Plastic Tub Advice/Suggestions/Help/Comments

[shootingstar26]

So...right now I have my ball python in a 5g glass tank with a heat lamp, and it's just not working for me. So I'm going to get a plastic tub.

My ball python is about ~2', so I thought a 15/16/17qt plastic tub would be best.

Here are the supplies I have on-hand:

-Aspen Bedding
-2 Hides (going to get another because it outgrew one)
-water bowl
-Generic aesthetic plastic vines
-Rheostat
-Home-made humidifier (but hopefully I won't need this anymore)
-Thermometer with probe; thermometer-hygrometer combo
-Heat Lamp (which hopefully I won't need anymore either)

Shopping List:
-1 Bigger Hide
-Appropriately sized UTH*
-15/16/17qt Plastic Tub

*The only question I have is the size of the UTH. Should I get one that's for like a 20 gallon tank? Or 30? It's suppose to be 1/3 to 1/2, but I don't know how I'm suppose to estimate that with the UTH when I don't have them, so I was wondering if perhaps someone could help me with that? I was going to get a ZooMed one, so if you could give me suggestions in terms of their size it would be great...

...or any other advice/suggestions/help/comments, for that matter. :-)

[Sarin]

A Zoo-Med 10-20 Gallon UTH will be perfect for a 15 QT tub. Be sure to solder some holes and moniter your humidity so it's not too high. Do not use a Heat Lamp with a tub.. You definitely won't need the Humidifier anymore. And be sure the tub you use is the latch-type or one you can make secure.

Think that's it.. Tubs are the way to go!

[shootingstar26]

Yeah! Alright cool =]

[sullitf]

I'm in almost the same boat actually. Got my first BP last May at around 1'8" long. Had her in a cage roughly 17"x12"x5.5", with a pair of hides, water bowl, UTH, and a heat lamp to keep the ambient temp higher than I got with just the UTH. She's around 2.5' now and the cage is definitely getting cramped for her. I was originally planning on building a cage but decided to go for a tub cause they're just so much easier!

Well, that and I now understand why so many people here have a collection of BPs, I'm already starting to come up with future breeding (and purchasing) plans!

[shootingstar26]

@sullitf that's definitely cool! I'm trying to veer away from wanting more snakes (but resistance is futile [especially if <1ohm])

but actually, the UTH won't melt plastic, right? And will one really be enough? I tried heating my previous glass enclosure with a UTH, and it didn't heat up the air at all. Was it just because it was glass?

[shootingstar26]

Oh, and what should the dimensions of the tub be? There are quite a few ways to get 15 qts. in volume...

[sullitf]

You want to get a tub that is around 6" tall. As for heating, UTHs should do fine from everything I've seen. Most people recommend flexwatt over a UTH, but if you're only looking at a single tub I feel the UTH is a simpler solution. I'll be getting one for the 34qt tub I just got, but haven't quite decided yet what size UTH I need. I think they should cover 1/3 to 1/2 of the tub. Drill/melt a few holes in the tub for ventilation and it should hold humidity and temp well!

[shootingstar26]

My bp is about ~2ft long, although it's going through a shed right now so that measurement is tenuous. Is 15qts right for that size bp?

[BOWSER11788]

don't know if mentioned, you need a temp regualtor, or a t-stat to keep temps between 90-95, cause a run amuk UTH will go past 100 and kill snake and melt tub, if you have a steady house temp, you can get a lamp dimmer and lowes for like 10 bucks.

[tomfromtheshade]

If you are planning on getting more BPs you should just do yourself a favor and build the rack system now LOL. I would suggest the Iris CB70 tubs. Those are BY FAR the best for BPs.