I'm making my own tubs and I had a few questions...

[Flicker]

My snakes have been living together for 4 years, but I wanted to try them with separate tubs since EVERYONE here says it's better is multiple ways--temperature, security, easy to maintain maintain, humidity, ect, ect. xP

Anyway, I'm buying the tubs tomorrow. I was wondering what you would recommend for 2 normal sized ball pythons. And what brand?

Will under-tank heaters melt the cage? Do i need something special?

Will locking-lids keeps my pythons in?

I'm planning on using a wire shelf rack (something similar to this - http://www.global-b2b-network.com/di...Wire_Shelf.jpg) will that be ok for putting the tubs on?

Thanks for helping!

[LadyOhh]

32 qts Sterilites have the new locking tops.

If you heat up the bottom too much, yeah it will melt, but if it is that hot, you will have already killed your snake.

Make sure you have a thermostat and a dimmer.

Locking lids will keep your pythons in, as long as it doesn't just lock in and can be pushed up or off in a corner. BUT!!! It also keeps air in. Make sure to drill holes in the tubs for air circulation.

And if you put it on wire, put something underneath the tub (cardboard, blanket, etc...) to make sure that the heat from the UTH doesn't heat up the metal of the rack.

[Flicker]

32 qts Sterilites have the new locking tops.

If you heat up the bottom too much, yeah it will melt, but if it is that hot, you will have already killed your snake.

Make sure you have a thermostat and a dimmer.

Locking lids will keep your pythons in, as long as it doesn't just lock in and can be pushed up or off in a corner. BUT!!! It also keeps air in. Make sure to drill holes in the tubs for air circulation.

And if you put it on wire, put something underneath the tub (cardboard, blanket, etc...) to make sure that the heat from the UTH doesn't heat up the metal of the rack.

how much to thermostat and dimmers cost? Can i find them at places like wal-mart?

[Kaorte]

how much to thermostat and dimmers cost? Can i find them at places like wal-mart?

You can find a dimmer at the home depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...10000003+90401
And here is a thermostat that should suit your needs:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=75
It isn't a fancy one and will take some time to get the temps right. Make sure you get your tub setup correct before you put the snakes in.

[Flicker]

You can find a dimmer at the home depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...10000003+90401
And here is a thermostat that should suit your needs:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=75
It isn't a fancy one and will take some time to get the temps right. Make sure you get your tub setup correct before you put the snakes in.

So, I need one for each tub, right?

[Argentra]

You need one heat pad/heat tape per tub. But if you have 6 or less tubs, you only need one thermostat.

Even the ZooMed stat, which only has two plugs, can handle up to 500watts. This means that as long as you don't get close to 500 (and you won't unless you have a LOT of tubs) you can use two 3-way plug adapters or even a power strip plugged into the stat, with all your heat sources on that.

[Flicker]

You need one heat pad/heat tape per tub. But if you have 6 or less tubs, you only need one thermostat.

Even the ZooMed stat, which only has two plugs, can handle up to 500watts. This means that as long as you don't get close to 500 (and you won't unless you have a LOT of tubs) you can use two 3-way plug adapters or even a power strip plugged into the stat, with all your heat sources on that.

I only have 2 right now, so thats great!

But, I;m still confused about under tank heaters. What is a safe temperature?

[frankykeno]

Personally I'd avoid the open wire racks and go with a closed melamine rack/bookshelf sort of thing. I'd be concerned with that wire moving heat around and with it being open on the sides and back, you're losing heat that you're paying for.

If you're set on using that wire rack I'd drop a cheap piece of melamine on each shelf and lay your flexwatt on that (you can buy precut melamine shelving pretty cheap). I'd enclose the back, sides and top with hardboard (you can generally get a big piece of it from Lowe's or Home Depot for about $20 or so and they will do your cuts there if you ask).

As far as tubs think more floorspace then headspace. Don't trust any clip on a storage tub when it comes to your snake. Add extra security. Before I had racks and used tubs with lids I added 6 large black binder clips to each lid along the sides.

You'll also need something to put vent holes into the tubs with. A cheap soldering wand works quite well for that.

You can buy expensive UTH's at the pet store. Personally though I'd suggest prewired flexwatt from www.reptilebasics.com. Tell Rich what your set up is and he'll tell you what you need. Flexwatt is very safe, very reliable and very reasonably priced. It does require a tstat or rheostat to control it. To learn how to make a very reasonably priced rheostat, check out this thread....

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...=855662#855662

Before you go any further though with building anything homemade for snakes you may want to our DIY and Caging forums for further ideas about homemade rack systems.