What else should I add?

[JadeMarie]

I just got a python and I'm wondering what else I should put in her tank. She wasn't a planned purchase, my mom and her boyfriend were visiting his family out of town and he didn't want the snake anymore so he gave her to me. So far she's in a 40 gallon glass tank with a mesh top. The right side has an under tank heater with a hide above it and a stick-on thermometer by it ( I already know I'm gonna replace that but not sure what kind to get). There's a lamp above the hide also and I'm going to replace the bulb with a red one so it doesn't bother her at night. The left side has a big water dish and an analog hygrometer above that. Are the dial ones ok or should I get a digital one? The bedding is red flakey stuff my mom's boyfriend recommended because he has a python too and my mom pretty much trusts whatever he says. What else should I put in the tank. IS there something that would help me regulate the temperature and humidity better? The humidity looks a little low so I'll probably get a spray bottle so I an spray water in it. There's just a lot of options on what to get so I'm a little lost.

Also, I'm not sure how to add a picture but I do have a picture of the tank.

[sho220]

First priority is to get a thermostat on the under tank heater (UTH) so your snake doesn't get a burn. Don't feel lost. There are only a few basic needs that have to be met. Correct temp ranges, good humidity range, a water bowl, and some kind of bedding...

[JadeMarie]

My mom's boyfriend brought over one of the Zilla Temperature Controllers (http://www.petco.com/product/108340/..._Snake_Heating) and put the probe in the hide with the bedding and set the thermostat to 90 so the light turns on and off. I want to put a red bulb in it so the light turning on and off doesn't bother the snake at night.

[bcr229]

The Zilla will work ok but the probe is in the wrong place. If it's in the tank your BP can (and will) move it off of the UTH, pee on it, etc. which will then let the UTH overheat. The probe needs to go outside of the tank sandwiched in between the UTH and the bottom of the tank. I would start with the thermostat at 90*F and then use an temperature gun or IR thermometer like http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiT...1367176&sr=8-2 to measure the temperature of the glass on the bottom of the tank. Adjust the thermostat up or down as needed so the glass temperature is around 90-92*F.

WalMart sells an inexpensive digital thermometer/hygrometer so you can monitor the cool side:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/AcuRite-Di...nitor/16888914

[vangarret2000]

My mom's boyfriend brought over one of the Zilla Temperature Controllers (http://www.petco.com/product/108340/..._Snake_Heating) and put the probe in the hide with the bedding and set the thermostat to 90 so the light turns on and off. I want to put a red bulb in it so the light turning on and off doesn't bother the snake at night.

The temp control should be hooked up of the under tank heater not the light.
1 you only need the belly heat not back hear for a BP so jut get rid of the light altogether.
2 I have been told hooking up heat bulbs to a temp controller is bad. The bulbs you most likely are using won't be designed for that. Not all bulbs are controllable.

But really just get to I the lamp and only use the heat mat.

Also you would need a hide for the cool side of the tank as well. For substrate you can use pretty much anything you want (that is a normal substrate) except for cedar or pine shavings. Most people use aspen shavings or even just paper towels for easier clean up.
Also I can't Remeber if you said a water dish or not. You need one of those. BP tanks can be kept bery basic.

2 hides , water dish, substrate, under tank heater, temp controler of some sort (thermostat, rheostat) and thermometer with probe(unless the thermostat has one). That's basically all you need for the tank

[bumblebee1028]

Actually, you may need the lights for ambient heat. I would first get the Zilla probe on the outside of the tank (between the under tank heater and the glass if possible), as bcr229 said, and have it control the under tank heater.

Then I would get the digital thermometer/hygrometer with probe from Walmart for about $12. I would definitely replace the bulb with a red bulb. If your house is fairly warm (like 78F+), you may only need the under tank heater. Once you have the thermometer, you can see if you need the heat lamp as well. The thermometer/hygrometer will also tell you the humidity, so you will know how much to adjust it as needed.

If you don't have a water bowl, definitely get one. In a glass tank, you're probably going to have an issue keeping humidity where it should be (50-60% normally, and 70% during shedding). You may need to cover a large portion of the screen top to help trap humidity in. A water bowl with more surface area is good for helping keep the humidity up. I'm not sure if your substrate is cypress mulch, but cypress mulch is a really good option for a glass tank, because it helps keep humidity up.

I would make sure you have two hides. They don't have to be anything fancy, you can use bowls from Walmart or the dollar store if you cut a hole in the side, and smooth the edges. How big is she? You definitely want to clutter up a 40 gallon tank, especially if she's a baby, so she feels more secure. You can add fake plants, wads of paper, toilet paper tubes, etc.

This might be helpful: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-With-Pictures!

I hope that helps!

[JadeMarie]

Thanks you guys so much for your suggestions! I looked and the substrate in there is Repti-Bark. I was thinking of getting and Fluker's Hygrometer/Thermometer, and getting a red bulb. I will definitely move the probe. I'll get her another hide for the other side of the tank. It does look pretty bare so I was going to get her some decorations and stuff so it's a bit more cluttered. She's about 5 years old, they said, and she's a few feet long. She fits nice and snug in her hide. I think she likes it

[bumblebee1028]

Thanks you guys so much for your suggestions! I looked and the substrate in there is Repti-Bark. I was thinking of getting and Fluker's Hygrometer/Thermometer, and getting a red bulb. I will definitely move the probe. I'll get her another hide for the other side of the tank. It does look pretty bare so I was going to get her some decorations and stuff so it's a bit more cluttered. She's about 5 years old, they said, and she's a few feet long. She fits nice and snug in her hide. I think she likes it

Is the Fluker's hygrometer/thermometer digital? If not, I'd recommend a digital one, as they're much more accurate. Everything else sounds good!