python tank questions...

[python baller]

just got a full grown female bp, around 3 yrs old (1st time snake owner). my current setup is...

55 gallon tank
aspen bedding (i plan on using a seperate feeding tub)
small uth (probably built for 10-20 gal tank)
125W heat lamp

should i fork out $45 or so for a bigger uth or is there a cheaper alternative?

is a climbing branch really necessary?

how big of a hide box do i need? i got a plastic box turned upside down but it may be a bit too big. thinking of ditching this and buying an identical one for a water bowl.

how big of a water bowl do i need?

any help is greatly appreciated. i have had an iguana, chameleon and geckos in the past, so i'm not entirely new to herps.

also like to say that she is the coolest rep i've had yet. my wife is scared to death of her but she will eventually come around.

[python baller]

really needing some answers please.

[starmom]

Well, you also need a thermostat to control the temps on the UTH so that'll be around another 100 dollars.

A climbing branch isn't really necessary though it might make her tank look nice and it might make her feel a bit more secure.

The hide ought to be much smaller than you think it needs to be!! Like like smooshy!!!

The water bowl does not need to be large- it is not their pool!! Just big enough to hold water to drink from!

Why do you want to feed outside of the snake's environment??

You'll need a thermometer and hygrometer to measure temps and humidity inside the tank.

You'll want to cover the sides and back of the tank with dark material to add to the security of the snake. If the external environment is chilly, you'll more than likely need to insulate the sides and back of the tank as well.

Here's a great link for glass tank set-up: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=56846

Take care, McKinsey

[ride_gnu]

There are lots of stickys on here to read.

1) Hide sould be just big enough for the snake, the bigger the hide the more stress the snake can feel.

2) two identical hide, one @ 82 F, one at 92 F, both on the far ends of the tank (temp. Gradient)

3) Water bowl big enough snake can fit into but not filled up all the way so it overflows when/if she goes in

4) UTH about the size of the snake or the hide I prefer two hides o my hot end, on over the UTH and one beside it allowing for 3 hidees at 3 temps. However I am not 100% sure about the sive of the UTH, I am in the progress of upgrading to a 48 Gal. long and just bought a Medium sized Exo Terra heat wave mat but might upgrade to a large just so i dont have to do it later on.

[ohyeahnow]

You can find UTH a lot less expensive online. I got four for the price you mentioned.

[python baller]

i just realized that this is in the wrong forum, sorry.

seperate feeding tub to keep her from eating the aspen bedding. also to keep her from associating a hand in her cage as food? if the assocation thing isn't a problem, i will insert cardboard under her food item instead.

$100 for a thermostat? i've seen cheaper ones at the petstore.

i'm going to buy a bigger uth tomorrow. i like the idea of not having to use an overhead heat lamp but i might use a 75w basking lamp i have laying around w/ the bigger uth.

i was confused about the hidebox and water bowl. does she not want to totally lay in the water? those will both be replaced tomorrow also.

[ride_gnu]

Ive heard that you should have a heat lamp with a UTH, to provide all around heat and not just belly heat.

[starmom]

....$100 for a thermostat? i've seen cheaper ones at the petstore...

Thermostat: You will get what you pay for and the snake will get the consequences...

Water Bowl: No they do not lay around in their water bowl and so a small one will suffice as you change the water in it daily.

Hides: Hides are best kept smaller than you think will suffice. These snakes are great at squishing into tight places and they really like to feel the sides of the hide touching all the parts of their body.

Remember that you need to get a thermometer/hygrometer to measure the inside tank temps and humidity. This is very important given that it is a glass tank.

Remember to put the thermostat probe under the substrate and on the glass itself.

Oh yeah, they will not associate your hand with prey- humans smell terrible I believe!!

[jimmyfoxca]

I use 40 gallon breeder, glass enclosures that have slide-on screen tops. I have 11 inch x 11 inch jungle heat pad under the the cool side hides and 11 inch x 11 inch desert heat pad under the hot side hides. Also, on the hot side I have overhead ceramic heat emitters (up to 100w). They are all controlled with dimmer switches.

This setup allows me to maintain 90 degrees in the warm side hides (measured with a probe thermometer), 80 degrees in the cool side hides (also measured with probe) and ambient temperatures (temp of the air measured at ground level in the middle) of 78 degrees (measured with thermometer/hydrometer combos that read 60-70% humidity).

Now, I have a screen tops and an over head heat sources, this evaporates the moisture in the air thus lowering the humidity. To remedy this I use wet towels over the rest of the screen. This keeps the humidity and temps just the way I like it.

I feel that I do not require a dish that my snakes can soak in because they already have all the humidity they need. However, I am unsure if it would be a good idea to have a smaller dish if you cannot maintain high enough humidity.

For instance, I 'rescued' my first snake from my brother who did not have a clue what the humidity was because he did not even measure it. I would guess that if she had a bowl to soak in, she would have shed in one piece. Having said that, if you have to choose a large water dish or a humidity level that best reflects their natural environment, I would go with the humidity.

Jimmy

[starmom]

Careful of the towel idea as they tend to breed bacteria. Lots of people using glass tanks foil the lid or plexiglass the lid to help with the humidity.

If humidity is an issue still, many use sphagnum moss with excellent results

Rheostats work well and require little daily tinkering if the external environment stays pretty darn constant. If your room environment changes temps throughout the day and night, a thermostat will work much better.