH then buy a 6.97 one, looks like square box(with no probe) to keep inside to mesure humidity and ambiant temp, also if you need to raise temp during day get a regualar 40-60 watt bulb on a dimmer to keep ambiant temp up,you can get clamp lamps with cermic sockets at wall-world cheap, since your only using a low wattage bulb. also might get a themostat for UTH(under tank heater) or if room temps stay kinda same a dimmer works will as well. sorry if this info has been stated above, but i picked up on last post. and if you no this already sorry
steven

[BOWSER11788]

forgot to add, you can use deli-cups as water dishes, can cut pvc around it if bp, want to turn over, crock dishes work, i'm using a plastic tupperware container, also if you need ambian temp up at nigh, you can use a CHE(cermic heat emmiter) makes no lght

[Vypyrz]

As fars as thermostats go, there are several brands and models to choose from. It depends on how much you want to spend and what features you are looking for. There is the ReptiTemp 500r, which will run you about $25-30. Then there are the mid- priced Johnson and Ranco T-stats whill will run you in the $70-80 range and the the high-end Helix and Herp stats which will run you about $130+. Personally, I use the Ranco ETC-111000 Pre-wired from Reptile Basics and have no trouble with them. As far as the UTH goes. I like the Ultratherm, also from Reptile Basics, because they are available in more of a variety of sizes, which makes it easier to get a more custom fit, depending on the size of the tub or tank you are using.
I would also advise, when using the Accu-rite thermometer, to place the probe inside the tank directly on the glass, under the substrate. That way you know what the maximun temp that your snake can be exposed to if they decide to burrow. I locate mine under the warm side hide, since that is where they are most likely to burrow down to the heat...


Rob