first bunch of ball pythons

[goshenherps]

hello im just getting into reptiles and i have a savannah monitor, in the past i owned a bearded dragon and ball python, both of whom i have to give away. i am about to order three bps, a 2014 mojave male a 2014 pastel male and a female normal. im a little short on money so i have 2 32 quart sterilites for the males, a 15 qt for the female. a total of 5 appropriately sized black hide boxes, heat mats, thermo stat, digital indoor out door accurite thermometer and cypress mulch bedding. im planning on laying the tubs horizontally on my floor with maybe some bottle caps taped to the corners to keep the heat off the wood. Is this a good set up? and i know 3 seems like alot for basically my first balls but i am ready to give these guys the best lives possible.

P.S is one thermostat good? or should i get another?
thanks

[AllieKin]

If they are in about the same conditions and their temps are the same when you measure, one thermostat should be fine. I have one strip of heat tape for 9 snakes all plugged into the same thermostat.

I use tubs, too. You may want to put the female into the bigger tub since she will probably grow to be larger than the males. Make sure to poke a few holes into the tubs for ventilation and you will have to make sure the snakes can't get out somehow (BPs can pop lids open easily).

[goshenherps]

thank you!

[Eric Alan]

It sounds like you're getting well prepared. Kudos!

Unless you have identical heating elements, you'll need more than one thermostat or a single thermostat with multiple probes. By identical, I mean the same length (total)/width heat tape, the same size heat mat, etc. If that's not the case, they will output different temps because the thermostat will send equal amounts of power to differently rated elements.

[goshenherps]

can i add probes to this thermostat, if i can how would i do this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/RANCO-ETC-11...item4ae36803a6

[Eric Alan]

can i add probes to this thermostat, if i can how would i do this?

You cannot. Herpstat and Vivarium Electronics sell thermostats with multiple probes. They are basically multiple thermostats in a single unit.

[anicatgirl]

Also, your males should NOT I mean NOT EVER be housed together. None of them should be. If you search past threads you will find that while cannibalism is rare, it does happen.

[Eric Alan]

im a little short on money so i have 2 32 quart sterilites for the males...

Also, your males should NOT I mean NOT EVER be housed together.

Reading comprehension FTW!

[anicatgirl]

Reading comprehension FTW!

Shush Eric!!! It's late here! Lol. Fair enough, and I always had fairly good reading comp

[goshenherps]

lol it was midnight where i live and i had worked all day, my bad!